YES stands for YMCA European Spectrum. It is a network of young leaders within YMCA Europe and its main purpose is to give the young people a platform to have their voices heard and influence decisions made within the YMCA on local, national and European level.
The group also serves as a consultation group for YMCA Europe, giving them a direct link to the young people of the movement, to have their opinions and ideas reach them.
The YES Group has had annual seminars since 2007, with young people from all over Europe in attendance. These seminars usually take place before and during YMCA Europe’s General Assembly, with the participants joining in with the Assembly. In 2013 a second YES seminar was added to the end of the year.
YES’s work and function expands from year to year, with more people learning about the group and joining it. As of the beginning of 2014, 106 people from 30 countries have taken part in our seminars. In addition to that, a number of young people are linked with the group in other ways. For example, over 200 young people joined our Facebook group.
The YES Board
YES is led by a board of five people. That board is elected by the group´s members, during the annual seminar in May of each year. As of May 2013 the board consist of
Andre Kpodonu (England) Chair
Tinna Rós Steinsdóttir (Iceland) Vice-Chair
Adela Linda Lakatos (Romania)
Maria Pronina (Russia)
Marisa Vögele (Germany)
The YES Man
The YES Group has a mascot, called YES Man. He goes home with a different YES member after each seminar and aims to see all the countries of YMCA Europe in his lifetime.
