Young Christian Workers' Movement

Full name of organisation: Young Christian Workers' Movement
Organisation type: Community Group
Short description: The YCW started in 1912 in Laeken, Belgium, guided by priest Joseph Cardijn. Initially focused on improving working conditions for girls, a similar group for young men emerged in 1913 as Young Trade Unionists, later renamed Young Christian Workers in 1925.

By 1950, the YCW expanded to 60 countries, including Australia. Separate boys' and girls' organizations existed there, merging in 1959. With 38,000 members and 485 groups nationwide, the YCW engaged in social and political issues during the late 1960s and 1970s, opposing the Vietnam War, addressing wealth inequality, and promoting laypeople's roles in the church.

Despite financial challenges in the 1980s and 1990s, the YCW rebuilt and expanded globally. In 1995, the International Council was established in South Africa, attended by Nelson Mandela.
People involved: Cardijn, Joseph
URLs: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110901142?searchTerm=%22Young%20Christian%20Workers%27%20Movement%22; https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/250207327?searchTerm=%22Young%20Christian%20Workers%27%20Movement%22
Group affiliation(s): Christian
Key terms/slogans: Their motto “a service for every need”.
Key issues: Christianity; Employment; Students and Youth

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Items with "Community Submissions: Young Christian Workers' Movement"
Title	Class
The School in Society 1968	PolicyInquiry