Programs

The YMCA believes that every person should have the means to grow and thrive in body, mind and spirit while taking care of their individual and collective wellbeing.

Create programs that support the harmonious development of young people and communities when it comes to their physical, spiritual and mental health.

Since our establishment, we have been offering opportunities for personal growth and development and improving the emotional well-being of young people. We do that through workshops, trainings, youth exchanges, volunteering, etc. in the country and abroad in cooperation with our partner organizations, whereby we enable our young people to acquire and upgrade the necessary knowledge and skills for character development so that they can better respond to today's challenges.

Peer school for the mental health of children and youth
Antidiscrimination of the people with disabilities in the educational institutions
NLP training course via Erasmus+
Youth Center in Bitola with multiple programs
YMLP [Young Men’s Leadership Project] national outdoor camp for boys
GLOW [Girls Leading Our World] national outdoor camp for girls
Balkan YMCA Leadership Camps
Continues personal development training courses via Erasmus+

Career Development

Pillar #2: Meaningful Work

The YMCA Movement believes that all young people deserve the right to learn, engage in flexible, dignified and meaningful work, and build sustainable livelihoods.

Help young people and communities be better prepared for the future of work. Develop programs that offer education, upskilling, employment and entrepreneurship opportunities that increase readiness for the future of work.

For over a decade we have been committed to empowering young people by providing them with the tools and opportunities needed for meaningful and sustainable employment. Through our digital education initiatives in partnership with YMCA Europe and Hewlett-Packard (HP) we equip youth with essential digital skills. Our career counseling services, camps career fairs and Erasmus+ entrepreneurship training courses guide young people toward their professional aspirations. We actively participate in global research on meaningful work, ensuring our programs are aligned with the latest trends and needs in the job market. By collaborating with local and international partners, we ensure our participants gain the skills and confidence necessary to thrive in their chosen career paths and contribute positively to their communities.

Internship opportunities
Digital education in partnership with YMCA Europe and HP [Hewlett-Packard]
Career Counseling
Participation in global research on meaningful work
Career fairs at YMLP and GLOW camps
Entrepreneurship training courses via Erasmus+

Community Impact

Pillar #3: Sustainable Planet

The YMCA believes that we should all commit and take action for the protection and regeneration of our Planet, preparing for a Just Transition to a world where humans live in full harmony with Nature.

The YMCA commits to become a Greener Movement, an active youth voice on climate justice and champion of youth-led sustainability solutions. Integrate climate education components in all YMCA programs and encourage our beneficiaries to practice and champion environmental responsibility.

For almost a decade, we have been dedicated to fostering environmental stewardship among young people and communities. Through our various programs we integrate climate education to raise awareness and drive action on pressing environmental issues. We collaborate with local and international partners to provide hands-on experiences in sustainability, such as community clean-up projects, tree-planting campaigns, and workshops on renewable energy and waste reduction. Our green initiatives, including eco-camps and sustainability-focused youth exchanges, empower participants to lead eco-friendly lifestyles and champion environmental responsibility. Through these efforts, we strive to build a greener, more sustainable future where young people are at the forefront of environmental change.

Monitoring decision-makers and advocating for sustainable transport solutions
Activities within the European Mobility Week
Bike-Up Erasmus+ youth exchange
Volunteering activities within the local civic initiative Bitola on Bike
Contribution to the local Platform Take a Breath for improving the air in Bitola
National service projects in multiple cities with the GLOW and YMLP clubs
Support green initiatives such as the national Tree Day or Green Bair
Service projects on beautification, clean up, etc.

Pillar #4: Just World

The YMCA believes in the power of young people and communities to promote and advance justice, peace, equity and human rights for all.

The YMCA will become a global voice in the fight against systemic discrimination, inequity, injustice and racism in all its forms, amplifying the voices of young people and communities where it is active to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard. Empower young people to become peace-builders and transformative activists. Train young people to become advocates for diversity, equity, inclusion and social change worldwide.

Since our establishment, we have been promoting youth work as our central activity. We advocate for the recognition of youth work as a profession, and the opening of youth centers where youth workers can work with young people. An involved civil society and active contribution of all stakeholders in public policies and processes is key to the development of the local communities in which we live and society in general. In this direction, the YMCA is involved and contributes in the areas of development of relevant youth policies and strategies, implementation of youth programs in schools by strengthening youth participation in decision-making, promotion of philanthropy by promoting volunteerism and encouraging corporate and social responsibility among companies and citizens.