YMCA’s role, achievements highlighted

LAHORE : The YMCA was founded in London on June 6 in 1844 by 12 young men under the leadership of George Williams. Today YMCA is working in 120 countries of the world, said General Secretary, YMCA Lahore, Emanuel Sarfraz while speaking on the role of YMCA in Lahore in the last 148 years.

The briefing was held in connection with the Lahore Biennale in which 60 artists from 30 countries participated. YMCA was one of the main venues of exhibition, which began on October 5 and concluded on Friday.

M Naeem, Rev Imran Samuel and Augustin Shakil Zafar gave their inputs in the briefing. “Most of the modern sports in the region had their beginning in YMCA. The Boys’ Scout Movement was organised in 1921 in Punjab by YMCA as well as volleyball, basketball, and badminton were first introduced by the YMCA. The first university boxing tournament in the Punjab was held on the roof of the YMCA building.

“The first broadcasting station in the sub-continent was established in 1928 in the Lahore YMCA building. The Lahore YMCA also conducted the first Inter Club Tennis Tournament in the city.

“A lifetime is not enough to meet great challenges and achieve highest goals. The YMCA movement is a case in this regard. Who would have thought the movement which began in a shop in central London would today spread to 120 countries and get the support of more than 60 million people.

“YMCA in Lahore as well as in many other places has stood the test of time and is a testimony to the fact that faith based movements can be the catalyst of change for good positive goals in the course of humanity.

“Lahore YMCA as we see it today is already on the course of adapting to the changing needs and trying to stay abreast with the new developments.

“The YMCA keeping in view the requirements of the age and changing times is doing its best to make the process of human progress smooth and easy. YMCA continues to play its role in giving quality education and equipping the young to boldly face the challenges of changing times. “We recently started artificial intelligence courses and skin and health care programs,” Emanuel said.