Returning to my Home Town

Well it is Friday evening and what a week! By now you all probably know I have the best job in the World. This week started last Sunday when I boarded the afternoon flybe flight out of Leeds Bradford to Belfast. The wind was strong and the take off was bumpy to say the least. On arrival into Belfast I checked into the hotel that was reported to be the most bombed hotel in the World when I was growing up.

Probably the best part of my job is meeting and colliding with some of humanities best. I was going to spend a day with around 25 young people from Ireland, England, Kosovo and France who have organised themselves and were successful in securing a European Grant to build relationships and learn about cultures and communities from their respective countries. The President of the YMCA in Ireland is Andy Hamilton, he must be all of 27 and Chairing a National Board of the YMCA across two countries and two culture and the lead person responsible for the funding application which made this happen,

The guys who were leading on this were five extraordinary young YMCA Leaders. Adi Davies I met by chance at a YMCA conference in England, Andy Hamilton and Darryn Cosby who I met on an International Leadership Programme I was involved with. Rachel Dyne who at the time was working YMCA Tees Valley and I met interviewing her for a place on a Peace Work seminar in Bangladesh and Dorina Lluka Davies the National General Secretary if the YMCA in Kosovo who I met at a conference in San Francisco. Our lives were about to focus on where I grew up and my home town YMCA. Before that we would visit the so called Peace Walls in Belfast and memorials on both sides of the wall,

This was the second time I had met the full group. The last time I met them I recall sitting on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral in London telling these folks stories about the person who founded the YMCA some 170 years ago and showing them were he is buried alongside Duke of Wellington and Admiral Nelson in the crypt of St Paul's.

Darryn was picking me up at the hotel on Monday morning. As I was getting into the car Darryn lifted his Mayoral chain of the passengers seat and put it on the back seat. You see, Darryn, although still in his twenties, is also the Lord Mayor of one of the new super Councils in Northern Ireland and one of the first things he tells me is, he has an interview tomorrow for the CEO position in the YMCA in Portadown.

We travel to a Youth Centre in Belfast and are greeted buy this picture of faces that I last saw on the steps of St Paul's in London. None of the participants over 25 and I know that Rachel had recently returned from the United Nations in New York where she had moderated a panel on the YMCA's Global research, One Million Voices into the aspirations and dreams of young people across the World and Dorina who had also spoken at the UN about her experience of being a refugee in Kosovo during the recent conflict.

Along side is other participants who are, apprentices, living in YMCAs, volunteering in various leaderships position and at University, all with bright eyes, open faces and portraying something of the richness that comes from the young people who populate our communities, our world, when they feel safe and trust those around them

After a great introduction to the Belfast recent conflict and Peace Walls we went and visited the walls and memorial places and then off to Stormont, the seat of the Northern Ireland Assembly. After going through the security checks we enter this Iconic building. It seemed like out of nowhere the First Minister arrived and greeting Darryn with a hug and kiss on the cheek. Yes there were minders around and cameras but there was a a feeling of relaxation that comes when there is trust and relationships. It was clear we were welcome and trusted. The First Minister even collaborated in photo bombing a selfie with a lad from England and Ireland. We spent I guess 45 minutes with Arlene Foster MLA. First Minister for Norther Ireland. This I suspect was an experience that the full group will remember.

From there we had some time off and a coffee was in store, We then headed to my hometown and the YMCA where 49 years ago I went to the door and asked if I could come in, I was 11, they said you need to be 14 and here I was. Bradley and Rian from Carrick YMCA changed from being part of the group to being the hosts and you could see in their eyes and their faces what I will call pride. Absolutely beaming. We then had a fantastic evening. I have to say that I also had the sense that it was my hometown YMCA and Rian and Bradley and the whole of YMCA Carrick done good.

I traveled back to England on Tuesday morning and was in London on Wednesday and the rest of the week at my desk. I watched on social media the folks posting about their experience and travelling home and I think about the change we have all been through. When you are 60 like me I am still affected by such experiences but I also remember what is felt like years ago when I was in my teens and twenties and having such experiences. They are intense and those who have not experienced what we have will not always understand the change we have been through. Patients and Love helps that process.

The final gathering of the group will be in Kosovo and I am looking forward to going to spend another day with every one of these souls.

