About YMCA
The YMCA, sometimes called the Y, is a worldwide organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, with more than 64 million beneficiaries from 120 national associations. It was founded on 6 June 1844 by Sir George Williams in London, originally as the Young Men's Christian Association and aims to put Christian principles into practice by developing a healthy "body, mind, and spirit".
The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) was founded in response to unhealthy social conditions arising in the big cities at the end of the Industrial Revolution. Growth of the railroads and centralization of commerce and industry brought many rural young men who needed jobs into cities like London. They worked 12 to 16 hours a day, six days a week. Far from home and family, these young men often lived at the workplace. They slept crowded into rooms over the company’s shop, a location thought to be safer than London’s tenements and streets. Outside the shop things were bad — open sewers, pickpockets, thugs, beggars, drunks, lovers for hire and abandoned children running wild by the thousands.
From its inception, it grew rapidly and ultimately became a worldwide movement founded on the principles of muscular Christianity. Local YMCAs deliver projects and services focused on youth development through a wide variety of youth activities, including providing athletic facilities, holding classes for a wide variety of skills and humanitarian work.
The YMCA tradition is not new to India. Way back in 1857 synchronous with the First War of India’s independence, the very first YMCA in Asia took roots in the-then Calcutta, the second Capital of the British Empire. In 2007 the Indian YMCA movement joined the YMCA Calcutta in celebrating the 150 years of the YMCA in India. The National Council of YMCAs of India was formed on Madras on February 21, 1891 through the initiative of David Mc Conaughy, who also became the first National Secretary of what then was called the Indian National Council of YMCAs, the forerunner of the National Council of YMCAs of India. The national headquarters shifted to 5, Russell Street in May, 1902 and in 1964, it finally shifted to the old one-storey Massey Hall where it was located till 1975 with the very last relocation thereafter till date in the three-storeyed Bharat Yuvak Bhavan on Jai Singh Road, New Delhi-110001 in 2002.
- Compassion - To recognize the needs of others especially the last, the lost and the least, and then take action to help
- Servant leadership - To desire to serve first, then to make the conscious choice to take the lead to act
- Honesty - To speak and embody the truth, to act and to be worthy of trust, and to have integrity in making sure our choices (decisions and actions) are in line with our Christian values
- Accountability - To be accountable for our behavior and our actions in meeting our obligations
- Respect - To treat others as we would have them treat us and to value the worth of every person
- Excellence - To strive for best practices
About YMCA Cuttack
Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) is situated in the heart of the city of Cuttack, on the bank of river Mahanadi, in the state of Orissa, India. Remnants of the ancient “Barabati Fort” near YMCA, stands as a symbol of social and cultural heritage of Cuttack- the “Millennium City” or “Silver City”. YMCA Cuttack has spread its activities at many places in Orissa. YMCA Cuttack is one of the oldest YMCAs in India and is part of International YMCA Movement. It was established in 1893 by “Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Das” (Utkal Gourav meaning pride of Orissa). Over the ages YMCA Cuttack has grown manifold both in terms of area of coverage and fields of intervention.
Through its various projects and programs, YMCA Cuttack caters to the specific needs of the youth and vulnerable groups. It has always promptly responded to people’s needs with appropriate interventions, more so, when the needs are acute like after natural disasters. Laying emphasis on educating and empowering people and focusing on youth, YMCA aims at creating a society based on the community. YMCA Cuttack identifies itself and work with the people to form a community based on the spirit of self-help and local autonomy. In collaboration with other organizations and groups, YMCA, Cuttack involves itself in issue-based campaign and advocacy with specific objectives addressing specific groups. It has recently joined WE CAN-Campaign to End Violence Against Women (CEVAW) – a campaign launched by OXFAM, GB in South-Asian countries with youth as its prime focus. Games and sports is a priority on the agenda of activities of YMCA. YMCA, Cuttack not just provides games and sports facilities for its members but also extends regular coaching to the younger to develop on their talents. It boasts of has producing many state and national level players in games like Table Tennis and Badminton. YMCA, Cuttack has been involved in supporting the needs of deprived/vulnerable children. Through running non-formal schools for tribal children and child laborers, it has enabled them to attain literacy and join mainstream education.
YMCA, Cuttack at its headquarter at, Old Secretariat Road, Cuttack City houses a 60- bed hostel for students and working men. The three-storied building also offers facilities like Conference Hall, Reception Hall, Guest Room, Grand Dormitories, Games and Sports (Table Tennis, Futsall and Badminton). Throughout the year YMCA organizes various programmes for different Groups of people. It also makes intensive efforts to uplift the vulnerable and downtrodden through various short and long term programmes.