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The undersigned Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) had the joy of virtually attending the 110th session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) that took place from May 27th to June 10th.
The CSOs wish to extend our welcome and felicitations to Mr. Gilbert Houngbo for being appointed as the new Director General of the International Labour Organization (ILO). We are sure that this new stage will come with many successes for ILO, and all partner organizations. We would like to express our hope for the continuation of the excellent collaboration between the ILO and the CSOs, as has been the case for so many years.
The importance of the topics discussed has increased our awareness of the seriousness of this subject and its impact on the lives of workers around the world. We were highly privileged to have been able to participate in this Conference, as observers, to examine and contribute to each theme through our allies in the various delegations, and to deepen our understanding of some of the issues that workers in particular experience on a daily basis.
Cardijn was born on November 13, 1882. The 140th anniversary of his birth will be celebrated in the church of Our Lady of Laeken, Belgium on November 13, 2022 at 11:15 am. You are welcome to attend! You could also organize a celebration wherever you are!
In the church of Our Lady of Laeken, there is a very simple tomb: the tomb of Joseph Cardijn, the founder of the YCW, who died in 1967 at the age of 85.
A sentence is written on the wall: A young worker is worth more than all the gold in the world. It is a CRY, a CRY of denunciation of a dominant system that destroys personal dignity, solidarity, the environment...
It is a CRY of demand, a goal of action and struggle, a rallying CRY. That sentence sums up the feeling that drove Joseph Cardijn deep inside.
The International Young Christian Workers (IYCW), together with YCW Peru, will be organizing its XV International Council and exchanges of actions and good practices on engaging young people in Lima, Peru, from 23rd October to 8th November 2022 with the theme, “Called to Act for Just Work”.
This will be the first event we are holding in person after the spreading of Covid-19 and the many challenges we had to face, and we will count on the presence of 14 national movements and more than 45 delegates from Asia-Pacific, Africa, Europe and Latin America.
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.
The activists of the Venezuela YCW (JOCV) held their XXVII National Council (NC) in the city of Sanare, Lara State, on April 8-9-10, 2022, with the participation of many people, among them 34 young official delegates from 5 regions of the country (Caracas, Bolivar, Lara, Portugueza and Zulia), with the support of adult collaborators and a representative of the International YCW Secretariat as guests.
The NC was held in memory of our companion Paul Priou, a great reference for the YCW of Venezuela who left this world a few months ago but who remains present in the heart of every young worker as mentioned by Elibeth Villaroel during the official opening of this XXVII NC.
The JOCV had developed an extensive process of preparation, in times of pandemic, convening all current activists, former leaders and adult collaborators, in the national territory and outside the country, in order to enrich the process and the conduct of this NC, despite the impacts created by the international economic blockade and the internal crisis that the country is facing.
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?
- More than one million houses have been destroyed or damaged.
- Access to clean water, food and shelter are the most pressing needs.
- We are seeing people with respiratory infections, fever, skin diseases and diarrhoea.
- An urgent scale-up of the response is needed from humanitarian groups and others.
- 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 25th August 2022, the IYCW is celebrating its 65th 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.
- Young Workers of the World: Unite and Stand for Peace, Justice and Equality!
- The IYCW Post-Covid Coordination Is Stronger Today Thanks To Team Members Who Have Completed their Mandates
- March 8: How Far is Our Struggle to Improve the Lives of Women All Over the World?
- The IYCW Stands with the People of Ukraine and Russia Who Do Not Want this War
- The Joseph Cardijn Digital Library looking for volunteers
- The IYCW Demands Access to Covid-19 Vaccines for Every One - Fast!
- Statement on the events in Colombia
- IYCW Statement on May Day, International Workers' Day - The Way Towards Dignified Work in this Time of Global Pandemic
- Silence is Not an Option, End Police Repression!
- International Women's Day, March 8, 2021 – For the IYCW, “Young Women Are at the Forefront of Change”
- “From crisis to conversion” - 11 international Cardijn-inspired movements call to use the crisis for holistic change
- To Meet Post Covid-19 Challenges, the IYCW Calls To Work With and For Young Workers
- Listen to the Cry of the Most Vulnerable in the Most Crucial Time We Face as Humans! And Take Steps in their Favor!
- IYCW Statement on the International Day for Decent Work
- 63rd Anniversary of the International YCW: Fighting for a just and dignified world!
- IYCW demands valorization of domestic work(ers)
- Press release of the International YCW for 1st May
- On May 1st, the International YCW asserts the right to live and work in dignity!
- "Working for a Promising Future", IYCW Intervention at the ILO Centenary, ILC 2019
- International YCW Statement Regarding the Political Situation in Venezuela