Mar Thoma Yuvajana Sakhyam (MTYS) is the youth department of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church. Established in 1933, MTYS functions as an approved body of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church. It was formed with the view that youth of the Church should accept Jesus Christ as their saviour and Lord, and bear witness to His powers. A resolution of the Sabha Prathinidhi Mandalam in 1933 led to the formation of this group. The first president of the Sakhyam was Rev. V.P Mammen and the Vice- Presidents were Rev. K E Oommen and Rev. C M John (later Juhanon Mar Thoma Metropolitan) and the first Secretary was Mr. V E Thomas (later Rev. V E Thomas, Singapore). Branches of the Sakhyam were set up in the Parishes with a four-fold programme of worship, study, witness and service. Dr. M.M Thomas was appointed as Organising Secretary in 1945 and he was the full time worker of the Sakhyam. Under his dynamic leadership, the Sakhyam struck deep roots and spread its branches far and wide. Most of the Parishes both inside and outside Kerala have branches of the Sakhyam. A group of such branches forms a Centre (Pradeshika Group). There are a number of such Centres under each Diocese. The Constitution of the Sakhyam prescribes that the President should be a Bishop of the Church.