A Short History of Chittagong YMCA

While initial discussions about starting the YMCA in Chittagong began in 1972, the first informal meeting of interested leaders took place on 12 May 1973. At that meeting it was decided to call for a larger gathering. The date fixed was 26 May 1973, the venue was the Christ Church Hall situated at 69 Jubilee Road. Information about the meeting was announced in all the local Churches in Chittagong. It was at this meeting that an Ad Hoc Committee and an Advisory Board were formed to campaign for membership and to take further steps in organising the YMCA.

The members of the Ad Hoc Committee were: Messrs. D.K. Biswas (President), J. Matthias (Vice President), M.S. Baroi (Secretary), Augustine Pare (Asst. Secretary), U.N. Roy (Treasurer), John Bose (Member), S. Karmakar (Member). The Members of the Advisory Board were Messrs. Michael S. Das, B.I. Hillary, B. Gangully and Rev. Fr. S. Broughton.

Through the kind permission of Christ Church Vestry Committee, the Christ Church Hall was used at times for meetings of members. Mr. Michael Das , as a leader of the Christ Church Vestry Committee, played a pioneering role in the formation and development of the Chittagong YMCA. It was through his first contribution of Tk. 800 raised together with his other business friends, the first programmes of the Chittagong YMCA were started.

Mr. Michael S. Baroi, who is now a Bishop of the Church of Bangladesh, a man of great vision and dynamism, gave important leadership as the Secretary of the newly formed YMCA by contacting the local leaders. He also contacted Mr. William Harte, who was then based in Dhaka as the Director of the "YMCA Services in Bangladesh", which was a project of the Refugee and Rehabilitation Department of the World Alliance of YMCAs in Geneva. Mr. Bill Harte, hearing about the initiatives taken to form the Chittagong YMCA, made a visit on 30 June 1973.

Thereafter, the development of the Chittagong YMCA moved very quickly. On 22 July 1973, the Ad Hoc Committee and the Advisory Board were merged together to form the Board of Directors with Honorary Office Bearers. Mr. A.R. Mitchell was elected President and Mr. Michael Das became the Hony. Secretary of the newly formed Board. On 12 August of the same year, a Personal Committee was formed to recruit a full time General Secretary of the Association. Applications for the position were invited through advertisement in the local newspapers. The selected person was none but Mr. Bart Shaha.

1. Non Formal Primary Education Program

2. Vocational Training Centre

i) Electrical Training Centre

ii) Sewing Training Centre

3. Community Organising

4. Leadership Scholarship Program

5. School Stipend Program

6. Migrant Workers Counselling Centre

1. Kindergarten School

2. English Language Course

3. Musical & Art School

4. Guest House & Conference Room

5. Chittagong YMCA Printers

1. Annual Picnic

2. Christmas Re-union

3. Easter Re-union

4. Leadership Development Program

5. Youth Development Program

6. World Week of Prayer

7. Seminar’s on different issues

1. Typing Class

2. Shorthand Course

3. Carpentary Training

4. Relief Program

5. Adult Literacy Program

6. Press Training Centre (letter-press)

This project started in 1997 with a view to increase the literacy rate & also to educate the distressed children of the society. The beneficiaries of this program will be habituated to go to school; they can do simple reading, writing mathematics of their regular life.

2. Vocational Training Centre

This program started from July 1991 with a view to train up the unemployed & distressed youths in electric trade. From inception to till now (July 2000) a total number of 180 students passed out from this centre. Most of these 180 youths are now employed. Each of them is now became an earning member of the family.

The objective of this program is to impart training in sewing to destitute women in the society with a view that they may enhance their family income by doing some job works. A total number of six hundreds women has been trained on this stated trade up to June 2000.

This project started in May 1995. The Objectives of this project are as follows:

l To organise the distress women through group formation.

l To help them to be self reliant through income generating activities.

l To build the social awareness among them.

l To empower themselves economically, socially and politically.

Upto July 2000 a total number of 33 female groups consisting 493 group members has been formed under this project. The total savings of these 33 groups are Tk. 3,06,271.00. Loan has been extended to 190 group members till date for income generating purposes.

