About Us

The YCS is a worldwide movement of Catholics at all levels, where students come together to share their interests, problems, experiences, anxieties etc and find a solution of their own through the YCS motto of “Bringing Christ To Students and Students To Christ” and the methodology of “See Judge and Act” i.e Awareness, Reflection, Action and Evaluation. It was founded by Cardinal Joseph Cardjin of Belgium in the year 1927, though its roots were found in India in 1950.
Cardinal Joseph Cardjin was initially concerned with the large number of people who forgot about Christianity as soon as they left school and began working. This was the Spirit behind the formation of YCW (Young Christian Workers) and soon after, the student version dev
eloped and it was called YCS (Young Christian Students).
It was officially organized by Sir. Jeanne Devos on 16th January 1966 at Chennai, India and was officially recognized by the CBIC in 1969 and Sir. Jeanne Devos became its 1st National Animator. In 1970, YSM was affiliated to the YCS for the sake of students of other faith and In the same year, YCS/YSM was affiliated to the IYCS International.
The Young Catholic Students movement came into Nigeria in 1959. It was Miss Freda O’ Mahoney (now Mrs. Ogunade) with the help and support of Most. Rev. Dr. Edmund Fitzgibon (SMA), Bishop Emeritus of Warri, who introduced it in Nigeria. In 1965, it had become a National Movement and from Nigeria, it spread to other English Speaking West African Countries. It was then known as Young Christian Students till 1982 when the Bishop’s Conference of Nigeria (C.B.C.N) decided to change it to Young Catholic Students.
Present Scenario: At present, the Movement has around 150,000,000 students and 10,000 dedicated Animators, youth workersspread out Nationwide. The Movement has formed active and dynamic church leaders, social workers and liberators who are involved in the process of socio-economic-political-religious welfare of the people all over the country.
VISION: To evolve a new society, where people live in harmony, where there is total freedom for the complete growth of the individual, where each and every person is respected in dignity hence valuing peace, love, truth, justice and equality.
Aim: “A just Society” - God’s Kingdom.
Objectives: Self change – Change others
Personality development
Leadership through Talent exposure
Faith formation
Building up a better future
Fighting for social justice and peace
Methodology: See, Judge and Act(Awareness, Reflection, Action and Evaluation)
Characteristics:It is a movement of gathering and sharing of experiences of the members and evaluating the life situations to form an attitude towards value based pro life actions. Hence,
It is a movement of Students at all levels
It is an awareness movement
It is a religiously inspired movement
It is an action oriented movement
It is a cell based movement
Spirituality: All accept one another as brothers and sisters; hence a family atmosphere is created to treat each other as real human beings.
Relationship with self – Knowing oneself
Relation ship with the Other - Process of becoming
Relationship with God – Presence in the Reality
Student members become a well knit group in sustaining the fraternal relationship in sharing the life experiences to accept each other as their own.
Animators are the backbone of the movement.
Animator is a friend, guide, the one who accompanies the members always in their growth process. The Animator needs to have a deep faith in God and Prayer, Commitment to Word of God, commitment to Student members and colleagues and commitment to God’s Kingdom. He/She needs to be a visionary and learner, accepting and listening to students as they are in their spiritual and growth process.
Article 2
The main aim of the Movement is to enable the personal growth of Young Christian Student in the Catholic Faith and in taking up responsibilities in the Church, in the student world and in society towards building God’s Kingdom - a new society, i.e. a community of Justice, equality, freedom and love, with the specific methodology of ‘Review of life’.
The aim may be achieved:
a) Through faith formation of the catholic students basically by enabling them to know the person of Christ, helping them to imbibe Gospel values and motivating them to participate meaningfully in the sacramental life of the Church.
b) By helping young students within the context of their daily life to realize their response to the situation and the people they live with.
c) By enabling young students to take up their responsibilities in the student world and in society by strengthening their values and attitudes.
d) By enabling the personal formation of young students through becoming aware of their situations and responding to them through conscious action as an expression of faith.
e) By working in solidarity with young people all over the world to serve the real and concrete needs of young students.
III. Admission
Article 3
Any Christian Young student who accepts to live the objectives of the Movement and is willing to work with others in the same orientation may be permitted to join the Movement.
IV Structure
Article 4
The cell forms the base of the Movement. Different cells in a school / parish form a Unit. Cells / units may be coordinated for the purpose of animation and organization in city / Zonal / Deanery / Diocesan / National / Regional / International Councils.
Article 5
The National Council, which is the supreme body of the Movement in Nigeria, is composed of representatives from all Diocese. This Council meets every year unless otherwise decided by the National Exco in consultation with the NTA.
Rule 4
As a Student Movement it exists at the higher institution, high school and junior college or their equivalent.
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HIERARCHY OF YCS
Sectional YCS
Tertiary YCS.
Parish Based YCS.
Zonal YCS.
Deanery YCS.
Diocesan YCS.
Provincial YCS.
National YCS.
Regional YCS.
International YCS.

Ycs headquarters
International YCS Paris, France
Regional YCS Nairobi, Kenya
National YCS Abuja, Nigeria