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YMCA Macedonia Announces Leaders-in-Training 2026–2027 Program
YMCA Macedonia announces a new program, Leaders-in-Training (LiT), that gives teens (15+) the opportunity to grow as confident, responsible, and active leaders. The program, taking place during the school year, combines monthly leadership workshops with teamwork, community service, outdoor adventure, mentoring, and reflection.
Leaders-in-Training is designed for alumni of YMCA summer camps, their friends, and any other teens interested in developing their leadership potential. This year, one program will take place in the Bitola area and Kumanovo area.
Learning by Doing
From September to May, participants meet once a month. Every session combines a practical leadership lesson, teambuilding, and a fun challenge, while exploring such topics as growth mindset, communication, emotional intelligence, goal setting, and becoming a camp leader. Sessions are in Macedonian and English.
Beyond simply learning about leadership, participants practice specific behaviors during hands-on experiences in the fall and spring:
Community Service Projects: Participants work together to make a positive contribution to their local community while discovering how leadership and service go hand in hand
Adventure Events: Participants engage in outdoor activities that challenge them to cooperate, solve problems, build resilience, and reflect on their leadership journey
Program Dates
SEPTEMBER: Growth Mindset
OCTOBER: Adventure Weekend
NOVEMBER: Service Project
DECEMBER: Impact Summit – Skopje
JANUARY: Emotional Intelligence
FEBRUARY: Camp Leadership
MARCH: Goal Setting
APRIL: Adventure Weekend with Service Project
MAY: Public Speaking – Program Certificates
A Path Toward Future Leadership
Leaders-in-Training offers a pathway to becoming a YMCA volunteer, camp counselor, and camp staff member. After growing through the LIT experience, participants continue developing their skills and eventually take on leadership roles at YMCA summer camps:
SPARK Day Camp (Strong Prepared Aspiring Responsible Kids): Grades 6-8
GLOW Overnight National Camp (Girls Leading Our World): High school girls
YMLP Overnight National Camp (Young Men’s Leadership Project): High school boys
Along the way, they build friendships across communities, increase their confidence through experiential learning, and develop a lasting connection with volunteerism.
Leaders-in-Training is for young people who are interested to learn, serve, and grow. YMCA Macedonia believes that leadership is not something young people have to wait to become. They can start leading now.
Contact YMCA.mk
Interested teens, parents, and teachers can contact and follow YMCA Macedonia for more information about Leaders-in-Training:
Applications for LiT 2026–2027 are now open — fill out the application form and join the program!