Through this program each year a total number of 40 students are provided with stipends of Tk. 150 per month. These stipends are primarily meant for the ex-students of our Non-formal Primary Education Program (NFPE) who are presently studying in other High Schools.

Income Generating Program

Since 1986 this YMCA has been operating the Kinder Garten School. Initially it was being operated at our YMCA Zakir Hossain Road Center, later it was shifted to the YMCA Bhavan in the year 1989. From the year 1994 a new Kinder Garten School has been started at YMCA Patharghata Center and later this school was shifted to YMCA Alkaran Center.

This program was inaugurated from almost the inception of the Chittagong YMCA. It was infact the first self-reliant project of this Association. Spoken English is a felt need of the community in general and Ctg. YMCA is able to contribute towards meeting this need.

From August 1991, a Cultural School has been started at the Chittagong YMCA Bhavan. Children are learning dancing, music, tabla and art/drawing. Six teachers are employed for this School. Classes are held on the evenings of every Thursday and Friday.

In September 1997 Chittagong YMCA took lease of the old Office of Caritas at 25, Poet Nazrul Islam Road, Alkaran. Kinder Garten School, Community Organising Program, Sewing Training Program, Non Formal Education Program, English Language Program are being operated here. Beside these, there are also guest house facilities in this centre. Generally various NGOs are using the Guest House and the Conference Room for training purposes.

With a view to run two Non-Formal Primary Schools in the city of Chittagong with 300 students in each school and Two Vocational Training Centers (Electrical & Sewing), this Press started its operation on commercial basis from December 1999. The Offset Printing Press located in the premises of Chittagong YMCA.

Panel of Chairmen

Mr. A.R. Mitchell — 1973-1979

Mr. J. Matthias — 1979-1981

Mr. Errol Robertson — 1981-1982

Mr. J. Matthias — 1982-1987

Mr. Alexander Pereira — 1987-1988

Mr. Errol Robertson — 1988-1990

Mr. Alexander Pereira — 1990-1992

Mr. S. A. Karmaker — 1992-1993

Mr. John Flavian Quiah — 1993-1994

Mr. Charles D.K. Baroi — 1994-1996

Mr. John Flavian Quiah — 1996-1997

Mr. Noel G. Gonsalves — 1997-1998

Mr. Derek Gomes — 1998-1999

Mr. Paul P. Mondle — 1999- 2000

Mr. Alfred Biswas — 2001-2002

Mr. Akhilla D' Rozario — 2002-2003

Mr. S. Arnold Karmaker — 2003-2004

Mr. Alfred Biswas — 2004-2005

Mr. Alfred Biswas — 2005-2006

Mr. S. Arnold Karmaker — 2006-2007

Mr. Bartholomew Shaha — 1973-1981

Mr. A.B. Shikder — 1981-1985

Mr. Duncan Chowdhury — 1985-1997

Mr. James Gomes — 1998-2005

Mr. Leon Crowley — 2005-

Some More Information about Chittagong YMCA

l First Official Meeting — May 12, 1973

l First General Gathering — May 26, 1973 (at Christ Church Hall)

l First Ad Hoc Committee & Advisory Board formed — May 26, 1973

First Ad Hoc Committee Members

President — Mr. D.K. Biswas

Vice President — Mr. J. Matthias

Secretary — Mr. M.S. Baroi

Asstt. Secretary — Mr. Augustine Pare

Treasurer — Mr. U.N. Roy

Member — Mr. John Bose

Member — Mr. S.A. Karmaker

Mr. Michael Das

Rev. Fr. S. Broughton

Mr. B.I. Hillary

Mr. Antony Bimal Ganguly

l First Office — Christ Church Hall

l Shifting of Office to own premises,

YMCA Bhavan, East Nasirabad, Chittagong — February 16, 1989 (Property purchased in April 1988)

For further details please contact:

Mr. Leon Crowley

General Secretary

Chittagong YMCA

950/E CDA Avenue,

East Nasirabad, Chittagong, Bangladesh

Phone 880 31 652083

email :  ctgymca@abnetbd.com