~standingontheshouldersofgiants

Learning about Reflective Practice

Blog by Smahan Soussi YMCA Youth Ambassador from YMCA North London

It’s been great coming back to meet the group I met back in October on the first part of the programme, from Kosovo, Northern Ireland and England I met back in October, I have been very excited to go to Northern Ireland to continue the second part of the programme, I must say the facilitators kept the schedule secret and they have definitely exceeded my expectations.

So far we have met new people through connections that Greenhill YMCA have i.e. a youth work lecturer and a reflective practice trainer. They both gave us a lot of knowledge about both subjects and how they can be improved within our YMCA’s.

We have also visited Londonderry YMCA and met some of the staff, young people that use the youth centre and the CEO who also gave us a tour and showed us more about the history and current conflict that affects Northern Ireland daily. I personally wasn’t aware of the conflict in much detail and have now seen for myself that this is still very visible today, through segregation with peace walls and communities staying within their areas.

 Today we learnt about the definitions of reflective practice, why this is so useful and ways we can implement this through good practice at our local YMCA’s. We also looked at the Gibbs framework model and used this with our own examples that we have already been through and would’ve changed if we reflected on this.

We also interacted with each other to find out the similarities and differences within our own personal upbringing and looked at how this could affect us whilst working with young people and how people’s natural behaviours that are acceptable within their community can be translated in a completely different way from a person with a different type of upbringing.

We also went on to challenge ourselves and make good use if our team work skills. The first activity was laser tag where we were split into two team and had to shoot each other using a laser tag gun.

The second activity we were again split into two groups, the group I was in completed the low ropes course and the other group completed the zip wire. The main aim of the low ropes challenge was to get from the start to the end of the course without touching the floor, using only ropes and metal bars. Without the help of each other this challenge would’ve never been completed, we thought of different methods together and helped each other to complete the challenge.

The last part of the day we watched a motivational true story that showed courage, motivation, passion and never giving up on your team. These are the qualities a good youth worker should have and this proved that with a good youth worker and a good team behind you anything is possible.

From Naomi - Northern Ireland Day 2

I didn’t really know much about the conflict in Northern Ireland before today, so today’s session was really insightful and eye opening for me.

The morning started with a few talks on the history of the conflict in Northern Ireland, the struggles with equality, and we learnt a little about what the YMCA is doing to bring the different communities together through youth work and outreach programmes.

We then went to Londonderry YMCA and met their General Secretary Willie Lamrock , two of their youth workers and a few of the young people that attend the youth clubs. It was lovely to see and hear about the work they do to unite communities.

We then headed into the walled city where Willie gave us a walking tour around the walls of Derry Londonderry. Earlier in the day we had talked about the so called “Peace Walls” that divide the communities to stop violence, on the tour we got to see them for the first time (for most of us). We could clearly see which parts of the city were dominated by which communities, and I found it quite shocking as I had no idea this conflict and divide was still happening.

Conflict and divide in communities is a big issue in so many different countries and I feel as though it is not talked about enough in England. A lot of us are not knowledgeable about more recent history or current affairs, is this down to lack of interest or lack of education? Maybe the two fall in together. Im going to go back to my YMCA to see if we discuss history or current affairs with the young people we interact with, and if not, how we can bring these discussions into our work.

I am looking forward to the rest of the week, and learning new things everyday.

A small reflection

So a week ago today, I was in the UN. Today, I'm back to the day job supporting young homeless people. Two very different worlds, one movement!

So I have yet to update you on the events of the Tuesday sessions! The One Million Voices Launch went really well in spite of the small hiccup in the morning. This small hiccup was a problem of getting access to the UN building... our passes said 0900 but the breakfast started at 0700 and security had no information of us being allowed into the building. We eventually got into the UN at 0830. Only 30 minutes behind schedule. There was a need for speed but what was key was to still get the important message of OMV across. Which upon reflection I feel this was achieved. Some meaningful questions were asked and it helped increase the visibility of the work of the World YMCA on an international level. As for moderating, well that was an experience. Despite the nerves and anticipation, I feel that every time I put myself that far out of my comfort zone, I learn something new about myself.

