The IYCW hosted an Asian Youth Seminar in the Philippines last September 24-28, 2018. Twenty-six delegates from various organizations, partners in the Philippines and national movements in Asia participated in the meeting. The three international organizations, MIJARC, FIMARC and the IYCW developed a program with the support of Entraide and Fraternité-Belgium. It is a three-year partnership program deepening on the topic of (1) youth (2) food sovereignty and (3) gender.
Before the youth seminar itself, a two-day exchange program was held in Valenzuela City, Philippines to see the reality of the young contractual factory workers and of informal workers working in the street.
After almost five (5) years of struggle, the Philippines Young Christian Workers (PYCW) finally held its 34th National Council (NC) of) from 30th April to 8th May 2018 in Taytay, Rizal. Young workers (YW) delegates from five regions – Cebu, Negros Occidental, IloIlo, Metro Manila and Camarines Norte – participated in the NC to represent their regions and share the realities. The theme was: “Kilos Kabataang Manggagawa para sa Dignidad at Karapatan” (Young Workers Acting for their Dignity and Rights). Indeed, the movement believes that as actors of change, action should be the starting point in changing the realities of young workers and the way to transform the society through its Task of Education (TOE).
One of the highlights of the NC program was the exchange of leaders exposing the delegates to different areas of work in Valenzuela City. A first group visited the contractual group of Malanday, a second group stayed with the pedicab base group of Lawang Bato, and a third one visited a mixed group of young people in Vista Verde.
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It is with great sadness that the International YCW announces the passing of our brother, friend and comrade in arms, James Denteh.
James, a member of the YCW Ghana national movement, outgoing member of the IYCW International Team who assumed responsibility in the African continent over the 2012-2016 period, contributed to the dreams of many working-class youths around the world through his experience as an activist, and he leaves his footsteps and thoughts so that we can continue our struggle for a world with more dignity and more justice.
James, you are not gone; you are here in our lives and in the heart of each YCW member.
James, you are not gone; your ideas, your thoughts and your dreams are with us in our day-to-day struggles.
James, our YCW brother yesterday, today and forever.
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While the International Week of Young Workers comes to an end, young workers and activists in the IYCW carry out actions against precarious and unsteady jobs in the world, against inequalities in all aspects of life. Today, on the occasion of May First, we raise the flag of struggle together with popular and worker organisations and other groups acting in favour of promoting a new society where people are equal.
On the 23d of October 2022, the IYCW held the public opening of its 15th International Council in Peru as a symbolic show of unity of the struggles of the young workers organized by the movement. The context in which this international council took place was characterized, on the one hand, by the tide and ebb of the Covid19 pandemic and its various consequences on the people, such as the increase of unemployment and social inequalities. It was also marked by the great complexity of the international economic, cultural and political tensions between the current super industrial powers which even led the world to international armed conflicts. On the other hand, this council provided an opportunity to highlight the growing mobilization of the people, especially of the youth who were longing for a more just and fraternal world, as Pope Francis puts it, and for a more serious concern for their environment.
This important event took place in Casa de Retiro San Francisco de Asis in Lima. The public opening began with a wonderful cultural ritual performed by an indigenous woman from Peru who helped the participants connect with Mother Earth, Pachamama, and our ancestral spirituality. This was followed by the Eucharistic celebration, presided over by Dom José Reginaldo Andrietta, bishop of the Diocese of Jales in Sao Paulo Brazil, who was himself a former international chaplain to the IYCW. Bishop Reginaldo Andrietta was assisted by Father Alejandro Cussinavich, chaplain to the Peru YCW, and Fathers Santiago and Humberto Boulango from Peru.
The YCW is very close to completing its 100 years of existence, but before this glorious date, it was able to hold its 15th International Council in Peru from 27 October to 7 November 2022. It took place in a very special context because, like all organizations, the YCW has been very affected by the pandemic: unable to travel, the leaders of the movement, and sometimes even the grassroots groups, had to reorganize themselves, to move to virtual meetings as much as possible, and therefore to postpone the dates of the International Council twice. It was therefore unique and wonderful to be able to hold the Council this year.
Delegations from all continents and regions participated: North America, Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Western Europe, North and Central Africa, East and South Asia, and Oceania. For visa or other reasons, some delegations participated virtually. The council was also attended by former IYCW activists and representatives of the International Cardijn Association who, together with the activists present, did their best to collaborate to the smooth running of the council.
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The International Council of the International Young Christian Workers was a timely event organized by its activists every 4 years to identify where the movement is today, and how it will go forward. Our fast-evolving world has generated closer interaction among people but it has created different situations in every country and continent. These developments have had consequences and impact in the world of work, affecting thousands of workers, and young workers in particular.
The three-week activity started on September 21 and ended on October 9, 2016. It began with the exchange program hosted by YCW Germany, YCW Wallonia and YCW Flanders in 5 key cities in Europe, namely Brussels, Liege, Aachen, Munster and Wurzburg. 27 national movements took part in it, interacting and interchanging information about different realities of the young workers today: precarious work, temporary workers, migrants, refugees, unemployed, informal workers and gender discrimination at work.
- International Colloquy and Public Opening of the XIVth International Council
- International Plan of Action 2017-2020
- Women’s Participation and Empowerment
- Young Workers for Change Towards Decent Work and Fairer World
- Together in action for gender equality : YCWs from all over the world exchanging online
- IYCW Webinar: The Impact of Digitalization on Work, Life and Action
- December 12, 2020: Join the IYCW for a Webinar on The Impact of Covid-19 on Young Workers' Reality
- IYCW and ICYCW celebration of Cardijn's Birthday: The Spirit of Cardijn alive in the action of YCW today
- IYCW Panel Debate: "Popular Education as an Organizing Tool
- IYCW International Seminar, Bandung, Indonesia - August 2018
- YCW Europe develops a continental vision
- May Day Celebration in Laeken: Cardijn is still relevant today
- The International Team holds its annual ordinary meeting at a time of precariousness, unemployment, globalization and digitization of work
- Hidden Histories: The YCW movement in the German Democratic Republic
- Interview of Marlyse Thommen, a former international YCW leader, by Sam Kuijken from KADOC in Leuven
- A History of Representing the Youth Across the World
- Solidarity: from ‘dry Sundays’ to International Solidarity Campaigns
- International Day of the Domestic Worker: A look at the Brazilian YCW and the problem of domestic workers
- Archiving progress: what KADOC is doing to conserve the IYCW heritage
- IYCW History: Rome 1957, the IYCW bursts onto the scene