Empowering young people and communities to be and to lead the change they want to see

Founded in 1855, the World YMCA supports every YMCA in the world, in over 100 countries. Join our global movement.

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12,000

local YMCA branches

90,000

YMCA staff

920,000

YMCA volunteers

65 million people

reached every year

Our latest news

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Preserving YMCA’s past: 30,000 photos digitised a...

22 November 2023

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Reflecting on the 2023 World Week of Prayer

20 November 2023

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From COP26 to the UN, Ireland’s Alicia O’Su...

19 November 2023

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The path of leadership growth: Promoting peace initiati...

13 November 2023

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Read all our news

Vision 2030 was adopted at the 20th World Council, in Aarhus, Denmark, in July 2022

Vision 2020 Logo

Worldwide, our community has adopted one mission:

To empower young people and communities worldwide to build a just, sustainable, equitable and inclusive world, where every person can thrive in body, mind and spirit.

Learn more

There are 1.2 billion young people in the world aged 15-24

This is how we support them, and their communities:

Community Wellbeing

We nurture young people in body, mind and spirit.

Community Wellbeing
Community Wellbeing
This matters because...

1 in 7

young people aged 5-19 worldwide experience a mental health disorder

UN/WHO

Learn about Community Wellbeing

Meaningful Work

We support worthwhile jobs and sustainable livelihoods.

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Meaningful Work
This matters because...

264 million

young people aged 15-24 are not in education, employment or training (two-thirds are girls and women)

UN/ILO

Learn about Meaningful Work

Sustainable Planet

We channel young people's commitment to climate justice and sustainability

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Sustainable Planet
This matters because...

1 billion

children and young people worldwide are at ‘very high risk’ of the impacts of the climate crisis

UNICEF

Learn about Sustainable Planet

Just World

Young people demand justice. We amplify youth voices and actions in communities.

Community
Just World
This matters because...

400 million

children worldwide face discrimination because of their ethnicity or religion

Save the Children

Learn about Just World

Features: Read how we're making an impact

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YMCA Storer Camps welcome young people worldwide

24 August 2023

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YMCA Kosovo expands HP programme

04 May 2023

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Report

‘Unstoppable Together’: Reflecting on two years of ...

27 March 2023

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What does it mean to be a Change Agent?

What does it mean to be a Change Agent?

12 March 2023

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Youth Meaningful Work survey

Now open: global survey for ages 18-35

Launched in collaboration with Y Australia and Deloitte Australia, the survey is designed by young people for young people around Meaningful Work.

Complete the survey

Where we make our impact

We are in 120 countries. Find your National Movement:

YMCA Africa

Regional HQ (Area Alliance)

Nairobi, Kenya

National Movements:

17

View all countries
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YMCA Asia Pacific

Regional HQ (Area Alliance)

Hong Kong

National Movements

24

View all countries
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YMCA Europe

Regional HQ (Area Alliance)

Brussels, Belgium

National Movements

37

View all countries
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YMCA Latin America & Caribbean

Regional HQ (Area Alliance)

Cancun, Mexico

National Movements

25

View all countries
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YMCA Middle East

National or Local Movements

6

View all countries and associations
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YMCA North America

National Movements

2

View all countries
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