From 18–20 November, we joined World YMCA at Impact Week 2025 in Malmö, one of Europe’s leading forums for mobilising capital and innovation for social and environmental progress.
Hosted by Impact Europe, the event brought together impact investors, foundations, corporates, policymakers and practitioners committed to driving positive change for people and planet.
YMCA’s role: Co-leading the conversation on meaningful work for young people
YMCA was proud to co-facilitate three dedicated sessions focused on improving young people’s access to meaningful employment opportunities. Together with partners from the Youth Alliance – including Schneider Electric Foundation, BNP Paribas Foundation, We Share Forward Foundation and SAP, we explored how to connect skills, opportunity and innovation to better support youth across Europe.
The Youth Alliance aims to empower underserved young people to shape their own futures by accessing quality employment and entrepreneurship opportunities that reflect their aspirations and respond to the evolving needs of society, the environment and the labour market.
Why this mattered for YMCA
The labour market continues to evolve rapidly, shaped by climate transitions, technological disruption and shifting demographics. For YMCA, Meaningful Work is one of the core pillars of our global strategy, guiding our commitment to help young people access dignified, future-ready opportunities.
Our contribution in Malmö reinforced this strategic priority. The discussions enabled us to deepen our understanding of emerging labour-market trends, gather practical insights, and build new cross-sectoral connections. These learnings will directly support our programmes across the continent as we continue to empower young people through digital inclusion, employability initiatives and community-driven innovation.
Key elements of the programme
- Sessions that placed young people’s perspectives and labour-market access at the centre
- Opportunities to engage with impact investors, foundations and corporate partners working on youth employment and up-skilling
- Insights into how blended finance and impact-driven capital can scale youth-focused initiatives
- A shared focus on the event’s theme, “When it gets darker, we get brighter”, highlighting how collaboration can illuminate complex societal challenges
YMCA representation
YMCA was represented by Kathleen Elsig, Director of Global Partnerships at World YMCA, Marius Pop, Executive Secretary for Communications and Partnerships at YMCA Europe and Sofie Andresson from YMCA-YWCA Sweeden. Their joint presence ensured strong alignment between global and regional priorities and highlighted YMCA’s commitment to collective impact.
Moving forward
We return from Malmö with renewed energy and a stronger network of partners committed to advancing opportunities for young people. The momentum generated at Impact Week 2025 will continue to inform our youth-employment efforts, strengthen YMCA hubs throughout Europe, and deepen partnership models that place young people at the forefront.
