From 26–30 October 2025, 23 participants from 16 countries gathered for the second session of YMCA Europe’s Leadership Academy – Bridging Cultures: From Personal Transformation to Community Development in YMCA Greenhill, Newcastle, Northern Ireland.
Day 1 – Reconnection and Sharing Learning
The opening day focused on reuniting participants and establishing a collaborative environment. Through icebreakers, name games, and reflective discussions, participants reconnected with their experiences from the previous training in Malta.
Key activities included:
- “My Name Is…” and Identity Circles exploring personal and cultural identity.
- Recap and Roadmap Creation, linking the Malta sessions to the current programme.
- Setting personal learning goals and revisiting group agreements and house rules.
The afternoon featured project presentations, where participants showcased 18 local initiatives implemented since the first training. Each presentation celebrated one success and one lesson learned, fostering a culture of openness and shared growth. Celebrating mistakes and learning from them is an important part of the development journey.
The evening brought a team-building climbing session, where participants built trust and courage through group belaying and encouragement, an exercise in both teamwork and overcoming personal barriers.
Day 2 – Lessons Learned and Cultural Reflections
The day began with the continuation of project presentations, followed by an in-depth “Lessons Learned” workshop. Trainers provided feedback on project applications, reporting, and budgeting, helping participants strengthen their project management and grant-writing skills.
A silent discussion encouraged self-reflection on key takeaways, while the afternoon sessions shifted the focus to culture and values:
- Culture and Values Workshop: Participants identified their personal core values and explored their origins through a “walk and talk” activity.
- Intercultural Competencies: Using the Council of Europe’s “Democratic Culture” framework, participants reflected on how values shape inclusive leadership.
- Organisational Culture: The day concluded with an interactive exploration of Edgar Schein’s Organisational Culture Pyramid, helping participants link personal and organisational values.
The evening campfire programme celebrated cultural diversity through songs, stories, and games, fostering intercultural understanding in a relaxed atmosphere.
Day 3 – Building Organisational Culture and Non-Violent Communication
Day three moved from theory to practical tools for culture-building. Participants explored how to intentionally design and strengthen organisational culture using:
- Analysis Methods: “Portrait Method,” “Cultural Web,” and “Culture Contributors Questionnaire.”
- Change and Reflection Exercises, linking cultural analysis to real leadership practices.
The Non-Violent Communication (NVC) session introduced empathetic communication and “I-statements” as tools for conflict resolution and intercultural dialogue. Participants practised active listening and expressing needs with empathy—skills vital for collaborative leadership.
In the afternoon, the group embarked on a learning visit to Belfast, exploring the “Peace Wall” and murals that reflect Northern Ireland’s complex history. The visit connected themes of identity, memory, and intercultural governance, illustrating how civil society organisations like YMCA Ireland contribute to peacebuilding and reconciliation.
Day 4 – Governance and Future Bridges
The final training day focused on governance as a cornerstone of organisational culture. Participants explored the meaning of governance, its democratic principles, and how it ensures transparency, accountability, and representation within civil society organisations.
Through interactive exercises and group performances, they unpacked key governance concepts including:
- Division of power
- Transparency and accountability
- Participation and representation
- Diversity and succession planning
A Q&A session, as well as a fishbowl discussion allowed participants to explore real governance dilemmas—conflict of interest, leadership succession, and board engagement—fostering peer learning through shared experiences.
The closing session, “Museum of Our Learning,” turned reflection into an interactive experience. Participants revisited highlights from each day, shared insights, and identified the knowledge, skills, and mindset they had developed.
The training concluded with certificate presentations, a celebration of shared achievements, and personal messages exchanged among participants—symbolising the bridges built between cultures, organisations, and individuals.
Overall Highlights
- 18 local projects shared, analysed, and celebrated.
- Deepened understanding of intercultural competencies and organisational culture.
- Practical skill-building in project management, NVC, and governance.
- Immersive learning journey in Belfast, connecting theory to lived experience.
- Strengthened YMCA network of intercultural leaders, committed to peace, empathy, and democratic leadership.
The Planning Team of YMCA Leadership Academy 2025
The Team have created a unique experience for the participants of the YLA, bringing professional expertise, open minded attitudes and being role models for the new generation of the Bridges Builders.
Alejandra Arcila, Colombia/Northern Ireland
Andim Coban, Turkey/Czech Republic
Ivo Tepavski, Bulgaria
Martina Hudcovska, Slovakia
Olga Lukina, Belarus/Belgium
The YMCA Leadership Academy empowers young leaders of Civil Society Organisations by building their leadership skills to strengthen YMCAs and increase their impact in communities across Europe.
This project is co-funded by the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe.
