(21 July 2010, Hong Kong) This morning, 100 YMCA leaders were presented with a “million dollar investment opportunity”; the chance to invest in the future of the global YMCA movement and change the lives of thousands more young people around the world.
USD78, 550 was pledged on the spot from YMCAs, as well as individual staff, volunteers and youth.
As part of the 17th World Council of YMCAs, taking place from 19-24th July in Hong Kong, a group of YMCA leaders from across the world was invited to participate in an Investor’s Circle meeting. Dr Bart Shaha, Secretary General of the World Alliance of YMCAs, and Johan Vilhelm Eltwik, General Secretary of YMCA Europe, shared information on a resource mobilisation process that was initiated in 2008, and that is already reaping significant rewards.
Work has been done at national, regional and world level to improve the YMCA’s capacity to raise funds. In particular, this has focused on governance, financial management, communications, programme development and proposal writing. This work, financed by an initial seed fund of USD500 000 has already generated over USD1 million.
During the Investors Circle meeting, YMCA area leaders from Africa, Asia and Pacific, Europe and Latin America presented plans for phase two (2010-2014), which aims to raise a further USD3 million from external sources to strengthen YMCAs worldwide and increase their impact on youth and communities.
Impressed and inspired by the success of phase one of this work, in less than 15 minutes 34 individuals and 15 YMCAs pledged financial support to continue work to increase the visibility, social relevance, and organisational capacity of YMCAs so that they are better placed to raise, manage and report on funds from external donors.
YMCA England sent a powerful message to other National Movements, by making the first pledge of USD50 000 to support this process. John Lilley of YMCA Canada was the first to make a personal commitment to be an individual donor to this process with USD1 000.
“Phase two is for those who hold a vision for the YMCA that is without boundaries. It is for those who are inspired by the collective power and untapped potential of the full YMCA family. It is for those who are proud to stand for global youth by standing for the global movement,” said Dr. Bart Shaha.
You all know the cool, keeping-it-real Chemphe with the smooth voice and energetic stage presence. But I have discovered the king of Urban Life has some hidden talents.
The system of male domination is no new thing in our world today, but the danger is that we as young men do not question it as we are born and socialised into it without being exposed to a masculinity option that does not dominate or harm.
(21 July 2010, Hong Kong) This morning, 100 YMCA leaders were presented with a “million dollar investment opportunity”; the chance to invest in the future of the global YMCA movement and change the lives of thousands more young people around the world.
The 17th World Council of YMCAs kick-started yesterday 20 July 2010, at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre with an opening ceremony attended by Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China,
Donald Tsang, as well as almost 1200 YMCA delegates from 85 countries.
We are youth with a dream, was the powerful song delivered with electric energy by popular Ghanaian musician, Chemphe, and 40 YMCA youth from 15 different countries at the Tribute to Gaia public concert in Hong Kong yesterday.
The vision of the African YMCAs to empower the youth for the African renaissance has been given a boost with the signing of a preliminary agreement between the Fuhrlaender Company of Germany, Ghana YMCA, CVJM and the African Alliance of YMCAs to establish a hi-tech training centre in Accra with sub-centres in Takoradi and Apedwa all in Ghana.
Furlander an organisation that is based in Germany and deals in wind mill and nuclear energy on Friday signed a €2.5 million training agreement with the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Ghana to help train its student and create jobs for the youth.
(21 July 2010, Hong Kong) This morning, 100 YMCA leaders were presented with a “million dollar investment opportunity”; the chance to invest in the future of the global YMCA movement and change the lives of thousands more young people around the world.
