From 9 to 23 October 2025, the International Young Christian Workers – Asia Pacific (ASPAC) carried out a field visit to India as part of a continental process to accompany, strengthen, and rebuild the Young Christian Workers India. The visit was not merely an evaluation mission, but a concrete expression of solidarity with young workers who continue to struggle for dignity, decent work, and a future rooted in hope.

Listening to the Realities of Young Workers

The visit covered several key regions—Kolar Gold Fields (KGF), Thanjavur, Madurai, and Kanyakumari—each revealing different faces of the same struggle faced by young people today.

In Kolar Gold Fields, once a thriving mining town, young people are living with the long-term consequences of the mine closures. Despite having diplomas or college degrees, many are unemployed or forced into irregular and low-paid work. Daily journeys of two to three hours to Bengaluru have become a painful routine for many, draining both income and energy. Public services have deteriorated, industries have not returned, and young people feel forgotten by development programs. Yet, amid frustration and uncertainty, aspirations remain strong. Young workers still dream of decent jobs near their homes, social protection, and the chance to contribute to rebuilding their community.

In Thanjavur, the visit encountered young people who are students, construction workers, agricultural laborers, and informal workers. Many juggle school and work to support their families, while fearing that education alone may not guarantee employment. Although most are new to YCW, their desire for independence, dignity, and a better future was evident. Their openness to learning, combined with the presence of supportive former members and local contacts, presents fertile ground for building new base groups.

In the industrial area of Madurai, particularly around SIPCOT in Vilampatti, young factory workers shared experiences of long working hours, low wages, contract-based employment, and limited social protection. While their income barely covers daily needs, their proximity to one another has allowed strong social bonds to form—an important foundation for solidarity. Through YCW orientation and Review of Life Workers Action (ROLWA), workers began reflecting collectively on their working conditions and the importance of organizing for their rights and future security.

In Kanyakumari, young people active in church ministries and social actions expressed both generosity and vulnerability. Many are involved in seasonal or informal work, such as fishing-related activities, construction, or transport services. They asked difficult questions about migration, overseas work, and the risks involved. Reintroducing the YCW vision helped them rediscover that their everyday struggles are not individual failures but shared social realities that can be transformed through collective action.

Accompaniment, Networks, and Shared Responsibility

Beyond base group visits, the IYCW ASPAC team engaged in important networking and coordination meetings. Dialogues with Church leaders, including labor commissions and educational institutions, opened pathways for collaboration in training, awareness, and youth formation. Meetings with former YCW leaders renewed commitment to rebuilding structures in Dindigul, Madurai, and nearby areas, emphasizing leadership development and continuity.

A key moment of the visit was the joint reflection with the FYCW India Extension Team, reviewing progress, challenges, and plans for 2025–2026. While encouraging steps have been taken, serious obstacles remain—limited financial resources, the availability of organizers, legal constraints, and the difficulty of sustaining long-term accompaniment. These challenges highlighted the need for stronger support from ASPAC and the International Secretariat, as rebuilding YCW India is not only a national task but an international responsibility.

Walking Forward Together

The field visit reaffirmed a fundamental truth of the YCW movement: young workers are not passive victims of social injustice, but active agents of change. Even in contexts of unemployment, migration, and insecurity, young people continue to reflect, organize, and hope.

The rebuilding of YCW India will require patience, consistency, and collective commitment—strengthening formation, consolidating base groups, expanding networks, and ensuring material support for organizers and activities. Most importantly, it calls for fidelity to the See–Judge–Act method, grounding every action in the lived realities of young workers.

As the movement looks ahead—towards deeper accompaniment and participation in international life, including the upcoming International Council—the visit stands as a reminder that YCW is alive wherever young workers dare to reflect on their lives and act together for dignity, justice, and hope.