YMCA Youth Training on Values Education

A Youth Training on Values Education organized by the National Council of YMCAs of Bangladesh took place on 12-16 August 2010 at the YMCA Training Center, Savar, Dhaka.  

The prime aim of the training was to promote values education and make aware YMCA youngsters to start campaign to promote moral values in the society. Twenty- Six Youth members and two General Secretaries of the Local YMCAs attended the training from 10 local YMCAs.

The training started with morning devotion and community building. The participants had practical exposure in the beginning.  Each local YMCA got space to share their youth activities and their youth problems in terms of values practice.  Through the practical exposure participants pointed out that positive values practice was necessary to protect the mother earth and to be a good human being. In the afternoon, Nirmal Rozario, President of the Christian Co-operative Credit Union Ltd, Dhaka led a session on Leadership Style & Human Resource Management. He elaborated on different leadership styles and indicated that each style is the manner and approach of providing direction, implementing plans and motivating people.

Symon P. Adhikary, President of the National Council of YMCAs of Bangladesh encouraged participants to practice good values within the YMCA  and society as well as, he shared his personal experience on practice of values. He added that without sound moral values we can’t be a good leader. Duncan Chowdhury, National General Secretary, spoke on Youth Realities of Bangladesh. He mentioned that the youths are suffering from unemployment, political conflicts, lack of religiosity and migration. He also marked the areas where youth needs attention in development of education, creation of jobs,  loans for personal business initiatives and proper use of resources.

On 14 August, a whole day training was conducted by Kazi Rayhan Jamil, Coordinator, Youth & Teacher Formation Program, Caritas Bangladesh. He explained meaning of values and morality with his testimony and good parables.  He told, ethical judgment and logical inquiry help us to be a committed and enlightened person. He encouraged participants to practice core values which are honesty, justice, kindness and compassion.

In late afternoon Maryline Baskey from Dinajpur YMCA  and  Balmi Chisim  from Birisiri YMCA shared their experience on the 17^th World Council Meetings of the World Alliance of YMCAs, Asian and World Youth Forum  held in Hong Kong from 16-24 July 2010. Balmi Chisim told she is motivated to work on MDG (Millennium Development Goals) within the YMCA. Bappu Mree, Acting Secretary of Edilpur shared about EASY Net (Ecumenical Asia Pacific Students and Youth Network) who attended recent a national program of EASYNet.

On 15 August, Father Adam S. Pereira, csc, Professor of Notre Dame College, Dhaka conducted Faith Reflection session. Jesus is concerned for Youth and Jesus was a youth, this was the core discussion of his session. He also shared the life of Jesus and the vision of the Father. There was a photo exhibition to reflect the face of Jesus. Live witnessing of values was another touchy moment which had linkage with the faith reflection. In the afternoon,  the participants had time for action plan and each participant committed to take one particular values which he or she will practice in daily life. One of the important part of the training was that the participants collectively took a campaign strategy on moral values and they had committed themselves to a campaign to promote moral values slogan in society amidst declining trends.

The participants took part in deliberations after each session and also met on group meetings and expressed their views in the common sessions. The participants also creatively prepared daily journal on values and day long report which added  value of the training. The participants concluded the seminar with creative cultural show and signed on campaign slogan which would be promoted across Bangladesh through local YMCAs. The three day long training was facilitated by Bipul Alite Gonsalves, Executive Secretary and assisted by Tapan Karmakar, Associate Secretary of the National Council of YMCAs of Bangladesh.