Issue 26, July 2002
We came back from Australia & New Zealand after 3 weeks' STEP
Hello youth from all over the world
We came back from Australia & New Zealand after 3 weeks' STEP
Thinking
back on our 3 week STEP visit to Australia & New Zealand, the first thing that comes
to mind is the warm reception of all the Y’s Men: Christine & John who
welcomed us at Sydney Airport with fan, John’s younger brother, Peter, who we
met in Orange, 500km from Gosford; Ishell & his friend, Kelly with whom we went
shopping, David who guided us around Sydney; many Y's Men (PIP Dale Fotheringham, RD
Clarrie Stevens, DG Ron Aldridge, CP Graeme, John Mey---); and then Tony and Gillian who
live in New Zealand---they all made our tour warm and meaningful. They always showed
kindness and friendliness in spite of our unaccustomed manner of greeting and our poor
English.
We
stayed 2 weeks at the house of Christine & John in Gosford which is a beautiful place
surrounded by nature, 2 hours north of Sydney by train. They introduced us to Orange city,
the Blue Mountains, Sydney and so on.
It
was a new experience to go fishing on a private motorboat on the sea under John's
direction. We also took part in the annual Australian Day with Y's Men who sold snow cone
in the festival to earn money for the club.
Our
3 weeks in Australia and New Zealand were unforgettable and will remain in our
memory for many years.
Y's Men's club in Korea Center Region
Hello youth from all over the world
I'm
Daniele from Brazil. I hope some of you remember me at the YC 2000 in Hong Kong. Last year
I was appointed the RYR from Brazil and this year the AYR from Latin America /Caribbean
Area. I still don't know what I'm supposed to do because I know how much I have to learn.
I would like to tell you about something that's very important for me and I believe will
be for you too. I worked with some children years ago and lots of them were poor. I know
it doesn't happen only in Brazil but in many countries, and trying to solve a little part
of it this winter, I invited some people to join us in a project called BLANKETS. We are
collecting blankets for these children and poor families and YOU and YOUR CLUB can help
your OWN COMMUNITY. Here, we ask those people who can afford it to donate blankets for
children. We also put some big boxes in stores and shopping centres, saying MAKE YOUR
CONTRIBUTION, HELP THE CHILDREN THIS WINTER - DONATE A BLANKET! It's working. People,
stores, academies are helping us and you can help your CITY too. Please take part, make
hearts warm this winter. You can make a BIG difference!
If
you want to know more about it my e-mail is
1)
What do you think we should be doing in the area of Youth? (Please circle all that apply
and add the number of members who agree in the blank space alongside.)
a)
YEEP _______
b)
STEP ________
c)
Youth clubs (clubs which are separate, composed of youth) _________
d)
Attracting Younger membership _________
e)
Serving YMCA youth ______
d)
Youth Weekends for Y's Youth _______
e)
Youth Weekends for YMCA Youth _________
f)
Other: _________________________ _______
2)
What is your club willing to contribute to this effort? (Please circle all that apply and
add the number of members who agree in the blank space alongside.)
a)
Funds __________
b)
Manpower __________
c)
Other: _______________________________
3)
What do you want to see in the area of youth involvement?
4)
Is there a member in your club who you think would be an appropriate choice for the Youth
Committee? If yes, who and why?
Bring this questionnaire to your club meetings and let us know your answer.
The Africa Alliance of the YMCAs Youth Forum (May 2002, Johannesburg, South Africa)
This
was one week that was truly special for young people across Africa. Between 13-20 May
2002, young people from across Africa met in Johannesburg, South Africa, for the Africa
Alliance of YMCAs Youth Forum.
Here’s
a little background - In May 1998 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, at the Africa Alliance of YMCAs
Ordinary General Meeting, the Africa Youth & Gender Committee was born, made up of
strictly young people, to breathe new life, spirit and active participation into the
mobilisation and empowerment of young men and women within the YMCA and society, through
active programs and leadership development.
As
a consequence the Africa Alliance of YMCAs held the largest gathering of young people from
across Africa in October 2000 in Bagbe, Togo (West Africa), at the Youth Festival dubbed
UMOJA 2000. (UMOJA is the Swahili word for “Unity”) It was a training forum for
young people on the YMCA mission, Challenge 21, Gender and Fundraising, among other
electives. The memories of all the moving devotions, challenging training sessions and
enchanting cultural nights are ours for keeps. The Youth & Gender Committee’s
plans were interpreted in such a dramatic manner and the dreams and expectations brought
out so creatively that we all agreed that UMOJA2000 was more than an event, it was a
passionate process that was given the breath-of-life and whose spirit was carried down to
South Africa for the 2002 African Youth Forum.
A story is told of a well-known speaker who started
off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, “who
would be like this $20 bill?" Hands started going up. He said, “I am going to
give this $20 bill to one of you but first let me do this." He proceeded to crumple
the dollar bill up. He then asked; “Who still wants it?” Still the hands were up
in the air.
It
is in that spirit that the young people in the YMCAs across Africa came to Johannesburg to
share the progress and programs we have started and in which we continue to actively
participate in our local and national movements (e.g.. International camps, Youth
Councils, Youth Clubs, etc) . It was once again a memorable experience with the exotic
South African hospitality, hair-raising music, energetic dances and the magic that comes
from meeting distant friends once again.
We
reminded ourselves that PASSION TRULY DOES MAKE THINGS HAPPEN and challenge you today,
wherever you are & whatever you do, TO DO IT PASSIONATELY!!!
By PYI Kennedy Wabule
The
European Regional Conference was held in Strasbourg, a lovely French city, in June. This
city, which is composed of mixed cultures of French and German, was chosen for its good
location and nice atmosphere.
