13th YCW International conference opens in Accra

Accra, Aug. 12, GNA – The 13th Annual International Conference of the Young Christian Workers (YCW) opened in Accra on Saturday.

The two-week Conference, which brought together young workers from 40 countries across Africa and the World, was under theme: “Young Workers as Actors of Change”.

Ms Geethani Peries, International President of The IYCW said recent reports from the International Labour Organization revealed that between 2007 and 2011, youth unemployment had increased by four million at the Global level, “this is a huge increase on the previous ten-year period.”

She said YCW see the reality of these effects on the lives of young workers in the poorer countries of the World as well as the wealthiest.

Ms Peries noted that the trickle-down effect of the global financial crisis impacts on young workers more than almost any other group in society and that young people were often at the bottom of the rung and often needs protection.

“Young people must take up the cause of young workers and continue the struggle to improve their working conditions, fight for dignity and be actors for change”.

She the conference would provide Young Christian Worker (YCW) an opportunity to join with young workers across the World in their struggle to take action for just work, gender equality and quality education and hope, and that this will develop the solidarity needed to support the campaign the IYCW will develop during these days.

Mr Lucas Anao Apiining, National President of the YCWM, Ghana, said, the summit attracted about 75 workers and supporters from all over the world, to evaluate, analyse, plan, coordinate, strengthen and realize the IYCW international social protection campaign.

He said the objective of the movement was to organize young workers across the World to fight for change in their living conditions as future leaders, adding that, “it's time to build a new world fighting together, and acting together as we need to fight for the freedom of all.”

Mr Apiining noted that the founder of the movement believes that young workers were wealth more than all the gold in the world and that the movement was to help young workers evaluate their progress.

The Chairman of the ceremony, Most Reverend Gabriel Charles Palmer-Buckle, Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra shared an encounter of Jesus Christ and a young rich man with the participants.

He said young people below 35years of age in Africa constitute about 65 per cent and that they were the majority and deserved to be treated as future leaders.

He advised them to be serious with any activity that they might find themselves in and appealed to them to be dedicated and committed to their religious duties.

The YCW was founded in 1912 by Cardinal Joseph Cardjin from Belgium, who believed that “Young people are worth more than all the gold in the world.”

GNA