On 20th September 2025, the Secretary General of the International Young Catholic Students (IYCS), Roshan Melwyn Lobo, visited Leuven, Belgium, where he had the privilege of meeting two iconic figures who played a foundational role in the Young Catholic Students (YCS) Movement in India and Asia, Sr. Jeanne Devos, ICM, and Sr. Josee Cleymans, ICM.

The meeting was a deeply meaningful moment, reconnecting the international leadership of IYCS with the pioneering legacy of the movement’s early architects. Sr. Jeanne Devos, who served as the first National Chaplain of YCS/YSM India and the first Asian Chaplain of IYCS Asia, shared her invaluable insights and experiences from decades of work dedicated to empowering students, youth, and domestic workers. Her commitment to justice, human dignity, and faith-based action continues to inspire generations of Catholic youth leaders across the world.

Similarly, Sr. Josee Cleymans, ICM, whose contributions to the development of YCS in India and Asia have been equally instrumental, reflected on the early stages of the movement and its expansion across the continent. Her vision and commitment helped shape the student movement into a dynamic platform for leadership, social responsibility, and faith formation.

The visit to Leuven served as a bridge between the movement’s historic foundations and its present global mission. It reaffirmed the enduring influence of these remarkable women and their vision for a world where students live their faith through reflection and action. Their pioneering work remains a guiding light for the International YCS community today.

About Sr. Jeanne Devos, ICM

Born in 1935 in Kortenaken, Belgium, Sr. Jeanne Devos is a missionary of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (ICM) and one of the most respected figures in the history of the Young Catholic Students Movement.

Arriving in India in the 1960s, Sr. Jeanne devoted her life to the formation of students and youth, helping them discover their voice, dignity, and mission in society. She played a historic role in founding the Young Catholic Students/Young Students’ Movement (YCS/YSM) in India and served as its first National Chaplain. Her tireless dedication helped the movement grow throughout the country, inspiring countless young people to take action for justice and social transformation grounded in Gospel values.

Her leadership later extended across Asia, where she became the first Asian Chaplain of IYCS Asia Coordination, guiding national movements, strengthening leadership structures, and promoting international solidarity.

In 1985, Sr. Jeanne founded the National Domestic Workers Movement (NDWM) in India, a groundbreaking initiative that has given voice and visibility to thousands of domestic workers, particularly women and children. The NDWM continues to fight for legal recognition, dignity, and protection for workers across India.

Her lifelong mission has earned her numerous recognitions and honours, including

• Honorary Doctorate, KU Leuven (2000)
• Honorary Citizen of Leuven (2010)
• Ereburger of Kortenaken, her hometown
• Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown (Belgium, 2009)
• Peace Prize “Kerk en Leven” (1999)
• Citizenship Prize, Stichting P&V (Belgium)
• Vlerick Award, Vlerick Business School
• Gulden Spoor Prize
• Ramkrishna Bajaj Memorial Global Award (India, 2012)
• Jeanne Devosplein and Jeanne Devos House named in her honour in Leuven
• Nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize for her lifelong commitment to justice and human rights

Sr. Jeanne Devos stands as a pioneer, a prophetic leader, and a voice of the voiceless, whose mission continues to inspire the global IYCS movement. Her story reflects the heart of YCS, faith in action, solidarity in service, and hope for a just world.