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Friday, 24 August 2007 |
PRESS RELEASE
Together in Action for the Future of Work:
IYCW prepares for a world council, Tamil Nadu, India 2008
On August 25th, the International Young Christian Workers movement (IYCW) will march with the voice of young workers to remind the world of a movement with 50 years of international action experience and continued demands for the realisation of the dreams of young workers.
“This day marks the start of another new beginning for the IYCW, with a demand for a future of dignified work: work that respects the immeasurable worth of each and every young worker – more valuable than all the gold in the world” says Mr Xavier Felix, a member of the national coordination team of YCW India.
The celebrations for the 50th anniversary of IYCW will take place in the Philippines, and will also launch the international preparation process towards the world council of the IYCW to be held in Tamil Nadu, India, in September 2008. In Tamil Nadu, young workers will gather to develop a plan of action to make their dreams a reality; to overcome the experiences of discrimination and marginalisation so often experienced by young workers.
For Suja, a young woman of 20 years of age from the village Karungal in Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, the ability to decide her own future remains a dream.
“When I finished my secondary education, my aspiration was to continue my education and become a teacher. My father told me that it was impossible for him to pay for my brothers educational expenses through his salary. Therefore, instead of allowing me to continue my education, he asked me to stop my study and go to cashew nut factory to work in order to support the study of my brother. He also told me that it is always good for the family to give higher education for the male members. He argued that as a girl I would be married soon and live in another family, therefore, it is useless to invest in my education as a girl”
“Due to this situation, I raised many questions inside me. Why should this happen to me as girl? Why couldn’t my father and male members in the family understand my aspiration? Why couldn’t I decide for my life and future? Why should I work at a very young age in order to support my brother to achieve his aspiration? These questions helped me to discover more elements on the discrimination I face in my family and society as a girl.”
The YCW has a long history of young workers in action. During the celebration of 50 years as an international movement, the YCW is collecting the references of action and lived experiences and dreams of young workers everywhere in order to motivate continued collective action for a better world. In particular, the events of the Philippines and in India will highlight the lived reality of workers in the informal economy, young women workers, and those of the marginalised dalit community of India.
“During the 2008 world council, we want to define the international movement in our actual globalised world. India is changing rapidly and is immersed in the culture of globalisation. It is relevant that we will be here in Tamil Nadu for our World Council” says Mr Felix.
“We need to become fully aware of the environment in which we are meeting and working as young workers, and make the connections between our reality, our action and this globalised society. We believe we are a positive alternative form of a globalised world: a global movement – together in action - for just and decent work”
The dreams and aspirations of young workers like Suja, will be published on the official website for the IYCW International Council 2008, (www.togetherinaction.org) which will be launched on August 25th in recognition of 50 years of action, and the need to continue to transform our dreams into reality.
In the words expressed by the international team of the IYCW, "We want the world to become aware through us, of the reality of young workers and the need for action everywhere"
For more information, please contact:
Xavier Felix
(ph: 9944181714)
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IC 2008 
