¡¡¡¡YMCA was born in England in 1844. The association aims in pursuit of Christian morality and spirit to protect urban youth from moral degradation. The founder is George Williams, hoping to improve the spirit of the youth by means of unflinching faith and religious communion. Up to now over one hundred countries and regions across the world have founded YMCA. Founded in 1900, YMCA of Shanghai has all the time held on to the motto of ¡®Not to be served but to serve¡¯, and actualized the aim of ¡®Serve the society and benefit the people¡¯.
¡¡¡¡YWCA was set up by Lady Mary Jane Kinnaird and Lady Christian Emma Robarts in London, England of 1855. At the very beginning YWCA mainly provided lodging places for young women who departed home to make a living in a factory or serve in battle fields. It also gathered them to conduct prayer and study the Bible. At present YWCA has been in existence in more than one hundred nations and regions. YWCA of Shanghai was formed in 1908, firmly holding the motto of ¡®Thee learn truth; truth free thee¡¯, and taking actions to meet people¡¯s needs.
¡¡¡¡Since the revival of 1984, YMCA and YWCA of Shanghai have up to now continued to engage in mutual cooperation. We strive to build up ourselves into a society-oriented service organization with the features of ¡°international, Christianity-related, and not-for-profit¡±. Our purpose focuses on the promotion of volunteering campaign, and our service principle is ¡°Equality, Justice, Love, Peace¡¯. We provide service for ¡°the youth of yesterday, today and tomorrow¡±, regardless of faith, race, sex, or age. Our service ranges from morality, intelligence, physical health to society. We champion the value of optimistic life. We are making effort to set up an ideal society.
¡¡¡¡In the course of the social development, YMCA and YWCA of Shanghai go pace by pace with the society, marching side by side with the times. We are committed to project development and implementation in terms of social service, education and training, international exchange and special needs. We also organize volunteering training and give love-filled services to populations who need help. Up till now we have had eight service centers all around the City of Shanghai. Moreover, we continue to extend our service to various fields. For instance, we launched projects of environment protection and public philanthropy in conformity with social progress. Nowadays we have service sites in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and Dujiangyan City of Xichuan Province. YMCA and YWCA of Shanghai enhance participation and communication in the form of membership. We hold friendship ties with YMCAs/YWCAs from tens of cities around the countries and regions. This brotherly and sisterly friendship brings together men and women with different classes, races, colors and nationalities to propel in common drive the world development in peace and harmony.
¡¡¡¡YMCA and YWCA of Shanghai embrace an open-minded attitude, cooperative status, and fashionable style to be engaged to promote social development. |
