YMCA World Service in Action

We raise awareness of and support for the largest volunteer organization dedicated to the holistic development of children and youth around the world. There are 14,000 independent YMCAs at work in more than 120 countries today, serving 45 million people.

Our support is focused on Strengthening YMCA Movements, Youth Leadership, Health Education, Vocational Training, Recreation, and Technology Education. Visit our photo gallery to see more.

Here are examples of YMCA World Service in Action:

The YMCAs of Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine

In Russia, Belarus, and the Ukraine, YMCAs are combining life skills and service-learning programs with urgently needed efforts to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic. YMCAs are also addressing the need to strengthen ethnic and religious co-existence.

Whether it is caring for people living with HIV or jointly addressing environmental crises, YMCAs are creating opportunities for young people to bring about social change.

The setting:

• Skyrocketing rates of HIV transmission, drug abuse, prostitution and violence
• Millions of young people excluded from the formal education system
• Center of the global trafficking trade in women and girls (replacing Thailand and the Philippines)
• Harassment from police and government authorities, and severe discrimination in the job market for minority ethnic groups

The goals:
Through diversity education, training and community service initiatives, we support YMCAs in assisting young people to:

• Grow personally by building self-esteem and self-reliance
• Build character based on the core YMCA values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility
• Develop skills in speaking, organizing and networking
• Become visible leaders in community service initiatives
• Prevent HIV/AIDS; prevent drug and alcohol abuse

The outcome:
Young people from Russia, Belarus and the Ukraine are involved in youth-led education and community service programs promoting civic participation, volunteering, and ethnic and religious co-existence. YMCA Program Festivals, an experiential training methodology pioneered by YMCA youth leaders, offers dynamic workshops, artistic and dramatic presentations, group and service work and daily reflection. They build strong youth leadership to expand, shape and lead YMCA initiatives throughout the region.

YMCA Uruguay

The setting:
As was the case with many economies in Latin America, the economy of Uruguay recently faced one of the most serious economic and financial crises of its history. From 1998 to 2002, the country saw the collapse of many banks and other financial institutions.

The goals:
In November 2004, the YMCA of Montevideo asked YMCA of the USA for technical assistance to:

• Reposition the YMCA
• Restructure its debt
• Detect and solve its root problems and
• Strategize the future growth strategy through a four-year movement strengthening process.

The outcome:
Achievements of 2005 and 2006, after two years, which positioned the YMCA to serve their communities more effectively and build a sustainable future for their work:

• A significant reduction of debt (from USD 1.5 million in 2002 to USD 200,000 in 2006)
• Deficit reduction (from 28 percent in FY 2002/2003 to 3.8
  percent in FY 2005/2006)
• Incorporation of model management practices in human
  resources management and board development
• Development of a strategic plan and budget (the YMCA
  had been operating without a written budget for the previous
  two fiscal years)
• 20 percent increase in fee-paying membership
• The strengthening effort has been extended to all YMCAs
  in the country

How can you help?  Click here to support YMCA World Service.