The world’s young people – often described as our future and our hope – desperately need us. They have told us so. And that is why the YMCA exists. This has been our reason for being from our humble beginnings, more than 170 years ago.
The YMCA is the world’s oldest and largest youth-serving NGO working to bring social justice and peace to young people and their communities, regardless of religion, race, gender or culture. Today we are a trusted voice on the unmet needs of young people.
An International Movement rooted in more than 12000 communities around the world.
The YMCA addresses issues affecting each community by developing programs and activities with special focus on young people in order to build a “human community of justice with love, peace and reconciliation for the fullness of life for all creation”.
The YMCA movement is organized as a federation of independent national associations linked through the World Alliance of YMCAs which is based in Geneva, Switzerland.
To respond to the world’s challenges, the movement is also organized in Area Organizations [Asia and Pacific, Latin America and Caribbean, Europe and Africa] for strategic cooperation, under a Governance Agreement.
