We Are Celebrating the 144 Years of Joseph Cardijn. Keeping His Vision Alive and Continuing the Fight: Another World Is Possible!

On 21 November 2026, at 2pm Brussels time, the IYCW (International Young Christian Workers) is organising a special event to celebrate the birthday of Joseph Cardijn, the founder of the movement.

November 13, 2026 is a special day: we are celebrating the 144^th birthday of Joseph Cardijn. Over a century after he began organising young workers, his vision and commitment remain highly relevant to the struggles we are facing today.

Cardijn believed in the dignity of every young worker and refused to conform to a society in which people were reduced to their economic value or treated merely as instruments of production. He was convinced that young workers were not simply victims of their circumstances, but rather people endowed with the capacity, intelligence, and sense of responsibility necessary to transform their lives, their workplaces, and, globally, society. He believed that young workers should not rely on others to speak or act on their behalf. They had to become protagonists of their own liberation and play an active role in building a different future.

His vision went far beyond improving individual working conditions. He imagined a society where people, rather than profit, were at the centre of economic, political, and social decisions.

A vision that remains a challenge to the reality we live in today

Looking at the world around us, we cannot ignore the contradictions between Cardijn’s vision and the reality experienced by millions of young workers.

We live in a world where economic growth and profit still take priority over human dignity; where unemployment, precarious work, informal work, and insufficient wages prevent young people from building secure lives; where access to social protection, decent housing, education, and healthcare remains unequal. Women continue to face discrimination, unequal opportunities, and the undervaluation of their work, particularly in the care sector. At the same time, wars and conflicts keep destroying lives and communities, while considerable resources are invested in military spending rather than in human and social development.

Technological and economic transformations are changing the world of work, but these changes do not automatically translate into better living and working conditions. Too often, young workers are expected to adapt to systems that offer little security, protection, or opportunities to participate in decisions that directly affect their lives.

These realities remind us that the struggle initiated by Cardijn is far from over. The question he raised about the dignity and future of young workers remains relevant for our generation: what kind of society are we building, and whose interests does it serve?

From Cardijn's vision to a collective responsibility

For Cardijn, recognising injustice was never enough. Young workers needed to understand their realities, develop their own analysis of causes and consequences, build a collective awareness and “alternative”, and take action to transform them. This conviction remains at the heart of the YCW method: See, Judge, Act.

The movement is not only a space where problems are discussed or experiences are shared. It is a school of life, a place where young workers organise, discover their capacities, develop their leadership, and become actors of change. Our actions, whether in workplaces, communities, or at the national and international level, are essential to challenge injustice, defend rights, and create alternatives.

The 16^th IYCW International Council called: “Young Workers Unite for Dignified Work and Lives!”

This is also the spirit that guided the 16^th IYCW International Council, held in the Philippines from 4 to 22 October 2026, under the theme “Together, We Build Tomorrow”.

Young IYCW leaders from different continents came together to share their realities, reflect on the challenges faced by their movements, evaluate their experiences, and collectively define the orientation of the IYCW for the coming years.

The adoption of the International Plan of Action for 2027–2030, under the call “Young Workers Unite for Dignified Work and Lives!”, is an important step in this journey. However, the real impact of the Council will not be measured only by the decisions taken or the documents adopted. It will depend on how these orientations will be carried forward. The responsibility now lies with all of us to turn our common commitments into concrete actions, to strengthen our movements from the grassroots, to organise more young workers, and to continue challenging the structures that cause inequality and exclusion.

The Council is over, but the fight continues!

As we celebrate Cardijn’s 144^th birthday, we are invited not only to remember his legacy but also to take responsibility for carrying it forward. His vision was never meant to remain in history books or become simply a source of inspiration. It prompts us to question the world we live in, to refuse to accept injustice as inevitable, and to continue working collectively for the society we want to build.

On this occasion, we also want to extend the exchange beyond the International Council and reconnect with our National Movements, especially those who could not participate in person.

We invite all National Movements, young workers, and friends of the movement to join us online on 21 November 2026 at 2pm Brussels time for a special celebration of Cardijn's birthday. It will be an opportunity to share reflections and experiences from the International Council, reconnect with one another, and renew our collective commitment to the future of the IYCW.

The world Cardijn dreamt of will not build itself. It requires our commitment, our organisation, and our actions. The struggle continues, and together, we build tomorrow!

How to participate: If you are interested in participating, please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. All welcome!