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Founders of YMCA
George Williams [October 11, 1821 – November 6, 1905] was born the youngest in a family of eight sons, on a farm in the misty hills of Dulverton, Somerset in England. As a young man, he was rebellious but eventually became a devout Christian. George Williams was appalled and concerned with the terrible condition in London that in 1844, he gathered a group of his colleagues addressing such issues by practicing Christian principles, and YMCA was formed since then. In 1894, George Williams was knighted by Queen Victoria in recognition of his “distinguished service to the cause of humanity”. Sir George Williams died in 1905 at the age of 85.
Jean Henry Dunant [May 8, 1828 – October 30, 1910] also known as Henry Dunant or Henri Dunant, was born in Geneva, Switzerland as the eldest in a devout Calvinist family and played a significant influence in the Geneva society. At age 18, Dunant joined the Geneva Society for Alms and in the following year, together with friends he founded the so-called “Thursday Association”, a loose band of young men that met to study the Bible and help the poor, spending free time engaged in prison visits and social work. On November 30, 1852 he founded the Geneva chapter of the YMCA and three years later, he took part in the Paris meeting devoted to the founding of its international organization. He won the first ever Nobel Peace Prize for founding the International Committee of the Red Cross in 1863 and inspiring the Geneva Convention.
George Williams ..........................Jean Henry Dunant
World Alliance of YMCAs
The World Alliance of YMCAs, based in Geneva, Switzerland, is a confederation of National Councils of YMCAs around the world.The World Alliance was established in 1855 making it one of the oldest youth movements in the world. The World Alliance has had consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations since 1947 and the headquarters is also in Geneva, Switzerland.
The World Alliance:
- Strengthens the capacity of National YMCA Movements by providing training and technical support, sharing good practices, resources, and minimum standards.
- Advocates globally on issues affecting young people in collaboration with, and on behalf of YMCAs.
- Represents the YMCA at global level with media, donors, United Nations bodies, ecumenical organisations and other civil society partners.
- Develops programmes to promote youth leadership - Provides leadership to the YMCA Movement on thematic and mission issues.
- Coordinates YMCA emergency response efforts.
- Facilitates communications within the world Movement through publications and multimedia.
World Alliance of YMCAs
12 Clos Belmont,
1208 Geneva, Switzerland
Phone: +41-22-8495100
Fax: +41-22-8495110
Website: http://www.ymca.int
The Asia & Pacific Alliance of YMCAs
The Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs is a Federation of 27 YMCA movements in Asia and Pacific countries and territories. It is an integral part of the World Alliance of YMCAs and the representative body of the YMCAs in this region. Formation of the then Asia Alliance as a regional body began in 1949. Today the Alliance comprises of the following YMCA movements in this region:
| Australia Bangladesh Cambodia China East Timor Fiji Hong Kong India Indonesia | Japan Korea Macau Malaysia Mongolia Myanmar Nepal New Zealand Pakistan | Papua New Guinea Philippines Samoa Singapore Sri Lanka Tahiti Taiwan Thailand Vietnam |
The main functions are:
- To promote cooperation among Movements in Asia and Pacific, with other YMCA Movements and the World Alliance while preserving the integrity and identity of each Movement.
- To promote in collaboration with the World Alliance and the Movements concerned the extension of the YMCAs in the region to serve new constituencies and new geographic areas.
- To coordinate and be responsible within Asia and Pacific for intermovement cooperation, programmes, projects, funding, staffing and other plans including those with Movements from other areas, upon mutual agreement with the World Alliance and the Movements concerned.
- To search continuously for the meaning of the Christian message in the YMCA in the Asian context and encourage National Movements to fulfill their Christian Mission in the life and work of each YMCA.
- To review from time to time the needs, problems and opportunities in Asia and Pacific and determine the course of action that must be taken inclusive of the realm of social change such as justice and human rights.
- To promote the study, discussion and action on matters of common concern to the National Movements.
- To hold the Quadrennial General Assembly of the YMCAs in the region and to hold other Consultations and Conferences from time to time.
- To promote leadership development.
Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs
23, Waterloo Road,
Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Tel: (+852) 2780 8347 (+852) 2770 3168
Fax: (+852) 2385 4692
Email: office@asiapacificymca.org
Website: http://www.asiapacificymca.org
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