The 2024 outline budget was approved and Vision 2030 progress was reviewed, during a hybrid 86th Meeting of the World YMCA Executive Committee on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th October 2023.
The President, the Deputy-President and the Treasurer joined World YMCA staff in Geneva, while some 20 Committee members joined online.
The Executive Committee welcomed US entrepreneur and philanthropist Jeannette Prenger as a new, ‘co-opted’, non-voting member, and bade farewell to Professor Chin-Seng Cheng, outgoing President of the Asia Pacific Alliance of YMCAs. Professor Cheng will be replaced by Rev Philip Thomas, a Bishop in the Syrian Orthodox Church in Malaysia.
Each day began with Devotions which set the work of World YMCA within the context of the global YMCA strategy that is YMCA Vision 2030.
On Saturday, Tim Roberts of YMCA Watford (UK) explored the way YMCAs bring light to the world, in the name of The Light of the World.
On Sunday, Emma Osmundsen, President of YMCA Europe, developed the theme: ‘You can blow out a candle, but not a fire’, encouraging the YMCA Movement to ‘ignite our Vision 2030 to the four corners of the world’ and telling the story of South African anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko.
The Meeting was also addressed by JUST Capital CEO Martin Whittaker on the importance of being an organisation grounded in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. “In a world where trust is in short supply, you in the YMCA have a remarkable opportunity to leverage one of your most valuable assets – your trusted brand. People believe in you…. But that trust needs to be backed up by data and information. You can point with confidence to your North Star, Vision 2030.”
The meeting heard from World YMCA President Soheila Hayek, who announced the establishment of a task force to explore new funding and partnership opportunities. “I’ve seen remarkable strides in the implementation of our vision – more than I could have ever imagined”.
World YMCA Secretary General Carlos Sanvee laid out progress made in 2023 in the targeted two of four Vision 2030 Pillars (Meaningful Work, Sustainable Planet) and the targeted two of the four Movement Support functions (Strategic Alignment and Movement Support, and Resource Mobilization and Partnership).