Responding to Pope Francis’s call for young economists, entrepreneurs, practitioners and changemakers to “give a soul to the economy” and work towards an ecologically responsible economy that cares for all and leaves no one behind, more than a thousand young people from different parts of the world came to Assisi, Italy for the Economy of Francesco 2022 Global Event from 22 to 24 September.

They were days full of meaningful encounters, bridges and harvest. A space to share and listen to the stories, to learn about diverse initiatives and best practices, to connect with young people from other parts of the world, and to be part of a shared global commitment that seeks change.

Young people, including the representative of the IYCW and the network on the Future of Work After Laudato Si project where we belong, shared powerful spoken word pieces, echoing the very essence of the Economy of Francesco: “We are the women and men of listening and dialogue, connecting bridges and seeking to give soul to the economy.” Motivated and empowered by the encounter, the community proceeded to build bridges as ongoing projects were shared and ideas exchanged. Possible collaborative actions were sought to identify ways to transform towards an ecologically and socially responsible economy.

Sanghar is one of the 23 districts of the Sindh province that were declared calamity-hit by the Sindh provincial government. [Rehan Khan/EPA]

One third of Pakistan has been inundated by floods, causing widespread destruction, leaving over 1,000 people dead and over 1,500 injured. At least 33 million people have been affected and millions of young workers have lost their jobs.

What is happening?

1. More than one million houses have been destroyed or damaged.
2. Access to clean water, food and shelter are the most pressing needs.
3. We are seeing people with respiratory infections, fever, skin diseases and diarrhoea.
4. An urgent scale-up of the response is needed from humanitarian groups and others.
5. People must be safeguarded before further rains arrive.

The Pakistan YCW is calling all leaders and members of the International YCW everywhere to support young workers and their families, especially children and women affected by the floods. The Pakistan YCW is working day and night to collect and deliver needed items including drinking water, water purification tablets, hygiene kits, medicines, vaccines, therapeutic nutritional supplements for children, pregnant and lactating women, and mosquito nets.

The Pakistan YCW also wants to help young workers resume their job and will support the government to re-establish critical services for young workers, children and women as soon as possible.

In these difficult times, your support can save lives. Your contribution can help the Pakistan YCW reach more young workers and families with critical, urgent and life-saving supplies.

If you wish to help the Pakistan YCW, please make a donation to the International YCW bank account which will transfer the money to the local leaders.

Bank: BELFIUS
Account holder : JOC Internationale aisbl
IBAN account: BE50 0682 2908 4018
SWIFT code: GKCCBEBB
Purpose of the donation: Support YCW Pakistan

On behalf of the Pakistan YCW and the flood victims, thank you very much for your generosity, solidarity and donations.

On this day of 25^th August 2022, the IYCW is celebrating its 65^th anniversary as an international movement of young workers. We are celebrating the first YCW world assembly in Rome in 1957, marked by the birth of the YCW as an international movement.

As we celebrate the anniversary of the IYCW, we also celebrate the different actions and campaigns we have carried out over the years. We celebrate all the changes we brought into our society, communities or even in our lives as individuals and in the lives of young workers who are fighting for a better future. We also celebrate our values and aspirations that keep on motivating us to be actors in our societies and to be the key for change.

Looking back at our history, Cardijn developed and built the YCW as a movement in 1925. Today, almost 100 years later, the IYCW continues to build the movement by reaching out to more young workers in precarious conditions and developing action that will change our situation.

We would like to take this moment to remind all young workers of what we have accomplished as a movement of young workers all over the world and the progress we have achieved.

We have never stopped believing that young workers are worth more than money and more than all the gold in the world. The YCW must give more hope and call all the young workers wherever they are to act for a just world and dignity.

We encourage every activist and member around the world to continue carrying out actions and activities to reinforce our campaign on just work, equality and dignity for all young workers. We also urge you to take a good look and note your achievements; let this motivate you to continue because the fight is far from over and there is more to be done, so we need every young worker to stand together so we can all build the new society in which everyone is equal and every work is valorized.