Young Christian Workers Movement

YCW is a movement from young people, for young people and by young people. Founded in 1925 in Belgium by a Catholic Priest Cardinal Joseph Cadjin to cater for their moral and spiritual needs. The Movement has an International Secretariat in Rome with over 120 affiliate national bodies. Though the movement is dominantly Christian based, Muslim members have gained membership in countries like Senegal, etc.

OUR VISION: The Young Christian Workers wants a world where young people make a difference, in fact are the difference, to enable the transformation needed in order for everyone live a life of dignity, worthy of the Creator.

OUR MISSION: The basics thrust of the Movement is to awaken the moral consciousness of workers in order to transform them into efficient agents of change in their work environment and society.

STATEMENT OF ACTION: Our statement of action is to call people out of isolation into small groups where they come to know their true worth and dignity. It recognises that young people are the experts of their own reality and are often the best-placed people to be the means of transformation in their own lives. Through a process of enquiry , reflection and action (See, Judge, Act, ROL), they grow as Christian leaders, serving, educating, socialising and representing other young people. We are fully established in Nigeria with over 90 centres from 15 Deaneries in Lagos Archdiocese.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE

To serve as animator in Lay apostolate activities
To obey, respect and defend the faith/teaching of
the catholic doctrine.
To promote unity, peace and truth among members
and church in general.
Organizing Lecture, Workshop and Seminars on
issues affecting the Youth, the Church and the
Society at Large.
To render spiritual, moral and financial help to
member and the church.
Publishing and sponsoring Books, Magazine &
programme that will promote spiritual, educational,
political, social and economic awareness.
To engage in any venture which may enhance the
status of the YCW Lagos.
To be a real school of social, moral and spiritual life,
responding to the problems that arise in the life of
young workers and which prepares them for their
present and future responsibilities.
To affiliate with International Young Christian
Workers in Rome, The National Movement of Young
Christian Worker, The Lagos Archdiocesan Laity
Council and other Non-governmental movement,
Nigeria Lab our Congress and Ministry of Youth and
Social development.

OUR MOTTO: SEE, JUDGE & ACT
OUR SLOGAN: YCW, The Difference is U!

As a Movement of and for young people the YCW uses the inductive method of analysis See, Judge, Act, Review. Based on the format of experiential learning members are encouraged to enquire into the situations that affect them on a daily basis and plan and organise specific actions to bring about a positive change. This inductive method of analysis begins with the everyday lived experience of young people, the issues, problems and challenges that face them every day of the week. The YCW method challenges young people to become aware of the reality of their particular situation and that of those around them, in their work place, community and parish, school, home and in society.

Our Motto

SEE

During the YCW meeting members of the group help one another to explore the details of these events/facts/situations to gain a greater understanding and to assess the causes and consequences of what has happened.

Questions to ask:

Where did it take place?
Who was involved?
What actually happened?
How often does this occur?
How did the situation affect those involved?
What was said? Why did this happen?
Why did people act as they did?
What are the causes and consequences of what happened?

JUDGE

The group discusses the rights and wrongs relevant to the situations and experiences shared, taking note of what has been discovered in the “See” part.

Questions to ask:

Should this situation be happening?
Do you think this is right? What makes it right or wrong?
Is there anything that we can do to change the situation?

ACT

The group discusses possible ways of responding to the situations described in the “See” part. Actions can be carried out by individuals within the group or by the group as a whole.

Questions to ask:

Is there anything you/we can do, no matter how small, to improve the situation?
Is there anything more we need to find out?
How can we do this?
Is there anyone we can influence to improve things?
What action are we going to take?

REVIEW

More often it’s the process we go through on the way to action that’s important. It is always essential to review our actions to see if it was success and what we learned from working together.

Questions to ask:

Did we carry out the action?
Did we achieve the original purpose? Did it change the situation of the person(s) who originally brought the
situation to our attention?
What difficulties did we come up against?
What effect did our action have on us and on others?
What did we learn from the action?
How did we feel before? During ? After?
Is there anything we would do differently?
Is there any further action we can take?