In their first meeting of the year, the World YMCA Executive Committee gathered online on Saturday, 18 January 2025, for an informal session to reconnect personally and professionally. They celebrated milestones, shared hopes for 2025, and expressed wishes for peace, justice, and unity.
The committee also discussed upcoming events, including preparations for the 21st World Council in Toronto in July 2026, COP30, and more.
Said World YMCA President Soheila Hayek, “All the work we do, every relationship we build, moves us closer to a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world. May we find strength in our shared mission and be ignited with a drive to build a brighter, more peaceful future together.”
World YMCA Secretary General Carlos Sanvee outlined three key priorities to shape our direction:
- Build future-ready YMCAs that nurture young people.
- Deliver impact at scale – the local, national, regional and global levels
- Position ourselves at the world youth empowerment organisation of choice
Reflecting on these priorities, Carlos remarked, “We are the YMCA, and we always rise to the challenges.”