GYC, for all & everything
It shows how an initiative of a group of local residents can be a model for others in building a voluntary social organisation in the frenzied city of Dhaka, grooming the youth as responsible citizens.
Blurring the line between the rich and the poor, Gulshan Youth Club (GYC) provides all sorts of services that a community club can provide to the residents,
GYC is a sporting club, a health club, a fitness club, a community club, a social organisation and much more, says Rafez Alam Chowdhury, president of the club, describing the organisation, when asked what sort of club Gulshan Youth Club is.
Founded in 1977 on a piece of government land, by a group of young people of Gulshan, the club has been actively organising and participating in various sports and socio-cultural activities.
Its president Rafez Chowdhury told Prothom Alo at the club recently that apart from promoting culture, sports, religious and other youth activities, the club undertakes different programmes to promote a sense of social service among the residents of the Gulshan community and to generate friendship, fellowship and natural understanding among the club members.
“It is not only about sports. We felt that it is our social responsibility to create an environment for our future generation towards a more responsible and committed citizenship. They should be aware of our history and culture and learn to be proud of our national heritage,” is what the president of the club said.
Who can be a member of the club and avail its services? The club president said any person residing in Gulshan, irrespective of sex shall be eligible to be a member of the club, but anyone can take services that the club provides.
The club, established with a slogan ‘sports and beyond’, has been working as a voluntary social organisation in the locality where some 10,000 families reside, to create and enhance social responsibility among the residents of the area, especially among the youths.
By organising various socio-cultural activities, the Gulshan Youth Club is trying to keep alive the tradition of the country besides conducting regular sports activities for the young people.
The club encourages people of all ages, classes, religions, and gender to join hands to build an inclusive society that would uphold human dignity and values.
The club has come a long way with admirable performance in the field of football, basketball, cricket, skating, tennis, hockey, squash, athletic, billiard, karate, rowing and other indoor and outdoor games. The club’s teams also take part in different national tournaments and leagues.
There are separate corners for children, a toddler corner, and places for women and senior citizens.
Besides, its improved secured measures with smoke-free environment has encouraged more walkers and field users to use the walkways and field of the club. The GYC has already been a popular name offering an open space for all, a patch of green with fresh air in the overcrowded city.
“Walkers are enjoying their walks and daily exercise in our well-lit walkways in the morning and in the evening,” said the president.
The club also has a swimming pool that anyone can use for a nominal charge.
The club undertakes programmes to help victims of natural calamities and man-made disasters and to protect environment ecology. It also campaigns against drug and the use of formalin.
The president of the club said it has undertaken several programmes to create awareness about drug abuse, and for developing smoke-free zone and immunisation programme.
“We’ve managed to streamline our sports activities through regular coaching programmes facilitated by professional coaches in the areas of football, cricket, basketball, yoga, skating, karate etc.”
The club organises cultural and other programmes to celebrate important national days like Ekushey February and International Mother Language Day, Independence Day, Pahela Baishakh, Bashanta Utshab and Victory Day.
“We wanted to create a platform where residents of all ages can own this club as a centre for pursuing a good healthy life, for recreation, social responsibility and a place where we all can bond as members of the community,” Rafez Chowdhury said.
The club has extended its activities towards several charity programmes during floods, the Sidr, and the Aila cyclones, distributing winter clothes among the street children of Gulshan and also running a free Friday clinic for the disadvantaged.
It also has Quran teaching programmes for the residents of the area.
It has started a free elementary school called GYC Pathshala for the street children of the area.
“We’ve also signed MoU with various hospitals both at home and abroad to facilitate priority services at discounted rates for our members. We hope to keep this up in future as well.”
The club president said some 2,000 to 2,500 people are either taking different services or using the club facilities.
Asked how the club manage funds to carry out such a vast array of activities, the president said the GYC programmes are mostly sponsored by its members and well-wishers.
He said he believed that a non-profit organisation like GYC can always contribute to the development of society through team work for the enrichment of society in the areas of sports, culture and social activities to ensure moral development of the next generation. Proper policy support from the government is critical to such endeavour, he added.
“We’d like to take this campaign from GYC to set up such organisations in every community throughout the capital as elsewhere in the country,” Rafez said.