YMCA in South Africa History of the YMCA in South Africa

YMCA Growth Efforts in South Africa

South African Economy

Sports in South Africa

Developing Inroads in South Africa

The YMCA in South Africa has a long history of progressive service in the country. The organization is the largest NGO and Africa and was on the forefront of combatting apartheid in South Africa. However, today the organization faces a new set of challenges; the most notable of which is a high youth unemployment rate, one of the highest in the world actually. The YMCA is in the best position to help this demographic with their history in the region as well as the infrastructure they have already built. The YMCA seeks actively seek additional funding so that they can leverage their position to positively affect youth opportunities in this region.

History of the YMCA in South Africa

George Williams founded the YMCA in 1844 when joined 11 friends to organize the first Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), a refuge of Bible study and prayer for young men seeking escape from the hazards of life on the streets. The first South African YMCA was established in Cape Town in 1865 followed by subsequent locations which opened in Pietermaritzburg and Durban a few years later. The first locations were set up to primarily serve young British men who immigrated with their families who were employees temporarily or permanent residents and these locations were backed by some of the most influential families in the country.

Max Yergan was first secretary that was placed in South Africa and he didn't receive this position until he went to serve in 1921. From this point on the YMCA stood as a force in racial integration in the country which manifested a half century later.

"In 1985 the World Council of YMCAs passed a resolution condemning the South African government's policy of apartheid as a crime and "a permanent violation of all human dignity and of the most elementary civil rights." South African YMCAs solidified their policies towards racial integration, both in membership at the YMCAs and in the employees of the YMCAs. They promoted education of young Africans whose potential had been impaired by the process of "separate development." The YMCA also selected a joint task force for action on apartheid whose responsibilities were to follow up on the recommendations and agreements emerging from the World Alliance delegation's visit to South Africa and the international meeting on apartheid. The YMCA also began a Youth In Exile project that provided services to youth who were displaced and living as refugees in the countries bordering South Africa due to the economic and military destabilization efforts of the South African government.

The YMCA took a strong stance on ending apartheid in South Africa and has deep roots in that country's political movements in the twentieth century.

YMCA Growth Efforts in South Africa

The YMCS South Africa represents a large organization that is involved with a multifaceted growth campaign that consists of many different efforts. One of the global movements that South Africa is a member of is referred to as the "one million voices" campaign.

"The World YMCA's One Million Voices (OMV) project will contribute to the understanding of youth perspective on social justice issues and barriers and opportunities relating to employment, health, civic engagement, and organizational involvement. We will hear young people 15 to 24 years' collective and individual orientation on individual, family, and society, and present and future orientation. The learning will inform the policies and practices of youth-serving agencies everywhere, inspire new programmes, funders and advocates for empowering youth.

The South African YMCA is participating in the effort and hosting an international workshop to train young people in research and interview techniques so that they can return to their domestic countries and survey young people to understand what specific challenges they face in different areas. The results of this effort are designed to impact the lives of young people in more meaningful ways based on their unique circumstances.

The African alliance in general is the oldest NGO in the country with about seven million participants and collaborates with a wide variety of national movements by conducting research, developing local as well as continental programming, monitoring and evaluating progress, as well as communicating the impact of different programs. In this manner the African Alliance of YMCAs (AAYMCA) cooperates with many other NGOs to address social and environmental concerns in Africa as a whole including issues such as health and education.

South African Economy

The South Africa economy has taken a toll in labor unrest movements that were most violent in 2012 and since that time it has become less violent yet has become more widespread through...

The major economic movements in the region include:
Labour unrest and the persistently sluggish environment in Europe and the United States impacted on growth, but the situation should improve in 2014 as the global economy improves and a cheaper rand boosts exports.

With almost 25% of the population (and 65% of young people) without work, unemployment is South Africa's largest social challenge. The National Development Plan of 2012 stipulates crucial measures for the acceleration of structural and education reforms.

South Africa is an important hub in the global mining value chain, a regional assembly hub in the global automotive value chain and a key player in the regional finance and retail value chains. It should capitalise on these links as engines of growth at home.

The unemployment rate is one of the most challenging situations that the country faces with critical levels of unemployment. Given that the over sixty-five percent of the country's young are out of work, the YMCA is a critical support organization to this demographic.

Sports in South Africa

Sports in South Africa are still heavily segregated by race. The most popular sport is most likely soccer and is the favorite of the black population. Cricket and rugby is especially people with the European linages. The country also excels in running with several Olympic medals from some of its prominent runners. The YMCA in South Africa has a Y-Health program that supports health and fitness in the youth population and is being implemented in:

Soweto (Y-Fit gym on the premises)

Pietermaritzburg

Cape Flats

Greater Durban (Y-Fit gym on the premises)

Developing Inroads in South Africa

The YMCA in South Africa is already strategically positioned to make the most impact in the county's most influential trend which is youth unemployment. The problem with youth unemployment is not just a South Africa problem and the trend is evident globally. However, almost half the world's young people live in South Asia, the Middle East and Africa, the regions with the highest shares of youngsters out of work or working informally and it is no coincidence that South Africa has some of the strictest rules on hiring and firing and one of the worst youth-unemployment problems in sub-Saharan Africa.

The YMCA is already involved in vocational training programs. However, to specifically combat youth unemployment in South Africa it should expand these programs as quickly as possible. The YMCA needs to find grant money from NGO's or possibly the South African government so that it can expand its programs. Through work development programs the YMCA can substantially add value to the society. Another aspect of youth unemployment is that a large proportion of youth's will have a lot of time on their hands.

Another major effort of the YMCA is to try to channel the energies of these demographics into positive channels. In many cases youth that are poor and have a lot of time on their hands can resort to many negative activities. The YMCA should also create as many activities for the youths as possible to create positive outlets for them. The YMCA is already doing a fantastic job, however given the specific challenges that the country is facing, more could be done. The YMCA should seek out as much funding as possible given the situation as it is in the best position to help the youth on many levels given that they have a long history in the country and have already constructed a solid infrastructure.

Works Cited

Cuthbert, M. (2014, September 23). One Million Voice training in Durban. Retrieved from YMCA South Africa: http://www.saymca.org.za/content/one-million-voice-training-durban

F, J. (2013, May 8). Why is youth unemployment so high? Retrieved from The Economist: http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2013/05/economist-explains-why-youth-unemployment-so-high

Kumo, W., Rielander, J., & Omilola, B. (2014, 8-24). South Africa. Retrieved from African Economic Outlook: http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/southern-africa/south-africa/

YMCA International. (2013, March 20). One Million Voices. Retrieved from YMCA International: http://www.ymca.int/what-matters-now/featured-stories/?tx_newsflexible_article%5Bid%5D=140&cHash=30b3ab312b280ab7b2b877cbd883985c

YMCA. (N.d.). History - Founding. Retrieved from The Y: http://www.ymca.net/history/founding.html

YMCA of the U.S.A. International Division. (N.d.). Records of YMCA international work in South Africa. Retrieved from Kautz Family YMCA Archives: http://special.lib.umn.edu/findaid/html/ymca/yusa0009x2x38.phtml

YMCA South Africa. (N.d.). History. Retrieved from YMCA South Africa: http://www.saymca.org.za/content/history

YMCA South Africa. (N.d.). Sginature Programs. Retrieved from YMCA South Africa: http://www.saymca.org.za/content/signature-programs