New Chair of Y Care International announced

9 July 2010

Y Care International, the international development agency of the YMCA movement, has announced today that Dr Daleep Mukarji, OBE, is to become Chair of its Board.

Dr Mukarji, who stepped down from his position as Director of Christian Aid in March after 12 years as head of the charity, will take up his position with Y Care International in September.

Dr Mukarji said: “I am delighted to be associated with a Christian and ecumenical charity such as Y Care International, as this is what has inspired my own work choices over the years.

“Faith-based organisations have a major role to play in international development, and the global YMCA movement is very well placed to reach out to, support and champion vulnerable and marginalised young people in the global South."

Dr Mukarji brings with him a unique understanding of international development and the eradication of poverty through justice and social action. He was nominated as one of the 100 most influential Asians in Britain in 2005 and appointed OBE in 2008.

Born in India, he worked there as a medical doctor and as General Secretary of the Christian Medical Association of India in the early years of his career, moving to Geneva in 1994 to take up the position of Executive Secretary for Health, Community and Justice at the World Council of Churches.

He has held a wide range of senior positions in the development sector in the UK and internationally, including Chair of the Trade Justice Movement, Member of the NGO advisory body to the World Trade Organization’s Director General, and Trustee of the UK’s Disasters Emergency Committee and has invaluable links with UK and European government departments, development agencies and Christian organizations.

Dr Mukarji said: “I have been very impressed with what I have learned about Y Care’s distinctive approach to youth development, and while my role will be to lead and support the Board to fulfil its mission and purpose, I also believe that this role will contribute to my own learning and development.”

ENDS

For more information or to interview Dr Mukarji please contact Sue Wheat, Communications Manager on 020 7549 3156 or Zoë Wilson Young on 020 7549 3176.

Notes for editors:

• Y Care International is the international relief and development agency of the YMCA movement in the UK and Ireland. It is one of the UK and Ireland’s biggest providers of global youth work, a new and emerging youth work discipline that helps young people make sense of a complex world and empowers them to be aware, responsible and active.

• A more in-depth profile is available of Dr Mukarji on request.