Best Day EVER!!!!

Greetings,

Another day and another eye opening experience in Sweden. It's strange how every day just seems to get better and better here in Sweden.

Today we went on several study visits to explore the work YMCA Umea do in their community and it has been mindblowing to say the least. YMCA Umea have an amazing building complete with a hostel, music studio, climbing room, and much more. This is not the only building they work from as they also have revenue generating projects such as a Restaurant, Garage, Handicraft production and vocational training which all involve young people working on the front line, with the public, to gain training, experience and qualifications. An amazing day which has provided so much inspiration and ideas to take back to England.

We also visited Norbyskarr, a beautiful Island which is now run by YMCA to provide summer camps for young people, but on which used to live a planned comunity of wood processers. The Island has a rich history and provides a varied range of activities and camps for young people.

I have been impressed with the revenue generating side of YMCA Umea but am even more impressed with the way volunteers are used to run the majority of these projects. Youth Work in England is a recognised profession but in many parts of Europe the majority of Youth Work activites are still run mainly by volunteers. Many of our friends from Nederlands and Sweden are volunteers and their commitment, dedication and enthusiasm are inspiring.

We will be back in England soon but i don't want to leave. There is so much more for us to see and learn from YMCA Sweden that it is a shame we can't stay longer. Tomorrow is the Swedish AGM and we will be running our own seminars to give a perspective of youth work in our country. I am a little nervous but also very excited to be able to contribute to the amaxing work taking place in Sweden.

Tej doa

Shabz