Category Archives: News

A new Executive Committee was elected at our General Assembly held in Prague (May 16th – 20th)

Less than one week was enough to see the reality and impact of several YMCAs in Russia. Juan Simoes, YE Secretary General and Michal Szymanczak, Senior Executive Secretary visited Ivanovo and Yaroslavl from April 27th to May 3rd following an intense and diverse agenda of meetings prepared by our friends at YMCA Russia with a special contribution from Misha Guskov, Development Secretary at that National Movement.

Over 30 YMCA leaders involved in YMCA Movement Development and Programme Groups work in Europe met in Berlin from the 9th to the 10th of March, just in the heart of the town which was a symbol of divided world and now is the best example of united Europe.

Our Executive Committee members met in Berlin from the 8th to the 11th of March. The agenda was splited in two sessions during the weekend and included the analysis of the reports from our different working groups and fields plus decisions regarding the YMCA Europe Strategy Implementation Plan.

After years of good and effective work with YMCA Europe, YMCA Moldova officially requested full membership. The requirements that our Constitution states were fully accomplished and our Executive Committee officially accepted YMCA Moldova as the 38th Member Movement. Our working fellowship also includes another 8 cooperating movements across Europe.

YERT members Paul Smillie (Director for Movement Democracy at YMCA England), Adelheid F. Hvambsal (Secretary General YWCA-YMCA Norway), Viktor Serbulov (Secretary General YMCA Ukraine), Michal Szymanczak (Senior Executive Secretary YMCA Europe) and Juan Simoes (Secretary General YMCA Europe) met in Prague on March 5-6. Paul Smillie facilitated the meeting and inputs from members who could not take part at this meeting were also included in the agenda.

Starting in September 2012, the International YMCA University of Applied Sciences, Kassel, Germany is offering a B.A. programme in Human Development and Leadership (HumLead) online.

The World Alliance of YMCAs is pleased to offer the new book: Global Citizenship and Social Movements – A YMCA Perspective.

26-28 January 2012 in Volozhin, Belarus there was a unique meeting of 18 key leaders from Belarus, Russia, the Ukraine and representatives of YMCA Europe who have given the birth to a new network of European YMCA trainers – “Y NoT”.

Welcome to the YMCA Europe 2012 General Assembly that under the title “Roots and Leaves” will take place in Prague, Czech Republic, May 16th – 20th 2012.