Youth with a Mission (YWAM) is a worldwide Christian movement operating in more than 1,000 locations in over 180 countries, with over 25,000 full time staff since 1960. YWAM is decentralised in structure; each centre is financially and legally autonomous, allowing locations to adapt and serve the specific needs of the community.
YWAM Medical Ships – Australia (YWAM MSA) is a Christian charity that aims to serve, build, care and connect with individuals and communities. YWAM MSA values individuals’ rights to quality of life. The shared motivation is to provide people with:
- Access to quality health care
- Food, drinking water and shelter
- Opportunity for education
- Expression of culture, arts and entertainment
- Healthy relationships
- Exposure to Christian faith and values
- Fair and productive government
- Opportunity to work and develop
YWAM MSA is actively developing communities by addressing the health care and training needs in Papua New Guinea (PNG) alongside the priorities and vision of the PNG National Health Plan PNG National Department of Education, and AusAID’s commitment to the UN’s Millennium Development Goals. YWAM MSA is implementing programs with its Medical Ship and land-based teams in rural PNG communities in association with key stakeholders and partners. The majority of YWAM MSA staff, including the Managing Director, are full-time volunteers.
Vision
YWAM MSA’s vision is based on the need for a respectful and collaborative partnership with the people of PNG and Australia. The aim is to see major sustainable health improvement in PNG while simultaneously seeing relationships strengthened between Australia and PNG.
Mission
To see improved quality of life for the people of PNG through development-focused programmes, with an emphasis on the health sector, while also building Australians’ capacity to serve through volunteering.
