Pictured above: Meeting in Chicago, USA in January 2024
We are marking two years since the Strategic Alignment and Movement Strengthening (SAMS) Global Team began its work. Commissioned in mid-2023 and first convened in Geneva in October 2023, SAMS has grown into a truly global coordination space bringing together World YMCA, all Area Alliances, and National YMCAs that support other National YMCAs through Movement Strengthening. Together, we’re aligning strategies, tools, and resources so every YMCA can thrive and deepen its community impact.
What is SAMS?
SAMS exists to coordinate Movement Strengthening (MS) across the YMCA: aligning stakeholders, agreeing on common tools, and ensuring support reaches the right places at the right time. The SAMS Global Strategy—co-created by World YMCA, Area Alliances and leading National YMCAs—sets out a shared vision, priorities to 2030, and clear roles for each part of the Movement.
What we’ve achieved together so far (2023–2025)
- A unified Movement Strengthening Global Strategy adopted after a broad consultative process, with a shared definition, principles, and strategic priorities to 2030.
- A 2025–2026 Action Plan to execute the strategy and turn alignment into action.
- Implementation launched in 2025, including a draft Movement Strengthening Process and pilots of two core tools:
- the Joint Health Assessment (JHA) — for the first time, a single health assessment framework for every YMCA;
- the Organisational Development Plan (ODP) — a unified follow-up planning tool. With 25+ National YMCAs engaged so far, feedback has been very positive. Final versions are expected to roll out from Spring 2026 worldwide. Pilot reflections across highlighted the value of on-site, participatory sessions, multi-stakeholder dialogue, and clear, fair scoring—insights that are shaping the final tools.
- Partnership coordination: work began on a new mechanism to better coordinate partner-funded partnerships between YMCAs, reducing duplication and increasing collective impact.
- Starting new YMCAs: draft guidelines for establishing a new YMCA were produced to help movements grow responsibly and sustainably.
In Kassel, Germany, in January 2025
Milestones on the journey
- Geneva (October 2023): First meeting of SAMS in hybrid format, where we started the journey and agreed on the first steps that are required.
- Chicago (January 2024): Hosted by YMCA USA, we co-created the SAMS Global Strategy and set up the basic working principles of the team, as well as the consultation process.
- Kassel (January 2025): Following the approval of the strategy, we co-created the 2025-2026 Action Plan and started its implementation soon afterwards.
- Stockholm (January 2026): next in-person SAMS meeting—where we plan to formalise the HA and ODP based on pilots and prepare for global deployment, as well as work on the case for fundraising, the new draft partnership coordination mechanism, World Council engagements and much more.
What the members are saying
“SAMS is not just a support function— it is the strategic engine behind our collective impact. We’re building a movement that is agile, aligned, and equipped to meet evolving needs.” — Renata Ferrari, YMCA USA
“The collaborative spirit is what I value most. We’re bringing our efforts together as One Movement to align resources and connect our work more deeply with Vision 2030.” — Gerhard Wiebe, YMCA Germany
“The combination of close networking, joint analysis, and action has been the most enjoyable—and a powerful step for international cooperation.” — Niclas Sannerheim, YWCA-YMCA Sweden
“SAMS creates reflective spaces and brings intergenerational voices together, strengthening cooperation across Areas and National Movements.” — Oriana Ortiz, YMCA Latin America & Caribbean
Why this matters
A coordinated, evidence-based MS ecosystem means less duplication for National YMCAs, simpler data and reporting, and stronger governance and sustainability—all channelled toward greater community impact under YMCA Vision 2030. The SAMS Strategy commits us to common tools (HA, ODP), a shared language, and regular collaboration so every YMCA can keep learning, improving, and contributing to the whole and in time increase its capacity to serve the community.
What’s next (late 2025–2026)
- Integrate the piloting feedback and finalise the HA and ODP;
- Roll out globally the HA and ODP from Spring 2026, alongside the new MS Process.
- Pilot the partnership-coordination mechanism to better align funders and implementers.
- Finalise start-up guidance for emerging National Movements using the new YMCA set-up guidelines.
- Convene in Stockholm (January 2026) to prepare the next phase together.
Thank you
To the SAMS Global Team, Area Alliances, and the National YMCAs that opened their doors for pilots and shared learning: thank you. Your collaboration over these past two years has laid the foundations for a stronger, more aligned YMCA everywhere.
Special thanks and congratulations to the full SAMS team members:
- World Alliance of YMCAs – Răzvan-Victor Sassu (SAMS Lead), Duncan Chowdhury, Bonnie Gretzner, Kayla Williams, Bethia McNeil;
- Africa Alliance of YMCAs – Osborne Wanyama, Christian Kamara;
- YMCA Europe – Olga Lukina;
- Asia Pacific Alliance of YMCAs – Maria Cristina Miranda;
- Latin America and Caribbean Alliance of YMCAs – Oriana Ortiz;
- YMCA of the USA – Renata Ferrari, Adriana Stanovici, Nora Tafel;
- YMCA Canada – Kathi Lomas McGee;
- YMCA Germany – Gerhard Wiebe;
- YWCA-YMCA Norway through Y Global – Kristin Bjora (formerly);
- YMCA-YWCA Sweden – Niclas Sannerheim;
- YMCA Finland – Milla Nummenmaa;
- YMCA – YWCA Denmark – Helene Rohde Juhl;
- National Council of YMCAs of Japan – Utako Sugino;
We also wish to extend warm thanks to all the General Secretaries who supported and enabled this work from all the YMCAs that are members of SAMS and those who engaged in all the piloting activities so far!