YMCA-Dagupan City, Philippines

Monday, August 27, 2012

Nobel Peace Prize

1901: Henry Dunant, who co-founded the Geneva YMCA in 1852, and was one of the founders of the World Alliance of YMCAs, won the first ever Nobel Peace Prize for founding the International Committee of the Red Cross in 1863, and inspiring the Geneva Convention (Convention de Genève). He shared the prize with Frédéric Passy, founder and President of the first French peace society.
1946: John R. Mott, USA, President of the World Alliance, won the Nobel Peace Prize for his "long and fruitful labours in drawing together the peoples of many nations, many races and many communions in a common bond of spirituality". John R. Mott also played an important role in the founding of the World Student Christian Federation in 1895, and the World Council of Churches in 1948.
2008: Martti Ahtisaari

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YMCA

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Youth and Teen Development (After-school Programming)

The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago offers multiple leadership programmes in safe, welcoming environments throughout the city. Our programmes focus on enhancing skills, building confidence, and improving academic performance. By providing young adults the opportunity to learn and grow, we are creating a healthier and stronger community.^[34] YMCA After-school Programmes are geared towards providing students with a variety of recreational, cultural, leadership, academic and social for development:

In regards to recreation YMCA provides athletic leagues for students in participating neighbouring schools. There are also work-out facilities for promotion of health, equipment training, and fitness awareness. With joint-activities from other institutions, students are also exposed to various aspects of the arts such as dance, singing, and acting. (Availability of specific activities can vary by programme) With a number of students coming from various communities, diversity is promoted for understanding of individuals with different backgrounds and cultures. Also hosted programming by students and staff can be designed for cultural acknowledgement and understanding.

Leadership is promoted through mentorship and the following of the four core values—caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. Students are also given the opportunity to assist with developing, organising, and hosting programming ideas.

In regards to academics, activities are designed to improve academic performance with tutoring and aided homework sessions with staff; students also assist one another. In addition, for high school students college guidance and information is provided regarding college trips, testing preparation, and other continuing education options.

Lastly, social activities are provided to ensure the development of interaction and engagement amongst the students. Everything from field trips, games, dances, and educational discussions are organised for students.

Overall, these programmes serve as second homes with care, support, and encouragement for youth.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Core Values of YMCA

In the United States, the YMCA parent/child programmes under the umbrella programme called Y-Guides, (originally called YMCA Indian Guides, Princess, Braves and Maidens) have provided structured opportunities for fellowship, camping, and community-building activities (including craft-making and community service) for several generations of parents and kids in kindergarten through third grade.^[32]

The roots of these programmes stem from similar activities dating back to 1926. Notable founders of YMCA Indian Guides include Harold Keltner, a St. Louis YMCA director, and indirectly, Joe Friday, anOjibwa hunting guide. The two men met in the early 1920s, when Joe Friday was a speaker at a local YMCA banquet for Fathers and Sons that Harold Keltner had arranged. Today, Joe Friday and Harold Keltner are commemorated with patch awards honouring their legacy which are given out to distinguished YMCA volunteers in the programme.^[32] In 2003 the programme evolved into what is now known nationally as "YMCA Adventure Guides". "Trailblazers" is the YMCA's parent/child programme for older kids. In 2006, YMCA Indian Guides celebrated 80 years as a YMCA programme. Several local YMCAs continue to employ the Native American theme, and some YMCA Indian Guides groups have separated from the YMCA and operate independently as the "Native Sons and Daughters Programmes" from the National Longhouse^[33]

In some programmes, children earn patches for achieving various goals, such as completing a designated nature hike or participating in Y-sponsored events. Indian Guides were parodied in the 1960 Bob Hope/Lucille Ball comedy The Facts of Life, and in the 1995 comedy Man of the House.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YMCA

Friday, August 24, 2012

YMCA Bible Study

The first YMCA was concerned with Bible study, although the organisation has generally moved on to a more holistic approach to youth work. Around six years after its birth, an international YMCA conference in Paris decided that the objective of the organisation should become "Christian discipleship developed through a programme of religious, educational, social and physical activities" (Binfield 1973:265).

Restore Ministries of the YMCA of Middle Tennessee provides an example of how the Christian influence in the YMCA still exists today.^[14] Founded in 2000 by Scott Reall, Restore provides support groups and individual counselling with an aim of "lifting the 'C'" (of the YMCA).^[15]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YMCA

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Brief History

Older versions of YMCA

The oldest organisation that was similar to the YMCA is the Swiss Basel Association, founded in 1787 as the Lediger Verein. In 1834, the Bremen Jünglingsverein was founded in northern Germany. The Nazis would close all German Jünglingsvereine in the 1930s, but they would be re-established after the war as CVJMs. The oldest association in the United Kingdom similar to the YMCA was founded in Scotland in 1824 as Glasgow Young Men's Society for Religious Improvement. The FrenchSociété Philadelphique was founded in Nîmes in 1843.

1870s to 1930s – an influential period

The YMCA's most influential period since its conception could be between the 1870s and 1930s. It is during this time that they most successfully promoted "evangelical Christianity in weekday and Sunday services, while promoting good sportsmanship in athletic contests in gyms (where basketball and volleyball were invented) and swimming pools."^[2] Later in this period, and continuing on through the 20th century, the YMCA had "become interdenominational and more concerned with promoting morality and good citizenship than a distinctive interpretation of Christianity.^[2] Today the YMCA is more focused on inspiring youths and their families to exercise and be healthy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YMCA