YMCA Youth

"The YMCA is a world-wide Christian, ecumenical, voluntary movement for women and men with special emphasis on and the genuine involvement of young people and that it seeks to share the Christian ideal of building a human community of justice with love, peace and reconciliation for the fullness of life for all creation." Challenge 21.

The average age of the founding members of the YMCA was 22. Nearly half of the world's population is under the age of 25. It is critical that the YMCA is truly a Movement with a "genuine involvement of young people." But are we?

The section What we found out presents the findings of a working group on youth leadership in the world-wide YMCA, highlighting the challenges and suggesting ways forward.

The section on World Council Resolutions shares resolutions on issues related to youth leadership that have been put forward by the world YMCA Movement

Are young people leading the YMCA Movement today? Why are there not more younger leaders? How can we promote youth leadership? These are some of the questions that a working group on youth leadership set out to answer. Their research is part of a strategic plan to strengthen the YMCA Movement to more effectively serve communities. This plan is known as the Global Operating Plan for strengthening the Movement and was adopted at the World Council of YMCAs in 2002.

The findings can be used as a tool for promoting meaningful youth leadership by sparking discussion, debate and analysis at local and national levels. Members of the group are willing to offer their expertise to support these discussions.

Key findings include:

- If young people share the YMCA vision, the Movement will be stronger and healthier. For this reason YMCAs need to be clear about their vision and mission.

- Many motivated young people experience resistance from older leaders to youth leadership in the YMCA.

- Some young people are not motivated to get involved in YMCA governance. There are different reasons including a lack of social awareness, a reluctance to commit, social distractions, higher mobility and a frustration at the lack of opportunities.

- Engaging young people is a great first step, but a structured training for youth leadership is needed. The YMCA needs to bridge the gap between volunteerism and the YMCA governance.

Youth Leadership Development in Hong Kong

Since 2000, the YMCA of Hong Kong has set up a systematic training scheme for younger leaders. Under these schemes, 220 young persons between 15 and 18 years old are recruited every year to undergo six months of training. Graduates of this scheme have set up a network to continue and further develop their leadership skills and service to the community. This brings results, for example an 18 years old girl, a graduate of the training scheme, has been appointed to the Youth Council which sets the direction of the YMCA of Hong Kong.

For more information contact Louis Tong: llltong(at)yahoo.com

Armenia: Young people in the wind of change

After the collapse of the iron curtain in 1989/90 many things have changed in Armenia. In 1994 the YMCA was founded and many young people were involved. During this rebuilding phase they showed their courage, passion and creativity and convinced communities of their ability to envision and to lead. When Artak Saroyan was elected as the new General Secretary of Armenia YMCA in 2001, he was just 26 years old. Arthur Kazarian was 30 when he became the Chair of the National Board in the same year. Young leaders in Armenia have proved the value of being a movement for and led by young people. The Armenian YMCA is well respected by the community, especially for its work with refugees.

For more information contact Artak Saroyan: ymca(at)ymca.am


Honduras YMCA: Key player in involving young people

The YMCA of Honduras plays a leading role in engaging thousands of young people in government, advocacy, environment, literacy, health and HIV and AIDS outreach, and popular education. Programs reach 18,000 youth, with the direct involvement of more than 1,600 volunteers and leaders. The YMCA-led National Youth Forum is engaging young people in governance and advocacy at local, municipal and national levels. Significant outcomes include the introduction by the Honduran Government of the Holistic Youth Development Law and the Citizen Contract for Youth