In 2021, the YMCA of Thessaloniki completes 100 years since its founding; a century of action and of contribution to people, society and the city.
As YMCA Thessaloniki marks the anniversary that spans a century and generations of committed, passionate leaders – it is a celebration that reflects hundred years of innovation, collaboration & contribution against the backdrop of history and with sights set on the future.
It is a highlight of the milestones, values and moments that defined the YMCA’s trajectory and forged its people.
It is remembering the past, charting the present and envisaging YMCA Thessaloniki facing the challenges of the future, planning the next one hundred years.
The centennial’s symbolic message – “Together as one” – marks a historical trajectory that spans one (1) century while underscoring the essence and the significance of the ideals that YMCA Thessaloniki has been promoting all these years.
One century of YMCA Thessaloniki.
One hundred years of innovation, collaboration, contribution.
One hundred years against the backdrop of history, with sights set on the future.
One hundred years together; together as one.
One with YMCA Thessaloniki.
One with people, one with society.
One with the city, one with the world.
One with sport, with camping, with volunteering, with creativity, with culture.
Together as one. With the team, with the collaboration it brings, and with personal growth.
In the context of this celebration, in addition to a strong communication campaign, a series of festivities and social projects are in the works.
These start in September, the birth month of the YMCA Thessaloniki, with emblematic, extraverted events targeting the general public. Each is directly linked to the pillars of action, the programs, and the people who represent YMCA Thessaloniki and its national and international reach. Also planned are individual actions of immediate social value.
The development of the pandemic and its surrounding circumstances will be the deciding factor on whether the initial, tentative plans for the festivities will be adapted or rescheduled as needed.
As noted by YMCA President, Ioannis Sossidis, “This is a program of events by the YMCA and its volunteers, for the city, for society and for people. These events will carry the message of our celebration through the ideals and the values we have been advocating for 100 years.”
The President of the Centennial Committee, Vicky Papadimitriou, added, “we have designed a celebration around the following key pillars: the anniversary, the history and the future. In this way, the centennial milestone inspires us to reminisce as well as reflect and rethink, so we can envisage and plan our next 100 years of contribution to civil society – always with the same values, always with people at its core, always together.”
Delineating the role and the contribution of YMCA Thessaloniki to shaping civil society in Thessaloniki and further afield for the past century, its anniversary becomes a landmark not only for YMCA Thessaloniki but for the city in itself; a reason to celebrate and to rethink volunteering and social contribution in the city.
The main program of the celebration of the 100 years of YMCA Thessaloniki will be based on three main pillars: the celebration, the history and the future.
Additionally, every pillar of action presents current-day YMCA Thessaloniki (Sport & Wellbeing, Camping & the Environment, Education & Culture, Nursery & Kindergarten, People & Society, Folklore Dance Group, the Kalamaria & Asvestochori Branches, International Relations & Executive Training, Basketball Museum), and contributes to the celebration with distinct contributions.
Aiming at bringing to the fore the dynamic range of programs and YMCA Thessaloniki’s social contribution, the individual departments thematically link their object of focus to the celebrations for the 100 years, presenting more than 100 actions inspired by the YMCA Thessaloniki principles and values, as well as its areas of activity.
