The ‘2022 Y-Teen National Members Conference,’ led by youth since its establishment in 1922, was held on August 6th (Saturday) at 11 a.m. in the Seoul YWCA auditorium. This event, commemorating the 100th anniversary of YWCA Korea’s founding, brought together 35 teenage representatives of youth from 20 YWCAs, including Incheon, Anyang, Seoul, Donghae, Suwon, Uijeongbu, Ansan, Sokcho, Cheongju, Sejong, Daejeon, Yeosu, Suncheon, Gwangju, Jeonju, Namwon, Mokpo, Ulsan, Busan, Daegu, and others.
The ‘2022 Y-Teen National Members Conference’ revolved around the theme of ‘Climate Crisis’ under the slogan ‘Weather these days, Y is this happening?’ Climate-related activity reports were shared on Instagram. During the conference, youth led worship based on Genesis 1:1-25 and Romans 8:22-28, conducted team-building recreation activities, and organized a Climate Golden Bell quiz to check climate awareness. They also participated in upcycling activities, creating eco-friendly keyrings using socks. Notably, youth representatives from Seoul YWCA and Incheon YWCA delivered presentations titled ‘Korea: ranking 2nd in OECD Recycling Rate and the Hidden Truth’ and ‘The Climate Crisis and Energy Conversion,’ respectively, raising awareness about the severity of the climate crisis.
During the conference, the members commemorated YWCA’s 100th anniversary by defining ‘Y-Teen’ themselves and sharing the expectations for the next 100 years through a special performance. In this activity, a youth representative from Gwangju YWCA defined ‘Y-Teen’ as ‘Y for Everyone,’ while a representative from Daejeon YWCA defined it as ‘We are a Diverse Y.’ Looking ahead to the next 100 years, a youth representative from Incheon YWCA expressed the dream of Y-Teen as “continuing to engage in various activities with responsibility” while the youth representative from Sejong YWCA dream of Y-Teen as “leading confidently and loving actively”. They drew a blueprint for the future of Y-Teen.
The 100th-anniversary performance was shared on Y-Teen’s Instagram, where youth engaged in discussions related to ‘What kind of Y are we?,’ ‘Congratulations on YWCA’s 100th Anniversary,’ and ‘What Y-Teen Wishes for.’ The closing worship session was shared under the theme ‘Y-Teen’s Dream for the Future.’
Y-Teen is an independent youth movement organization composed of youth aged 12 to 18 who strive to grow as leaders in the image of Jesus Christ, emulating his life within the context of being owners of the Creator’s history, with the purpose of creating a world of life, justice, and peace. Y-Teen members plan, execute, and evaluate the activities of their respective clubs. Currently, Y-Teen is organized in 34 out of 53 member YWCAs nationwide, with approximately 5,000 youth members actively participating in 176 clubs.
