Social Inclusion

Formerly EAY Core Group on Social Exclusion

Leader: Astridur Jonsdottir
E-mail: asta@kfum.is

In Europe we are facing:

the marginalisation of individuals and communities through
inequality, lack of opportunity, or rejection.
increasing gaps in society.

Through this recognition the European Alliance of YMCAs is working towards Social Inclusion which for us means:

Accepting others
Breaking barriers
Overcoming but respecting differences
Restoring the dignity of individuals and communities
Giving hope

in order to enable people to participate in society.

A History

May 1995 - During the General Assembly of the European Alliance of YMCAs at Warsaw, a working group was established on the theme of Social Inclusion.

February 1996 - Consultation on Social Inclusion held in Tolouse.

June 1998 - Seminar on "Social Inclusion or Exclusion" held at European Youth Centre in Strasbourg.

June 2000 - Seminar on "Educating Socially Excluded Young People" at European Youth Centre in Budapest, Hungary.

October 2001 - Training input at Joint European Leadership Training Seminar at Litomysl.

March 2002 - Input at European Tensing Leadership Training Seminar held in Lithuania

August 2003 - Managing the House within the YMCA Village at EAY 2003, Prague. Includes support and youth work services

January 2004 - Seminar for YMCA Tensing, Sports and Scouting Leaders at European Youth Centre in Strasbourg

YMCA Values and Social Inclusion:

Throughout the gospels the episodes affirming the solidarity of Jesus with the excluded are among the most significant of his life. Statements declaring the Christian concerns of the YMCA movement for people who are socially excluded abound in the Kampala Principles and Challenge 21 documents. Within this framework we are called, individually and collectively, to follow the example of Christ.

As a movement, we have a responsibility not just to agree with values, but to ensure that they are put into practice.

Key Elements of Good Practice:

As a Christian movement we have to ensure that our values are put into practice through:

"Begleitung" - which means to walk hand in hand together. It implies the need to work with, rather than for people. To ‘get alongside' people and work in true partnership with them:

to enable individuals and communities to become more included
to allow individuals to become active citizens.

Creating safe environments - working with young people in the YMCA is transformational. It ‘removes the labels' to engage with the individual in mind, body and spirit. It is this holistic approach-characterised by openness, forgiveness and the suspension of judgements-that builds confidence, trust and dignity in individuals and develops community.
Establishing networks within the YMCA movement and with external organisations - inter-governmental, local and regional authorities, non governmental organisations, private companies etc. in order to enhance awareness of the changing social environment.

YMCA Examples of Good Practice:

Many YMCAs are involved in work which aims to prevent Social Inclusion. These projects include:

Drug Education in Schools - one such project aims to allow teenagers to think about their own values, and opinions concerning the use of illegal drugs and other controlled substances. This is done by using a story where the young people can make decisions which affect the outcomes for the four characters in the story.
Work with young people choosing not to attend school - working with young people to integrate them back into mainstream education through individual one to one work and groupwork.
Sports programmes and drop-ins that provide an alternative for young people to hanging out on the streets.

Social Inclusion Training Material

The Social Inclusion group has developed a training pack which can be used to highlight some of the issues of Social Inclusion. The pack is available through the YMCA Europe office and includes: