photo credit DJ Forza
World YMCA, together with Y’s Men International, is pleased to announce a new multi-stakeholder partnership to support The Global Fund to Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria during the Global Fund’s sixth replenishment conference, convened by French President Emmanuel Macron in Lyon, France from 9-10 October.
“We welcome the investment made by World YMCA and Y’s Men International to strengthen the Global Fund’s malaria programmes,” said Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “Through its vast network worldwide, the YMCA will be able to mobilise more young people in the fight against malaria, bringing us closer to ending the epidemic by 2030.”
This partnership will include funding support for malaria interventions from Y’s Men International. World YMCA, which reaches 64 million in 120 countries, will coordinate global advocacy efforts, as well as support community engagement and outreach initiatives to help reduce the burden of malaria, especially with young people and the most vulnerable. DFID, the international development arm of the UK government, will provide matching funds, unlocking nearly $1 million USD to fight malaria.
“Malaria is a global health emergency and the burden of malaria disproportionally robs young people and vulnerable communities of their potential to contribute fully to society,” said Carlos Madjri Sanvee, World YMCA Secretary General. “YMCA has a 175-year history of community engagement, delivering services and providing education on global health issues facing young people and vulnerable communities. Thanks to our friends at Y’s Men International and DFID, World YMCA will be able to mobilise young people in the fight against malaria and other global health issues.”
World YMCA is committed to addressing climate change, issues around mental health, and improving economic opportunities for young people. The negative impact of climate change on malaria and the effect it can have on a young person can lead to lost job opportunities and increased mental health difficulties. This partnership will help contribute to saving 16 million more lives as part of the Global Fund’s mission.
“Y’s Men International has been providing funding support for malaria programmes since 2009,” said Jose Varghese, Y’s Men International Secretary General. “We see this partnership as a wonderful opportunity to step up our commitment to rolling back malaria, and to help catalyse youth-led community engagement and advocacy efforts in collaboration with World YMCA. We are grateful to DFID for matching our contribution, thus exponentially increasing our collective impact.”
Y’s Men International is oriented to serving the worldwide YMCA and the communities in which it is present throughout the world.
The membership of the Association consists of affiliated local clubs known as Y’s Men’s Clubs, Y’s Women’s Clubs, Y’s Men and Women’s Clubs or Y Service Clubs. The membership of each local club consists of men or women or both. No one is denied membership status because of race, creed, colour or national origin.
The Global Fund is a partnership designed to accelerate the end of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as epidemics. As an international organization, the Global Fund mobilizes and invests more than US$4 billion a year to support programs run by local experts in more than 100 countries. In partnership with governments, civil society, technical agencies, the private sector and people affected by the diseases, we are challenging barriers and embracing innovation.
The Department for International Development (DFID) leads the UK’s work to end extreme poverty. We are tackling the global challenges of our time including poverty and disease, mass migration, insecurity and conflict. Our work is building a safer, healthier, more prosperous world for people in developing countries and in the UK too.
YMCA is one of the oldest and largest youth-focused movements in the world. Founded in 1844, it now operates in 120 countries and reaches 65 million people. The global YMCA movement is organised as a federation of independent national YMCAs linked together and supported by World YMCA, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
World YMCA is committed to promoting youth empowerment, social justice and peace for young people and their communities through four key areas – health, employment, civic engagement and environment. World YMCA supports local and national associations to bring social justice and peace to young people and their families, regardless of age, gender, religion or socio-economic background.