This film depicts the Young Men Christian Association’s “Building for Brotherhood” campaign. This 1956-1966 project was intended to expand YMCA facilities in 35 countries, and raised more than $5.5 million. The film was presented by the International Committee of YMCA’s of the US and Canada (:42), produced by Bob Frers (1:12) and narrated by Maurice Strong (1:20), Director General External Aid in Canada. He describes how the YMCA operates in 83 countries (2:38) but now seeks to expand so as to keep pace with growing populations and changing times (3:23). Examples from the campaign beginning with South Korea (3:37). The new building stands in Seoul (3:54) and it is shown in comparison to the older building (4:01), destroyed in the Korean War. Adult education classroom with a teacher providing English instruction (4:46). Kids practice Judo (5:02) and daily sessions were housed in the new chapel (5:14). In the port city of Busan, another building from this project is located (5:28). The former building which had been used was a Quonset hut (5:33). The new building provided a meeting place for communities’ groups such as an organization for social workers (5:45). Members are educated on how to cut and style hair (6:18). Children attend the Kindergarten class (6:24). Tokyo, Japan (7:37). Waseda University (7:42) is situated a few blocks from the new YMCA building (7:44). The old, rough, original building is shown in comparison (7:53). Thirty young men attended the University (8:07) and participated in daily demonstrations of democratic cooperative living and Christian motivation (8:11). Many Japanese top democratic leaders came from here including eight University Presidents, sixty professors and two Supreme Court Justices (8:25). The Fraternal Secretary from North America is seen showing students how to plan work projects (8:38). The famed floating market of Bangkok, Thailand is shown riddled with long boats (8:55) and boys swimming in the waters which were used, among other things, as a disposal outlet for sewage and garbage (9:05). A new Y building was erected on the Gulf of Siam (9:10). The previous camp building is shown as a small thatched roof hut (9:32) in comparison to the new facilities (9:38). The new facilities in Nazareth (9:56) were built in 1964. Fraternal Secretary Les Updegraff (10:32) shows his famous Popeye salute for children on the front steps. Members received their first opportunity to experiment with arts and crafts (10:46). An English class is conducted by a student world service worker from Iowa (11:15). A unique exhibition is the flower show (11:29). In Jerusalem, Jordan a new YMCA building had been constructed with was also a first-class hotel (12:51). Labib Nasser, the General Secretary of the YMCA (13:08) started this school among fellow refugees from the Palestine war. All of the furnishings in the Jerusalem building had been constructed by refugees from the desert Y (13:42). Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie (14:10) awarded the YMCA (14:18) with the nation’s top award for humanitarian efforts. It provided education for youth whom were too poor to attend public school (14:30). In Athens, Greece (15:24) the Y building (15:27) provided a wide variety of classes in various subjects (15:34). In the center of Lisbon, Portugal sits the new YMCA facilities (16:24) which was essentially a gymnasium (16:40). The Chihuahua, Mexico building follows (17:47). 300 miles away from here is Torreon’s new YMCA building (18:25). The Mexico City Y building (18:52) is shown with members learning how to swim (19:08). The coastline of Rio de Janeiro in South America (19:16) leads to the new Y facilities (19:22). The Belo Horizonte skyline in Brazil (19:37) precedes their new Y building (19:51). Asuncion, Paraguay, the new Y facility (20:28) is compared to the old (20:35). A unique feature is the cultural pursuit of traditional Paraguayan music and dance (20:45). A similar group exists in the Santiago, Chile facility (21:26) and the former quarters are shown (21:49). Members learn soccer at the Lima, Peru building (21:53). The Montevideo, Uruguay skyline (22:20) leads to the new Y building (22:22) which is a training college for secretaries (22:35). The Asian center for training secretaries in Hong Kong (22:56). Y branches are set on rooftops (23:04). Maurice Strong returns (24:38) to present a slew of other buildings in quick succession including in Alexandria, Egypt (25:28), Lyon, France (25:34) and Cairo (25:38). The End(27:25).

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