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Dear friends,
Two-thirds of the worldwide YMCA leadership met online last week: the themes were COVID – what we are still doing and will do for as long as it takes for Recovery, and what we are starting to do for Reimagination – and also the way that the pandemic has exposed the underlying faultlines of poverty, inequality, vulnerability and discrimination in our societies, as the areas that YMCA must work on.
As we shared ideas at the global level, we all know that everything ultimately comes down to YMCAs on the ground at the local level. The global YMCA and the Area Alliances and the 120 national movements exist to serve their local members and be relevant to their needs. And right now, our thoughts are with our colleagues in YMCA Myanmar, where we have been present for 70 years in Yangon and in 17 local YMCAs across the country, serving an estimated 120,000 people every year. Three of our colleagues - Nyein Nyein Myat, Phyo Thiri and Su Su Kaing - have been arrested, but thankfully released. But one - Ronnie Lyan, the General Secretary of Hakha YMCA - remains under arrest since 10th February. We keep Ronnie and his family, and all the young people of Myanmar, in our prayers, and continue to do all that we can to secure Ronnie’s release.
Carlos Sanvee, Secretary-General, World YMCA
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Worldwide leadership meetings 2021
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Supporting its members as they emerge from COVID – with World YMCA serving its YMCA National Movement members, and they in turn serving their local branches worldwide – was the principle reaffirmed as two-thirds of the global YMCA Movement, met online from Thursday 25 to Saturday 27 February 2021.
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Addressing Systemic Racism
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Y USA ran an ‘Unlearning Systemic Racism’ virtual town hall meeting on Thursday 24 February. World YMCA Secretary General Carlos Sanvee made a passionate plea for a world of dignity, equity and compassion. The aim of the event was to share resources that can help YMCAs take steps – individually and collectively, working alongside the communities they serve – to create a more just, equitable and anti-racist society.
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The World YMCA Annual Report 2020 charts both the immediate and the long-term practical and strategic response (‘Resilience’, ‘Recovery’, ‘Reimagination’) to the COVID-19 pandemic, which severely affected YMCA’s activities in the course of the year. For the first time, the report is issued alongside those of the YMCA Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Latin America & Caribbean regions.
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YMCAs support the COVID vaccination roll-out
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YMCA strongly believes that the COVID-19 vaccination is a moral right for every person on the planet who chooses to exercise it. Here are a few examples of YMCAs who are stepping up to support the vaccination campaigns in their communities.
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Working with refugees and migrants: YMCA at the forefront
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A global conference on YMCA work with refugees and migrants was run by YMCA Europe on Friday 19 February 2021. Almost 100 participants from 26 countries joined the session, with special focus on the 57 YMCA projects currently being run by 15 YMCA National Movements in Europe.
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8 March: International Women’s Day
9 March: Virtual networking event for YMCA delegates participating in CSW65 (UN Commission on the Status of Women)
14-26 March: NGO Forum on the UN Commission on the Status of Women
25 March: 'Together We Stand Against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence' (Asia Pacific Area Alliance of YMCAs)
19-20 March: World YMCA Executive Committee
27 March: Earth Hour (20:30 local times)
7-8 April: ECOSOC Youth Forum
23-25 April: Global Youth Summit (Global Youth Mobilization for Generation Disrupted)
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120 National YMCA Movements across four Regional Alliances, North America and the Middle East, reaching some 65 million people a year
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AFRICA
"To dare and to hope": YMCA Togo has released the new issue of their LEADER magazine (French-speaking only). Read more
ASIA & PACIFIC
From 27 February to 29 May 2021, join the YMCA of Singapore's YMCA Inclusive Challenge. This is an awareness and fundraising event in support of youth with special needs which brings you to the top of Mount Fuji. Read more
EUROPE
"The Real Thing: Educating Young People Through Crisis Management" programme by YMCA Dublin (Ireland) aims to support young people in coping with lockdowns. Read more
MIDDLE EAST
Have a look at the beautiful photos of the YMCA Permaculture Ecological Farm of Jericho (Palestine). Read more
NORTH AMERICA
The team of YMCA Greater Toronto (Canada) is sharing their Top 10 Listening List for Black History Month 2021. Read more
LATIN AMERICA & CARRIBEAN
On 12 February, the YMCA of Bogotá (Colombia) marked Red Hand Day, standing against the recruitment and the use of child soldiers. Read more
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“I want to create a positive feeling towards reading. I believe that books are essential to share our culture and to discover the world. They are key to our personal and educational growth.”
Francesca Natalone is 27 and works for YMCA Siderno in Italy. She coordinates the renovation of their library, allowing local communities to access all sort of books and volumes. She wants to share her love for books.
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YMCA Setouchi in Japan takes a stand against bullying on Pink Shirt Day (always observed on the last Wednesday of February).
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