World Alliance of Young Men’s Christian Associations
Aim
Share the good news of Jesus Christ and striving for spiritual, intellectual and physical well-being of individuals and wholeness of communities; empower all, especially young people and women to take increased responsibilities and assume leadership at all levels and working towards an equitable society; advocate for and promote the rights of women and upholding the rights of children; foster dialogue and partnership between people of different faiths and ideologies and recognising the cultural identities of people and promoting cultural renewal; commit to work in solidarity with the poor, dispossessed, uprooted people and oppressed racial, religious and ethnic minorities; seek to be mediators and reconcilers in situations of conflict and working for meaningful participation and advancement of people for their own self-determination; defend God's creation against all that would destroy it and preserve and protect the earth's resources for coming generations.
History
The World Alliance of YMCAs was founded in 1855 at its first World Conference, held in Paris.
IRD Activities
- Inter-faith Dialogue
Fostering dialogue and partnership between people of different faiths and ideologies and recognising the cultural identities of people and promoting cultural renewal. Local and National YMCA Associations are strongly rooted in their communities. Depending on the local context and priority issues affecting young people, YMCAs operate in a wide range of programme areas including inter-faith dialogue.
Main Focus Countries of Activities
Angola - Cameroon - Ethiopia - Gambia - Ghana - Kenya - Liberia - Madagascar - Nigeria - Senegal - Sierra Leone - South Africa - Tanzania - Togo - Zambia - Zimbabwe - Australia - Bangladesh - Cambodia - China - Timor-Leste - Fiji - India - Indonesia - Japan - South Korea - Malaysia - Myanmar - Nepal - New Zealand - Pakistan - Philippines - Singapore - Sri Lanka - Thailand - Viet Nam - Canada - Armenia - Austria - Belarus - Belgium - Bosnia and Herzegovina - Bulgaria - Czechia - Denmark - UK - Estonia - Finland - France - Georgia - Germany - Greece - Hungary - Iceland - Ireland - Italy - Kosovo - Latvia - Lithuania - Macedonia - Malta - Moldova - Montenegro - Netherlands - Norway - Poland - Portugal - Romania - Russian Federation - Serbia - Slovakia - Spain - Sweden - Switzerland - Turkey - Ukraine - Argentina - Aruba - Bahamas - Barbados - Belize - Bolivia - Brazil - Cayman Islands - Chile - Colombia - Costa Rica - Cuba - Dominican Republic - Ecuador - El Salvador - Guatemala - Guyana - Haiti - Honduras - Jamaica - Mexico - Nicaragua - Panama - Paraguay - Peru - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - Suriname - Trinidad and Tobago - Uruguay - Venezuela - State of Palestine - Egypt - Israel - Jordan - Lebanon - USA