As a member of the European Youth Forum (YFJ), YMCA Europe had the pleasure of being present at their annual General Assembly on 16-18 May to receive the reports and vote in the governance elections.
Our organisation was represented by staff member Jessica Woitalla and a volunteer from our European Youth Representative Network (EYRN), Elina Bimpiri. The following article is her recount of the experience and happenings of the weekend.
Navigating a new space can be overwhelming, but the sense of support from the YFJ and all delegates, especially the new ones, made the experience at the General Assembly (GA) truly memorable.
The first day’s morning proceedings kicked off with a productive and interactive session. After the roll call, we dived straight into the pressing matters at hand. We confirmed the working agenda and added the discussion and voting procedure of two new urgent motions promoted by member organisations to the schedule. After this, we had an informative and engaging session receiving updates from the board and the progress report of 2024 from the Secretariat. It was great to gather greater insights into the current initiatives and to have the opportunity to ask questions.
In the afternoon of the first day, we were treated to a spirited debate and a fireside chat with the board candidates. The energy in the room was palpable as we listened to their visions and ideas. After the dialogues, the member organisation representatives took to voting and the announcement of the new board brought cheers and applause. We were quite pleased as two members of the Value-Based Cooperation (VBC), an internal informal group within the YFJ that YMCA Europe is a part of, were elected to the board.
Day two began in a familiar rhythm. We started with the elections for the Financial Control Commission and discussed the board’s proposal for the new Consultative Body on Membership Applications. The co-chairs for the autumn Council of Members (COMEM) were also elected. Once the votes were tallied, we shifted our focus to the financial update.
The Board and Secretariat walked us through their work, detailing audits and the new budget. We also heard from the previous Financial Control Commission about their mandate and perspectives before voting on the 2023 accounts and the 2024 budget. We ended the session with an inspiring video message from Felipe Paullier – the head of the UN’s Youth Office.
Lunch was an opportunity to connect with all the members of the Value-Based Cooperation (VBC). We chatted about the general assembly, debriefing on our block’s election campaigns, and how we might further our collaboration with one another. We also elected two new coordinators for the next 6-month cycle until the next COMEM meeting in November.
With the electoral part of the GA behind us, we turned our attention to the motions. Two urgent ones were on the table: “protecting civil society and civic spaces in Georgia” and “raising awareness of the shrinking space and difficulties faced by youth organisations across Europe”.
Policy commissions were held simultaneously, allowing us to refine these motions before the vote. We also discussed the board motion on “Empowering Youth Voices: Defending Democracy and European Values”, ensuring every amendment was considered thoughtfully.
The third and final day was the most interactive, providing a platform for member organisations to discuss four key topics: Trust in Democracy, Western Balkans and Eastern Europe (WB&EE), Green and Fair Taxes, and Housing. Divided into small groups, we shared our insights and brainstormed what the YFJ should advocate for. These discussions will inform the updated policy program to be voted on at the next statutory meeting.
On the afternoon of the final day, we took to vote one last time on the three motions discussed the previous day. All three motions were agreed upon by the membership and will be published and used by the YFJ in the advocacy efforts on behalf of the membership.
The closing session was emotional, with heartfelt speeches from board members reflecting on their achievements and the progress made during their tenure. Their gratitude for the support and cooperation was evident, and it was a poignant reminder of the collective effort that goes into making such an assembly successful.
As we concluded, there was a palpable sense of accomplishment and anticipation for our next meeting on November 22-23 in Ghent, this year’s European Youth Capital. The journey ahead is sure to be just as exciting and impactful!
