Above: Embracing YMCA Vision 2030 at the 12th Annual YMCA Africa General Assembly.
As 2023 nears its conclusion, World YMCA President Soheila Hayek reflects on her first 17 months in her role. Right now, she experiences very mixed emotions. A native of Lebanon, she has witnessed firsthand the turmoil in her region due to the conflict in Gaza.
“I am quite shattered because my region is up in flames,” she said. “However, as President of a peace-making organisation and a person who believes in God, I know I must look at the positive. And, I understand the work we are doing at the YMCA, and Vision 2030 will lead to a world where no one else has to witness what we are witnessing today. I am very hopeful for the future”.
“Having visited different countries and seeing the work on the ground reminds me that the YMCA is such an amazing organisation”, she said. “I feel blessed and grateful to be here”.
The past year has been one of travel and discovery for Soheila. In late 2022, she visited Brazil and Mexico, and throughout 2023, her journey took her across various African countries and the Asia Pacific region. “Having seen the work on the ground, I am reminded of the YMCA’s life-changing efforts”, she said.
As she looks toward 2024, Soheila is encouraged by the increasing collaboration and innovation within the YMCA Movement, particularly around YMCA Vision 2030. However, she acknowledges that challenges remain, particularly in funding. “We are still not where we should be,” she said, emphasising the importance of fundraising for the success of Vision 2030.
To this end, she has gathered a Task Group of experts from YMCA current and past volunteers, called the Task Group on Sustainable Development Initiatives (TGSDI) to explore the best ways for the YMCA to become the partner of choice for Sustainable Development Initiatives funded by donors interested in helping the world reach the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These initiatives would both bolster the effectiveness of Vision 2030 on the ground, since the four Pillars are in perfect alignment with the SDGs, and bring in much-needed funds to support operation, capacity building and strengthen governance structure for the participating local YMCAs.
Here are highlights from Soheila’s 2023 travels:
March 2023
On International Women’s Day, Soheila wrote an article about women’s progress and how far we have yet to go.
“I have seen women go from beautiful servants at the workplace to commanding board rooms. I have seen us grow from careers in teaching and nursing to becoming University Presidents and surgeons, astronauts, scientists, and mathematicians. There is hardly any field from which we are barred. And yet, challenges remain”, she wrote.
In addition, she moderated a panel discussion of international YMCA leaders in an #EmbraceEquity event organised by the YMCA of the USA.
(Click the photos for more information)
