Teaming up to expand YMCA engagement with future Vision 2030 partners

In July 2022, the YMCA movement approved a new global strategy, Vision 2030. Building partnerships with like-minded organisations and individuals which are able and willing to contribute resources – including knowledge, networks and funding – will be crucial to achieving the strategy’s ambitious impact objectives.

The World YMCA kicked off a discussion about resourcing Vision 2030 on 16-17 February 2023 at its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The meeting was designed to build synergies and teamwork on partnering and resource development across the YMCA Movement. With 21 participants from YMCAs worldwide and guest speakers, the meeting featured interactive sessions  exploring principles, practices, and opportunities to strengthen resource development worldwide.

Key outcomes included

• YMCA is keen to position the Movement as a partner of choice to like-minded organisations which share our vision for young people and are willing to contribute resources (funding, knowledge, network, other) to achieve our common aims
• A better understanding of current partnerships and contributions already being made to support YMCA’s international impact programmes
• A draft vision and principles for collaboration on resource development for Vision 2030, with a focus on the value of teamwork across YMCAs to raise resources
• Recognition that we will get further by focusing on building long-term win-win relations with organisations, rather than pursuing short-term transactional interactions
• Recognition that partnering and resource development is a team effort, and we can leverage and benefit from each other’s unique strengths rather than be hindered by barriers that could hold us back, such as an overemphasis on subsidiarity
• Recognition that YMCAs have diverse backgrounds and experiences in building and growing partnerships and raising resources.
• Identification of priority activities to take forward by the end of 2023, by the end of 2024, and by the next World Council
• A willingness by the participants to continue working together over the coming two years, in particular, to strengthen our collective efforts to develop resources and partnerships to achieve Vision 2030’s impact objectives.

Corinne Momal-Vanian, the Executive Director of the Kofi Annan Foundation, addressed the team on her Foundation’s work with young people, and on current trends in youth participation.

Participating in the resource development discussion were: 

Malusa Kilonda – Head of Communications and Advocacy, All We Can

Jo Chettleburg – Director Income Generation, YMCA England & Wales

Tim Harford – Head of Fundraising, YMCA England and Wales

Nirina Rakotomalala – General Secretary, Africa Alliance of YMCAs

Nam Boo-Won – General Secretary, Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs

Juan Simoes Iglesias – Secretary General, YMCA Europe

Jessica Woitalla – Project Manager and Proposal Writer, YMCA Europe

Tom Valentine – Vice President, International Group – Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, YMCA of the USA

Fredrik Glad Gjernes – International Director, Y Global, Norway

Gerhard Wiebe – Director, International Department, YMCA Germany

Renata Ferrari – Senior Director, Global Advancement – Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, YMCA of the USA

Jan Owen – Advisor to the Secretary-General, World YMCA

Caroline Chernov – Global Impact Investing Advisor, World YMCA

Juha Virtanen – National General Secretary, YMCA Finland

Robert Feith – National General Secretary, YMCA Netherlands

Marius Pop – Director of Communications, YMCA Europe

Steve Adams – Director of Communications, Y Care International

Lloyd Muriuki Wamai – Area Lead, YMCA Africa

Maria Fernanda Giraldo – YMCA Latin America & Caribbean

Sheri Noer – YMCA of the USA