Tallinn, Estonia Yes/ GA meeting

I did Interest group to discuss unemployment, health. We look at Global partners e.g. movement strengthing COG, YES. 



NGS meeting 

• key note
• table talks two 
• Table talks continue ( working group) 
• Excursion 
• devotion and farewell

My reflection 

GA meeting / Yes  was great experience having to get involved ymca strategic plan learning about different YMCA's how they work also know the structure of YMCA i am very grateful for YES giving me this opportunity. 

  Tensting group 

GA meeting

GA Meeting was good experience yesterday learning this year strategic plan look at its aim and objectives. 

I went to Y'men which part of the YMCA.  In Y Men group gave me ideas how to improve my local ymca.

Second part assembly we look at global partners,  movement strengthing e.good COG, YES.  Last assembly we did table talks to reflect our opinions on strategic plan I believe was good idea to express my feelings how can improve or what should stay in strategic plan.

Yes Seminar

Last day of Yes Seminar very amazing experience. my expectations were very low because I didn't know much about Yes. I thought it will be about 10 not 50 + of people this week has help my confidence working in big group and becoming a leader.

I have opportunity met new people different countries build new  network to start projects and learn about different YMCA's

I am grateful 

Tallinn, Estonia Day 2

This morning seminar we look at reflection, personal quotes, we did team bonding with games e.g. Captain is coming and make your egg don't break

We looked at strategy plans which include practical planning process,marketing,advertising, institutions development, resources

We did presentation on our countries
Then party 🎉

Overqualified? #yestonia2015

British special forces and high end intelligence work serving in the Far East, Middle East, and Northern Ireland; Strategic Security advisor in Bosnia, Rwanda, Sri Lanka and Palestine; Guest facilitator at YMCA YES seminar.

Until you read the last point you may have believed I was describing myself - not so. This is my second YES seminar as a participant and Philip Wilkinson is the guest facilitator with a more than impressive bio. Strategic planning has been the theme of the event as YMCA Europe is in the closing year of its most recent 5 year strategic plan and looks forward to creating a strategy for 2016-2020. 

Philip has driven the design and implementation of strategies in difficult contexts such as Rwanda and Afghanistan with all sorts of complexities and desires and needs, and history - well some might say he's a bit overqualified for guiding a discussion about the strategic planning of YMCA Europe - although I'd say we're a pretty complex reality ourselves! His stories were fascinating - from objectives to take paramilitary targets in Northern Ireland by any means possible and years later having a pint with that same target who is now a political leader; to having a close relationship with Paul Kagame and the success story of strategic planning in Rwanda.

So far the seminar has been really engaging - the YES board have obviously put much time into ensuring participants get the most out of this week and have kept it fresh with quirky activities including the problem and solution wall, Q&A session energy prep, a new spin on our cultural evening, and peer partners. 

As for now the strategic plan is to get through to 4pm and then enjoy a free afternoon and evening in Tallinn!

Tallinn, Estonia: Day 1 Finished

First day was great. Estonia is beautiful place. Before my first seminar I walked around local town, taking pictures castles and buildings, everyone seems nice.

I met three other change agents today which was nice,talking about each other YMCA's and our stories also futures

first seminar was good didn't expect to see so many amazing people 50+. Enjoy listening to different cultures.



Good induction Yes learning about Yes,  Erasmus, strength and weakness 8 key competence.

Tallinn, Estonia: Great Expectations

Please excuse the poor attempt at a quirky title. It's 5am and I'm short of coffee, hence also, creativity. 

Despite my apparent lack of literary inspiration, sat on a flight to Tallinn, Estonia, I am buzzing with excited anticipation of what the week ahead may bring for my fellow ymca pals and I.

Stuffing my boarding pass into my hand luggage alongside bundles of Y Care International annual reviews and YMCA Suffolk strategy plans, I am reminded that people also have expectations of me from this trip: to learn and to network. Not to network in the, sometimes selfishly, corporate fashion, but to spread the word of the admirable and innovative work of both organisations I am representing in order to make contacts and create links for future development.

On this note, I hope to learn particularly about any global youth projects currently in action or in planning, with which YMCA Suffolk service users could get involved, with the potential in future to partner with a YMCA in another European country. 

However overall, I am going with an open-mind and a feeling of opportunity. I'll keep you posted on how these broad expectations may or may not be met over the next few days.

Estonia day 1

Just arrived at estonia looking forward to the first seminar today