YMCA is a Christ-centred, Youth-focussed and Mission-oriented Movement and seeks to get engaged with society in its march and envisages a “Return to the Lord and Build a Shared Humanity” with the mission to build : A Youth Movement, Spiritually Strong and Socially Relevant.
The first World Council was held in Paris in 1855 and adopted the ‘PARIS BASIS’ which is the foundation of the movement.
| Paris Basis |
| “The Young Men’s Christian Association seek to unite those young men who, regarding Jesus Christ as
their God and Saviour according to the Holy Scriptures, desire to be his disciples in their faith and in their life and to associate their efforts for the extension of His Kingdom amongst young men.” |
Towards achieving the goals, the Indian YMCA Movement delineated the following directional thrusts :
- Mission Clarity
- Youth Participation
- Women’s Empowerment
- Transformational Programmes
- Civil Society Formations
- Movement Building and Resource Mobilization – human and material.
The implementation process will embody the Mission of the ‘Challenge 21’ enunciated in Frechen, Berlin in July 1998 at the XIVth World Council of YMCAs :
“To share the Christian ideal of building a human community of love with justice, peace and reconciliation for the fullness of life for all creation.”
The India YMCA Movement gave effect to the following :
- To campaign against AIDS (PLWAs)
- To work towards empowerment and enablement of women in the securement of their rights; for the implementation of the Youth Forum
- Reinforcing efforts towards environmental protection and ecological sustenance
- Encouraging young people’s involvement in the nation democratic process and spearheading people’s movement towards just and civil society.
The Action Plan for the triennium 2004-07 envisaged the following at the national level :
- Consultation on emerging national issues like threat to secularism, religious fundamentalism, human right etc.
- Seminar/Symposium/Workshop on contemporary Christianity/Mission of the YMCA.
- Consultation on HIV/AIDS Networking and follow-up; Inter-faith dialogues involving representatives of other faiths, beliefs and traditions.
- Observing World YMCA/YWCA Week of Prayer and World Fellowship.
- Special programmes design to integrate youth into the national mainstream, especially in Kashmir and north-east.
- National Tournaments, Basketball and Table Tennis.
- National Student Assembly (Uni-Y and Hi-Y Fellowship).
- National Youth Assembly and Camp/Youth Forum.
- National Youth/Cultural Exchange Programme (inter-YMCA).
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