‘The rule of the rich’ … and the ultimate opportunity to strengthen our Movement
50 YMCA National General Secretaries (NGS) met online on 11 June 2026, and were addressed by Amitabh Behar, Executive Director of Oxfam International, who presented the World Inequality Report 2026 on Resisting the rule of the rich – defending freedom against billionaire power.
“The world’s 3000 billionaires see their collective income grow by 2.5 trillion dollars a year, enough to eradicate global poverty 25 times over. Yet 785 million people worldwide still go to bed hungry. Our concern is that these people are now using their wealth to twist political power, especially with so many tech and media organisations being run by billionaires.”
“So we’re in a moment of history: a battle for the soul of humanity. On our own, we civil society organisations can’t deliver the change the world needs, but we can work together to create what I call ‘rainbow coalitions’, and we can help to mobilise the real power of ordinary people to deliver the change they want to see. The world’s normative ‘north star’ – to love your neighbour – feels like it is broken. Our task is to rebuild it.”
Preparing for the 21st YMCA World Council
In the second half of the meeting, NGS discussed their final preparations for the 21st YMCA World Council in Toronto, beginning on 19 July. They were addressed by Kerry Reilly (World YMCA, YMCA Scotland), Jessica Nkongolo (YMCA Canada), Alveiro Valencia (YMCA Colombia), ‘Teddy’ Tadahiro (YMCA Japan) and Gerard Atahoun (YMCA Togo).
All spoke of World Council as the ultimate opportunity for ‘Movement strengthening’, in building their own National Movements’ capacity to understand and deliver change.
“On top of all that, the Colombian delegation will surely be bringing you happiness, enthusiasm, and free hugs” said Alveiro.
NGS will next meet live in Toronto on Sunday 19 July.