Bartholomew Shaha appointed as the new Secretary General of
the World Alliance of YMCAs
We are glad to inform that Mr. Bartholomew Shaha, from Chittagong, has been appointed as the new Secretary General of the World Alliance of YMCAs. His appointment was unanimously confirmed by the 15th World Council Meeting of the YMCAs held on July 14 - 21, 2002 at Oaxtepec, Mexico, attended by over 800 delegates from around the world. The World Alliance of YMCAs presently works in 125 countries, and has a membership of over 45 million members. Its headquarters is located in Geneva, Switzerland.
Mr. Shaha, 55, started his YMCA career as the first General Secretary of Chittagong YMCA in 1973. He has been extensively and actively involved in the YMCA at local, national and international levels of leadership of the YMCA Movement. He is currently the General Secretary of the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs, a regional Alliance of YMCA Councils in 27 countries and territories in Asia and Pacific with its headquarters in Hong Kong. He served as the National General Secretary of the National Council of YMCAs of Bangladesh from 1988 to 1992.
A son of our beloved motherland, Bangladesh, we share with the Nation, our profound joy and gratitude to God Almighty on his appointment to the highest executive position of the world YMCA body. He is the first South Asian, in the long history of the World YMCA, to be selected to hold this important position.
Mr. Shaha will succeed Mr. Nick Nightingale of England, and will assume executive leadership of the World YMCA from October 2002. He will move with his family to Geneva, Switzerland in January 2003.
The Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) is an international Christian, ecumenical, voluntary movement working for the development of individuals in body, mind and spirit, and for the transformation of society. It works with all people regardless of their race, gender, or religious beliefs in building a community characterized by justice and peace. Founded in 1844, it now works through 14,000 local YMCAs around the world. The 125 National YMCA Movements constitute the World Alliance of YMCAs of which the YMCA of Bangladesh is a member. The World Alliance of YMCAs holds consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations.
Mr. Bart Shaha (as he is widely known) is the eldest son of Mr. Peter Shaha, a prominent leader of the community and highly respected teacher (retired) of St. Placid High School, Chittagong.