About 1,200 YMCA leaders from 85 countries met in Hong Kong this week to map out a four-year plan towards achieving global citizenship for all.

At the 17th World Council of YMCAs, speakers touched on what they saw as the two dimensions of global citizenship – an awareness of global issues and the heart to act in a spirit of global consciousness.

Goshi Ito, of YMCA Japan, said education on global citizenship was needed to inspire youth to make a better world.

"Global citizenship entails having a sense of making changes for a better world,” he said.

Jose Varghese, the Executive Secretary for Programmes for the Asia Pacific Alliance of YMCAs, said that becoming a global citizen meant understanding global realities and having a willingness to take up social responsibilities.

“In becoming global citizens, young people should read the newspapers, explore different issues and pay attention to problems faced by other people," he said.

The theme of “Striving for a Global Citizenship for All” will dominate the work of the World Council for the next four years until it reconvenes in 2014.

A major issue on the Council agenda this time around was the plight of Chinese factories workers who Council members heard were on the receiving end of the negative side of globalisation. Many factory workers in China are not allowed to talk or request toilet breaks. If they do, their wages are cut.

“Non-skilled workers are under tremendous pressure to make ends meet and are often subject to harsh working conditions,” said Carmen Hui, a university student from Hong Kong.

“They are in a disadvantaged position when it comes to bargaining for fair, respectable and reasonable working conditions. This is why it is important for organisations such as the YMCA to empower the workers by providing them with labour rights education.”

Kenny Tang, of the YMCA in Hong Kong, facilitated the role-play. He said real-life exposure had helped youth to understand the realities of the underprivileged.

“Young people, especially those growing up in Hong Kong, don’t have compassion for social problems facing other people living in a less fortunate state,” he said. “Even though they learn about these issues at school, they are surrounded by the hedonistic and materialistic lifestyle of Hong Kong and these problems seem remote to them.”

YMCA, formed 1844 in London, is a Christian-based organisation working with communities to ensure a more just social order and youth empowerment for a better future. The World Alliance of YMCAs is a federation of YMCAs in 125 countries with a membership of over 45 million young people worldwide.

The 17th World Council of YMCAs concludes in Hong Kong today.