Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA)

Y's 100 years young BY SHARON KAM THE YOUNG MEN'S Christian Association, more popularly known as the YMCA, is familiar to both the young and old, men and women. While the worldwide movement has been around for 160 years, the Kuala Lumpur chapter (YMCA KL) celebrates its 100th year this year. Since it was founded by Sir George Williams in London in 1844 for the development of young Christian men (women were not allowed to join then), the YMCA has spread internationally and crossed borders of religion, gender, race and age. In Malaysia, there are two other YMCAs in Ipoh and one each in Penang, Kota Kinabalu and Sibu. Each YMCA is given the mandate to run the association and provide activities which are suitable for the local community. "We do not touch politics, we just want to transcend divisions and create peace and unity," says YMCA KL executive director Albert Chong. Through the decades, YMCA KL in Brickfields has humbly gone about serving and implementing programmes and activities for the benefit of the local community. Today, it continues to host a myriad of activities for members and non-members, at very reasonable costs. YMCA KL has been the pioneer in areas of social work such as setting up the first senior citizens' group in Malaysia in 1984. "We cannot be put under one category. We are a non-profit organisation whose main objective is to promote social development of the community, children, youth, the elderly. "As long as there is a need, YMCA must respond, and so we evolve with the needs of the times," says Chong. Its success and the fact that it has existed so long whilst remaining strong is due to its fluidity and not remaining static. Each YMCA is also given the right and the freedom to serve as it deems suitable in its local community. "We can serve according to the times, the country and the environment in which we serve," says Chong. Incorporated on Oct 27, 1905, the first YMCA premises called the YMCA Rooms was located in a shoplot at 3, Watkin Street, near the railway station in Kuala Lumpur. In 1908, the government gave it a piece of land in Brickfields. It has not moved since. During the Japanese Occupation, the headquarters was used by the army as its base. Unfortunately, most of the association's early records were burnt and destroyed. When the association was revived, members decided to expand the facilities. The main building, initially located nearer to the main road where a petrol station now stands, was replaced by the current building in 1968. YMCA KL now has some 3,000 members with the youngest being a five-year-old. "Those days, most of the members were British and it was successful because of the financial support from the Chinese towkays such as Loke Yew," says Chong. Today, most of its funds are derived from the government, corporate bodies, individual donors, public donations and earnings from the operations of the YMCA hostel which has been in operation since 1931. YMCA is a hive of activities almost everyday from morning till night, seven days a week. The YMCA logo, which is in the shape of a triangle, represents its emphasis on the total and holistic development of the person ­ development of the body, mind and spirit. There are language courses, martial arts classes, ballroom dance classes, and sports facilities like tennis and basketball courts. Many of the sports we play today, including basketball and volleyball, were invented at YMCAs around the world by its members. Other than the self-development centre for the deaf, there is also a childcare centre. Senior citizens also have their gatherings regularly while talks, camps and forums are also held. There is also an active Boys Brigade. Chong himself became a YMCA KL member when he joined the English classes offered almost 20 years ago. "We believe that the way to meet the needs of people is to have a broad spectrum of activities so that people have greater chances to develop themselves. We help ordinary people in every way, not just the poor and the deaf; which is why we have self-development classes," says Chong. Among the more popular courses are the language courses for which part-time tutors are hired. YMCA budget accommodations are well-known icons of the movement around the world. Today, however, some YMCA hotels such as the one in Hongkong, have reached the standards of five-star hotels. With its worldwide network of affiliations, YMCA's "chain" of hostels and hotels can be considered the oldest and largest "chain" of hotels in the world. YMCA KL is affiliated through the National Council of YMCAs of Malaysia with both the Asia Pacific Alliance of YMCAs and the World Alliance. The Mission of the World Alliance is expressed in its motto: "That they may all be one" and also through what is known as the Paris Basis which states the YMCA's goals of working for unity and for a society characterised by justice, peace and love. Its international link also means that it has a network of resources which can be shared. Although the YMCA board is made up of Christians, its work transcends religion and race although it initially faced difficulties from people who were suspicious of its intentions. "Personally, the 100 years have been humbling and we give thanks to God that we have reached so far and help people with our limited resources," says Chong. For the centenary celebrations, events have been lined up until Oct 29, as Oct 27 is the day it was founded. On Oct 29, there will be a Centenary Charity Golf event in aid of its centre for the deaf or Pusat Majudiri Y, followed by a thanksgiving service and the anniversary dinner at a hotel. Those interested in the golf event or buying tables for the dinner, please call 03-2274 1439.