I'm sure many of you have seen the video of Dorina Lluka-Davies and her speech at the UN, if you haven't, you need to find it on the World YMCA's YouTube channel. Impressive isn't the word. Dorina talks passionately and honestly about the importance of youth participation and her personal experiences relating these to the current situations facing young people all over the world today. The YMCA is not just any space, it is a safe space where we believe in young people and their abilities to change the world, to have an impact on themselves and their communities. This is important when looking at the SDG's, as Dorina mentions, they are the ones that will be sat where I was sat, sat where the member states representatives will be sat in 15 years time. I was blown away by her speech, her courage and I am privileged to call her my friend and colleague!

As the conference due to a close and as a delegation we had our last meal together, it was like we had known each other years not days. When there is nothing else connecting you but the YMCA, there is something special there.

I was very lucky to have a little time to explore the city of New York. Dorina and I couldn't not spend some time in Times Square before I had to dash off to the train station to catch my plane back to the UK.

Now that I have been back to normality and had time to process everything that happened over the last week, from the UN back to reality I think I am still pinching myself that it actually happened.

When I think about the work element, a number of reflections have come to my mind. The ECOSOC itself... I had expectations that it would be a lot more action focused with talks around how we see what work is already being done to address the SDG's, what work still needs to be done, how we monitor and track success with the SDG's. It wasn't so much of this. It was a lot more talking about the SDG's in general. I would be keen to see over the coming years the role INGO's and especially youth INGO's play in achieving and monitoring the SDG's. For me, they play an extremely vital role in it; they are the ones already doing the work.

This experience has been a once in a lifetime - how do I bring this back to the local work I do in YMCA Romford? This is something I am still thinking on...

They are all just people...

It has been a long and busy day, all started with s delicious breakfast with Romulo and Dorina. Great way to start the day, full of energy. Although exhausted and probably still a bit jet lagged (my body woke at 3am local time), it was a day full of emotions. Nerves and excitement; that up and down feeling of a rollercoaster. As soon as we were sat in the room (with our names on our seats) it became apparent, everyone in the room, despite the titles, we were all just people all there for the same reason. To try and make the SDGs a reality and look at how we work with young people to ensure they are achieved.

One comment from the start of the day, the "Setting the Scene" Interactive (by interactive, they mean pre selected people with prepared statements to stick to time) discussion that stuck with me was one of the opening comments from Guy Ryder, Director General, International Labour Organisation. He was speaking about the 10 things people get wrong about young people. His first, and in my opinion, most important; we talk about young people being the leaders of tomorrow. this is wrong because they are a reality today. They are here in the room today. They are taking up leadership positions all over the world today. For me, there is no clearer image of this when you look at the number of young people taking up leadership in the YMCA - it may not be a paid position, but that doesn't change the fact that it is leadership! Mr Ryder raised a number of other extremely valid points including "we should work for young people" (correction, we should work WITH young people), "young people need support" (correction, we need investment).

Throughout the morning there were many valid points raised by key speakers and member nations. The one question I would pose them is; it is very well to sit in a comfy room and speak about these things but what about doing something to make them a reality?? There were some concrete examples of nations doing this from Cambodia, Costa Rica, Singapore to name a few. All interesting stuff...

The afternoon was in breakout groups looking at some of the key issues in the SDGs. I choose SDG 5 - Gender Equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Now this is a hot topic for most and I do not want to go into the detail of all the discussions - if you are really interested I suggest you look on the UN ECOSOC website for the key notes. I am going to talk about what I took away from it; gender equality is not a woman's issue but a humanity one! Gender equality is not about talking about the violence and oppression in all it's shapes and sizes with women - women know what is happening to them. Most know about the issues our gender is facing all over the world; from acid attacks, rape to FGM. It is about equality - this means talking to all about it. Teaching young boys and girls about it from a young age and how to challenge it in their societies to bring about change. Throughout the conversation and the discussions about what work needs to be done or is being done, I was amazed to think that the YMCA is doing this already - yes we need to do more with everyone else, but we have started. From projects in India, to Africa even to work in hostels in England. We are doing something to address the inequalities faced by women on a daily basis. Something to be proud of that's for sure!

At the end of a long day, nothing better than enjoying a drink at the South Korea embassy hosted by the Secretary General of the ECOSOC Youth Forum! Chatting to different people about the work the YMCA does on such a grand scale. And a cheeky selfies with the UN Secretary's General Special Envoy on Youth; Mr Ahmad Alhendawi..

Another full day tomorrow starting at 6.30am for breakfast before moderating the side event panel discussion on research where World YMCA is discussing our One Million Voices Project. Stay tuned for more on that... nervous!!!