The 12th National General Secretaries Forum brought together 24 leaders from across Europe in Helsinki from 10–12 November, hosted with warmth and vision by YMCA Finland.
Twenty-one National General Secretaries joined in person, with additional colleagues participating online, making the gathering both dynamic and inclusive, following and ambitious agenda put together by a diverse planning team led by our Chief Operating Officer – John Peacock, Chief Service Officer – Alina Pop, Juha Virtanen – National general Secretary of YMCA Finland.
At the opening session new colleagues from Denmark Gritt Rhinstrøm, Ukraine Victoria Trofimova and Switzerland Nora Bandixen were introduced and we reflected on the shared journey “from Chisinau to Helsinki.”
A reception hosted by YMCA Finland followed, with the great attendance of the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Physical Activity -Mika Poutala, of the Bishop of Helsinki -Teemu Laajasalo, Chairman of YMCA Helsinki, and board members and executives from YMCA Finland and YMCA Helsinki.
It was a great moment to showcase the impact of the YMCA all across Europe and globe and also a recognition for the relevant programs and services delivered by YMCA Finland, emphasizing the importance of maintaining hope, support and empowering young people.
The programme opened with a reflective devotion led by Nora Bandixen from YMCA Switzerland. Her contribution centred on the themes of connection and hope, inviting colleagues to ground the day’s conversations in shared purpose and meaningful connectors across Europe.
With that grounding, the day moved into a comprehensive presentation of YMCA Europe`s performance dashboard highlighting the return on investment to national movements and presenting a holistic overview of the services provided to members.
Juan Simoes Iglesias and Carlos Sanvee as Secretary Generals of YMCA Europe and World YMCA led a participatory session on the relation between the regional and global levels, emphasizing the steps already made within the One movement conversation, the need for further alignment, efficient use of resources and next steps in this coordination under the spirit of Vision 2030.
- Razvan Sassu, Head of Strategy & Policy of World YMCA, introduced the Pathway to 2044, discussing the long term strategy journey of the YMCA and about our collective capacity building efforts.
- Peter Dinsdale, the CEO of YMCA Canada joined online to invite participants to the 21st World Council in Toronto in July 2026.
- Eneko López de Dicastillo , member of YMCA Europe’s Executive Committee, provided insights into the nomination process for the 2026 Europe Executive Committee elections, encouraging National movements to nominate volunteers for the Committee and for the elections itself.
- Thomas Valentine, Vicepresident Global Relations, and Community Engagement YMCA USA reflected on the evolving cooperation between YMCA of the USA and YMCA Europe.
The conversation continued with group work on developing coordinated approaches to supporting local YMCAs across Europe, with concrete proposals and next steps to be made.
The agenda then focused on major upcoming milestones, including national contributions, governance processes, and reflections on the socio-political context in Europe. A discussion on Christian identity created space for open and thoughtful dialogue on the YMCA’s heritage and mission today, showcasing YMCA Finland`s steps from Tikkurila statement to YMCA Finland Values, creating the space for more sharing and updates from different National Movements about their internal process, bringing different insights and perspectives.
Anthony Camilleri, the National General Secretary from Malta joined online to invite all participants to the YMCA Europe General Assembly, which will take place in Malta from 15–17 May 2026.
The 12th Forum in Helsinki stood out as a moment of alignment, clarity, and renewed energy. Through strategic planning, reflective dialogue, and strengthening relationships, the leaders reaffirmed their collective commitment to the fellowship, to empowering young people and supporting communities locally, nationally, and globally.
The connections consolidated in Helsinki set the stage for the next chapter of shared work across the YMCA movement.
At the end of the meeting, YMCA Europe’s Secretary General Juan Simoes Iglesias thanked and congratulated the Board, volunteers and executive team of YMCA Finland, the Planning Team of this 12th Forum and all colleagues for their involvement and support. A special reference was made to those colleagues who could not attend this meeting.
The next National General Secretaries Forum will take place from 10–13 November 2026, with the location to be confirmed.
Check out the previous editions of the National gteneral Secretaries Forum.
