General assembly

‘Making dreams possible’ at YMCA Europe.

And so there we have it. After four days of discussion, deliberation and – occasionally – compromise our aims for the General Assembly of YMCA Europe have been met. Towards 2020 we go.

Over the past weekend, I was fortunate to join a contingent of young people, staff and Board members from YMCA England at the General Assembly of YMCA Europe, in Madrid.

Acting as the ‘umbrella’ organisation of YMCA across the continent, YMCA Europe had invited all national YMCAs to meet over these days to discuss and ratify not only its next strategy but also the make-up of its new Executive Committee, for which YMCA England had put forward its own nominee, Martin Houghton-Brown.

It is on weekends like this that it becomes possible to witness first-hand the sheer scale of YMCAs not just in Europe but the world over. From Iceland to Malta and from Russia to Portugal, YMCA was represented from all over the continent with 27 voting countries in total. But before I talk about what we voted for and why, I want to speak a little about the YMCA people I met.

First, there was Laura and Pedro from YMCA Spain who were hosting us this weekend. Different from YMCA England in that their name is pronounced ‘Iimka’ rather than spelt out as Y.M.C.A, they took the time to speak to me at length about their health and youth programmes and to persuade me to join the 1,000 other people currently following its progress on its Facebook page.

Then there was Romulo, visiting Europe this weekend from the World Alliance of YMCAs (WAY). Romulo explained how Europe and WAY are inextricably linked and spoke of the importance of Europe in the world movement.

And finally, there was Birgir from YMCA Iceland. Birgir was due to step down from his Executive Committee position at this weekend’s elections, but still spent the time to talk to me and other newcomers at YMCA Europe about what the committee does and how it helps YMCAs all over the continent.

Everyone we met was as warm and welcoming as the next and, as we worked together to ensure we completed the tasks required for the weekend, it was possible to see just how close YMCAs are within this umbrella team.

On to the more meaty aspects of the weekend, here in bullet point format is a brief on what we achieved:

1.The new strategy: YMCAs across Europe approved a new continent-wide strategy in which YMCA Europe will “stand for young people”, “create spaces” and “strengthen the movement”. YMCA Europe will go further, too, prioritising youth empowerment; striving for peace and justice; using a social inclusion model to support refugees, asylum seekers and migrants; and provide tools to tackle the effects of poor levels of youth employment. 

2. The new Executive Committee:  It was within a room of heavy hearts that we bid farewell to outgoing YMCA Europe President Ed Eggink this weekend. Thanks go to him from everyone at YMCA England for all his hard work over his four-year term. Excitingly, however, we also welcome in a new President in Scotland’s Mike Wills and congratulate YMCA England board member Martin Houghton-Brown who has been elected as an Assessor to the Committee.

3.    Work plans: With a new strategy agreed, it was down to us on the final day to start to create work plans around YMCA Europe’s new strategic aims. Okay, we didn’t come up with the all answers but, together, we started the journey we need to go down over the next four years to be a success in the continent and make a difference to young people where we know it matters most.

So there we are, that was us at the General Assembly. Aims achieved and a journey begun together but as ever with YMCA internationally, it was about so much more than that. We also built networks, bridging the gaps between our respective organisations. In my career, I have often been told that your biggest strength is always your biggest weakness. So where YMCAs are federated and better able to respond locally to what goes on in their community, we’re also occasionally very alone. Thankfully, as we meet more and more over Europe, these gaps are narrowed and our work becomes better and more coordinated. Always local, always for young people but increasingly together.

My blog follows two wonderful pieces by the young people representing YMCA England at the Assembly and you can read both Gerald and Alice’s pieces elsewhere on Global Link.

Words by Andrew Mortimer, Communications Manager YMCA England