The
Hostel we stayed in, run by the YMCAs, provided us with very comfortable rooms and good
meals, which you shouldn’t miss when you have time to visit Strasbourg.
The
interesting thing in this conference was that the meeting proceeded in German, French and
English. Of course, it took time with 3 languages to say the same thing, but it was more
than interesting and really fresh to me as English is usually quite powerful in
international meetings. Also, as I learned German, I could remember some words when I
listened to them.
I
met most people for the first time. However, they were so kind which made me feel as if we
had been good friends, even if we had language trouble when we communicated. Now I know
this is the way of the united hearts of Y’sdom!
Special
thanks to Klaus for inviting me and giving me such a wonderful chance.
It
is said that different generations are missing a chance to work together in Y’s Men
and younger people are losing interest in Y’s Men’s Clubs these days.
I
would like YOU (Both older and younger) to work with different generations together, like
I did at the conference. It will tell you how much fun it is working together with
different generations and give lots of hints on how we can develop Y’s Men.
Youth Intern, Nanami Inada
Let
me say thank you to all of you who never gave up supporting me and helping me. Below is a
picture which shows my heart at this moment. See you and take care.
Nanami Inada
· You have all seen the footage of Sydney during the Olympics
and now it is your turn to see it in person and experience our beautiful country.
· Meet up with old friends and make
new ones, whether it is your first Convocation or your third.
· Packed full of fun, experience the
fellowship and friendship that this Youth Convocation has to offer, mixed in with a good
serving of Australian Culture.
The
theme for the 9th International Youth Convocation is "Growth Through
Service & Youth involvement into the new Millennium". We will be focusing on important developments
within the youth movement and you will have your chance to make your mark on the
“STRATEGIC PLAN” that will form the basis for the future of Y’s Youth
around the world.
So,
along with Camp Parents, Clarrie and Pam Stevens, and South Pacific Area Youth
Representative, Connie Giorgi, I invite and encourage you to attend a once in a lifetime
experience in Australia at the Collaroy Centre, Collaroy Beach, Sydney, where you can
prove that you can make a difference, whilst having the time of your life.
See
you there,
Chairperson
Before
going into the sweet moments of Singapore let me introduce a sweet youth to you all. She
is Sunitha John and is a member of Y’s Dom since August 2001, cause on that day I
made her my wife. Presently we are in Singapore on a short assignment and with that we
have our honeys moon n stars...and a few Y’s Men activities too!!!
One
fine morning when our boss asked us to go to Singapore on an assignment, we were happy
cause we were planning for a trip to Singapore...and so we now have our holidays while we
work (Hope our boss doesn't read this....).
Once our visit was final, I sought the help of Y’s Men in Singapore through Nanami
and that made me get in touch with many members and get very valid information about
Y’s Men and the YMCA. Singapore has 2 clubs: Alpha and the Beta...Alpha is more close
to the YMCA and Beta is a family organisation.
We
attended meetings and got an idea about how they do Y’s Men activities...Even though
Singapore is a small, advanced and fast country, how many of us know that there are poor
old people (like our Grannys...) who need the attention and care and support of the
healthy younger generation? This the members of Beta club have found out and they make
visits to old people’s homes and take them for outings and celebrate major events
like New Year, Christmas and all with them...which gives them mental happiness in living
even though they are old and weak…
Cheers
to the members of the Beta club. The Alpha club also has various activities, but
unfortunately due to time constraints, we could not take part in those functions...They
hold discussions and talks by eminent personalities on subjects of common interest.
A piece of general info (happy news for Indians): here they have a place named Little
India....with lots of Indian shops...and with our daily routines of work and outings and
meetings...our short span in Singapore is nearing completion...So we will be back to India
soon…
Sunitha & Reji
A
story tells that two friends were walking through the desert. At some point of the
journey, they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face. The one
who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, he wrote in the sand: “TODAY
MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE”.
They
kept on walking, until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one who
had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drawing, but his friend saved him.
After he recovered from the near drawing, he wrote on a stone: “TODAY MY BEST FRIEND
SAVED MY LIFE”.
The
friend who had slapped and saved his best friend, asked him: “After I hurt you, you
wrote in the sand, and now, you wrote on a stone!, Why?
The
other friend replied: “When someone hurts, we should write it down in sand, where the
winds of forgiveness can erase it, but when someone does something good for us, we must
engrave it on a stone, where no wind can ever erase it.
Akihiko Nara
It’s nearly eighty years now
The Club was started by the Judge
The Y’s Men’s Club was chosen then,
The Aussie boys soon heard of this,
A very strong club there was formed
They struggled sometimes with the name,
Then came equality of sex,
Finally the name change came,
No explanations needed now,
Y Service Club or Y’s Men’s Club:
Phil Sparkel/Les Jones
If you have difficulties with the rhyme start practicing
Aussies’pronunciation, just in time for the Youth Convocation in Sydney!
International Service Director YIA
Mr John Gammals
Sjöfaragatan 7 C 40
02320 Esbo, Finland
International
Service Director STEP
Mr Austin Lin
2F1, 152 Chein-Kuo South Road, Section 1
Taipei 106, Taiwan
Intermational
Service Director YEEP
Mr Toshiharu Shimura
1-17-5 Hongo, Toride-city
Ibaragi Pref, 302-0022 Japan
International
Service Director TOF
Mr Gerard Hueting
9 Langford Drive
Mapua, Nelson New Zealand
International Youth representative
to be appointed at International Youth Convocation, August 2002
Send your articles, pictures, requests and jokes to
Chung June-ho
Youth Intern
Y's Men International
9 Avenue Sainte-Clotilde
CH-1205 Geneva
Switzerland
The next deadline: 25 September