Visit to Hong Kong

Fiona was welcomed by the President of the YWCA of Hong Kong, Patricia Ling, and CEO, Miranda Chan. They were joined for dinner by sisters from Sweden, China, Norway, Denmark, Taiwan, Hong kong, and Switzerland, as well as World YWCA President, Susan Brennan, from Australia, and World YWCA Vice President, Ping Lee, from Taiwan. The atmosphere was warm and all those present felt pride and a strong connection with the YWCA movement.

Upon arrival, guests were welcomed, greetings were shared and everyone was invited to attend World YWCA Council in Zurich, Switzerland in July 2011. The YWCA of Hong Kong then showed a video presenting their association and the work they do.

During her stay, Fiona had the opportunity of visiting the beautiful building of the YWCA of Hong Kong located on Hong Kong Island. It includes offices, a gym, a pool, activity rooms and classrooms and a hotel with a staff of some 1,500 and 500 volunteers. The main focus of the YWCA of Hong Kong is the “enhancement of life”, whether for small children, families or the elderly. The association has over 30,000 members in Hong Kong and the new territories and is a major community social service provider in the area, offering 83 services ranging from pre-school to secondary education, pre-employment training for school leavers, sports activities for the elderly, a help line, workshops, staff training, an internet dating service, etc. Thanks to the first hotline dedicated to women in Hong Kong, established 25 years ago, some 90,000 people have, to date, received professional counselling and assistance. The association is also actively engaged with other YWCAs in the region and exchange visits and training have been carried out with China and Singapore.

The various YWCA representatives were in Hong Kong to attend the 17th World Council of YMCAs, under the theme “Striving for global citizenship”. 1,000 people, including 400 young people, attended the six-day event, preceded by a 3-day youth forum. The Council took place in the village camp of the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong in the new territories of Hong Kong. The setting is beautiful with sea and mountain views, and the halls, classrooms, sports facilities and accommodation all impressive.

Part of the youth Forum was a youth concert “Tribute to Gaia: Concert on the Environment”, at which Juwita Suwito, the General Secretary of the YWCA of Malaysia performed. Another artist who performed was Chemphe from Ghana.

The theme of global citizenship and how to build strong YMCAs to fulfil this promise was extensively discussed and during the time for worship, a large globe was symbolically used to reflect on how we as humans deface the globe and how we can care for it better in the future. The YMCA movement highlighted its main challenges: the Christian aspect, youth involvement, building sustainable associations and branding.

Attending the YMCA World Council was also a good opportunity to connect with the joint movements of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland and Estonia and have a closer look at their involvement in the forthcoming World YWCA Council in Zurich, especially as it is hosted by a joint association – the YWCA YMCA Switzerland (CEVI). Discussions were also held with family donors - YGlobal, Norway, Y CARE international UK, Horyzon Switzerland – and emphasis was put on the importance of collaborating with men over the issues of sexual and reproductive health and rights, HIV and AIDS and and violence against women, as well as getting men involved in World YWCA Council 2011.

Related link:

• www.ymca.int