On the eve of NAYDO 2025 in St. Louis, YMCA Europe’s Chief Service Officer, Alina Pop took part in the North American Ukrainian Partners Meeting, joining YMCA Ukraine leaders Victoria Trofimova and Marta Huretska.
The meeting, hosted by the Gateway Region YMCA brought together representatives from across the North American YMCA network, focused on aligning efforts for continued support to YMCA Ukraine throughout 2025 and beyond.
YMCA Europe presented the scope of the Ukraine Response, highlighting its commitment to capacity building and institutional development – especially important during the current leadership transition. Victoria and Marta outlined key needs and programming priorities from YMCA Ukraine, underlining the organisation’s long-term vision for strengthening civil society and democratic participation in the country.
Partners from the United States and Canada engaged actively in the conversation, seeking ways to provide focused and effective support. As stressed during the meeting, financial aid is not the sole priority. The overarching goal is to cultivate leadership and resilience – ensuring that YMCA Ukraine emerges as a leading force for social transformation.
All actions and initiatives will continue under the coordination of YMCA of the USA and YMCA Europe, with an emphasis on transparency, communication, and collective responsibility.
We extend our sincere thanks to all partners across North America for their ongoing solidarity, commitment, and vision. Together, we are building a stronger, more resilient YMCA Ukraine – one that continues to inspire hope and leadership for the future of the country.
