Young Men's Christian Association, a movement dedicated to meet human needs, is a result of the industrial revolution in England, which forced thousands abandoning the countryside for better living in the city. Amongst the many migrants, George Williams came to London in 1841 looking for employment and worked as an assistant in the drapery establishment. He formed a group of 12 young men who met on June 6,1844 to form a society for improving the conditions of young men engaged in drapery and other trades. Two weeks later the society was given a new name, "The Young Men's Christian Association".
The equilateral triangle is an appropriate symbol for portraying the service of the YMCA, as it indicates the threefold nature of man-mind, body and spirit. It indicates that the individual with different aspects is an amalgamation ultimating in a system, a wonderful result of the union of the three symbols. It stands for the symmetrical personality of man, each part developed with reference to the whole.
THE MARTHANDAM YMCA
The Marthandam YMCA, situated in the Southernmost Kanyakumari district in peninsular India, is a pioneer in rural development from 1916. From its humble beginnings it developed into a Rural Demonstration Centre, which was opened in a rented premises on October 11, 1924.
The programmes at the Centre were demonstration of better farming methods, leadership training, development of cottage industries, organisation of co-operative marketing of products as eggs, honey and other rural products.
The Centre concentrated on Palmyra Jaggery Production, introducing White Leg Horns, Upgrading Cattle for more milk, Introducing Fodder Grass, Free Distribution of Bee-hives introducing borehole latrines, Weaving and basket making etc..
The YMCA later developed into an emulating model for Rural Reconstruction in India.