About YMCA

The YMCA is one of the oldest and largest youth movements in the whole world.

In a way, It can be considered as one of the first civic organizations that aimed to improve the wellbeing of young people. Founded by George Williams and his 11 friends in 1844 in London, the YMCA currently operates in 119 countries in 11,220 locations, includes 725,483 volunteers and reaches 58 million people. The YMCA works on projects and actions aimed at developing young people through a wide range of youth activities, regardless of religion, race, gender or culture. World YMCA is headquartered in Geneva, while YMCA Europe is headquartered in Brussels. In other countries, the YMCA can be found under different names depending on their national languages: YMCA, IMKA, CVJM, UCJG, KFUM, NMKY, CEVI, HANTH, ACM, ACJ, etc. In Macedonia and other countries in Southeast Europe is known as YMCA. The official sign of the YMCA is the red triangle, which expresses the basic commitment of the YMCA: harmonious development of man on a spiritual, mental and physical level.

National and local YMCA organizations work in a wide range of program areas depending on the challenges and needs of the youth and local communities where they operate, including: sustainable development, education and vocational training, gender equality, climate change, health, interfaith dialogue, security of food, leadership development, migration, civic participation and human rights education, emergency response, peacebuilding. All these fields are systematized and explained in the YMCA Vision 2030 strategy with four pillars of influence where YMCA organizations create long-term changes in the lives of millions of young people and the environments where they live. On all continents of the world, the YMCA works to empower young people and transform communities through an embedded model for change that consists of: SPACE-TRANSFORMATION-IMPACT. This model is the DNA of all our activities and therefore being a part of the YMCA is a life-changing experience.

Community Wellbeing

We create environments where everyone can thrive in Body, Mind and Spirit.

Meaningful Work

We work with young people and communities on equitable education, training and employment opportunities.

Sustainable Planet

We channel young people’s commitment to climate justice and sustainability.

Just World

We stand for a Just World for young people and communities.

About the founding of the organization by George Williams (later awarded by the Queen of England for this work), its popularization and spread in many countries of the world, about the role of Henri Dunant in the YMCA, about the founding of basketball by James Naismith at the YMCA College in Springfield, as well as volleyball by William G. Morgan, for the involvement and contribution of the YMCA in reducing the consequences of the two world wars (later awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to Dr. John Mott),,about contribution and the work with refugees and other vulnerable groups, and finally on the expansion of the YMCA movement towards Eastern European countries after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Follow the link for more on the history of the YMCA.