News of the Inauguration Ceremony
YMCA International House (A New project of Bangladesh YMCA)
A grand celebration on the occasion of Inauguration Ceremony of YMCA International House took place on November 12, 2021 at 4:00 pm. This new project is located at B-2, Jaleswar, PATC, Radio Colony, Savar, Dhaka-1343 (26 kilometer away from Dhaka Capital City). His Eminence Cardinal Patrick D’ Rozario CSC attended as Chief Guest. Ms. Patricia Pelton, President of World Alliance of YMCAs attended virtually as Guest of Honor. Prof. Chen Chin-Seng, President of Asia & Pacific Alliance of YMCAs, Mr. Nam Boo Won, General Secretary of Asia & Pacific Alliance of YMCAs and Mr. Peter Ho, General Secretary of YMCA Hong Kong delivered their video speech as Special Guests at this auspicious ceremony.
Mr. Jewel Areng, Member of Parliament of Bangladesh National Assembly, Mr. Raymond Areng, Vice-President of Asia & Pacific Alliance of YMCAs, Bishop Samuel Sunil Mankhin, Moderator of Church of Bangladesh & President of National Council of Churches in Bangladesh, Mr. Nirmol Rozario, President of Bangladesh Christian Association, Mr. Pankaj Gilbert Costa, President of The Christian Co-operative Credit Union Ltd. Dhaka, Mr. Augustine Purification, Chairman of the Metropolitan Christian Co-operative Housing Society Ltd. and Engineer Md. Abdul Awal, Managing Director of Structural Engineering Ltd also attended as Special Guests and delivered their speech with full of appreciation for the successful implementation of this project. Many dignified guests from different organizations and youth delegates (participants of the National Youth Conference held on November 10-12, 2021) also attended at the Inauguration Ceremony.
The Inauguration Ceremony started with a devotion lead by Advocate Barnard Tamal Mandal, Vice-President of the National Council of YMCAs of Bangladesh. After the devotion the Chief Guest His Eminence Cardinal Patrick D’ Rozario CSC hoisted the National flag and Mr. Babu Markus Gomes the flag of the National Council of YMCAs of Bangladesh and youth delegates from local YMCAs delivered national anthem during the hoisting ceremony. Then the Chief Guest unveiled the inauguration stone. In his welcome speech the President of the National Council of YMCAs of Bangladesh Mr. Babu Markus Gomes mentioned the background and initial plan of this project, the entire processes of taking endorsement the plan at the Special General Meeting in presence of the delegates of Local YMCAs and the completion of the project. He has also added that the floors from 4th to 13th floors with the space capacity of 6,000 square feet each are provisioned to run a full pleaser hotel with the aim to ensure our guests to stay pleasant and happy. The floors from ground to 3rd are the commercial spaces which are almost occupied now. He concluded his welcome speech with the anticipation that the revenue of this project will strengthen the financial capacity of our national movement and will able to help the projects of Children, Youth and Women empowerment of existing Local YMCAs and in establishing new Local YMCA at new areas Bangladesh YMCA will continue to undertake the projects and take necessary efforts for the fulfillment of the Mission of Bangladesh YMCA. Chief Guest has also unveiled the special publication that published on this auspicious occasion. Lay leaders and professionals of YMCAs in Bangladesh have received crests from the Chief Guest as an appreciation and acknowledgement for their faithful leadership in YMCA and other originations. The Inauguration Ceremony concluded with cultural event and fellowship dinner.
Jeshore YMCA’s Response to COVID-19 pandemic
Currently, the global pandemic is causing a significant impact in Bangladesh compared to the last year 2020. The morbidity and mortality rate of the Covid 19 virus is much higher this time around the country for its quick nature of spreading that impacts the citizens’ daily lives. During this dire situation, Jeshore YMCA has undertaken a range of measures to serve the local community.
Door to Door Service
Since Bangladesh shares three-fourths of the border with India, the delta variant was first detected in the most crucial land port of the Bangladesh Benapole border. This resulted in higher cases of COVID-19 in the Jessore district compared to the rest of the country. Considering the situation, Jeshore YMCA Youth Forum formed a team to create awareness among the public of the process and benefit of vaccination against Covid-19. During this critical situation, the members conducted free vaccination registration for 55 people, starting from 28th July 2021 from 10:00 am to 01:00 pm GMT6+. This work of Jeshore youth members will continue in most of the community until people are vaccinated.
Considering an upward trajectory of COVID-19 cases, the Government of Bangladesh has declared a countrywide lockdown to control further spread. This has impacted the community most on the socio-economic level. During this lockdown situation, Jeshore YMCA volunteers provide door-to-door service for the people in the community in need. Till now, Jeshore YMCA has provided groceries to 7 families that were COVID-19 positive.
We, Jeshore YMCA, believe that we will continue our work to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic with your prayer. God bless you all.
Sir George Williams Library & Computer Training Centre (a new project of Kaligram YMCA, Muksudpur, Gopalgonj, Bangladesh)
The strength of any community is the quality education of the younger generation with knowledge and determination. With this goal and following the values of our great founder of YMCA Sir George Williams, Kaligram YMCA established a Library and Training centre “Sir George Williams and Computer Training Centre”. This centre will bridge a gap between underprivileged young people in the community and a brighter future with knowledge and skills.
Library opening by the ribbon cutting this initiative is the combined effort from the Kaligram YMCA board and demand from the community for local and unemployed students. The opening ceremony for the Library and training was held on 22nd July 2021 at Kaligram YMCA building and started its function from 24th July 2021. This Library and Training Centre is especially dedicated to our founder Sir George Williams as a reminder of uplifting young people to a better future. During the opening ceremony; UP Chairman (head of local government), UP members, Board members of Kaligram YMCA, Senior members of Kaligram YMCA, Local elite person and Women and Children were present. In total 68 people attended the ceremony and due to COVID-19, the program was short, following health restrictions. Sir George Williams and Computer Training Centre is a completely self-funding project by Kaligram YMCA. The computer trainer for the centre is Mr. John Jyotish Baroi, GS-KYMCA. Currently, 14 students have started their training of which Male 3 and Female 11 (Kaligram YMCA 7 and Non-Kaligram YMCA 7). Since there are financial constrain Kaligram YMCA is waiting for donations for computers and more books.
