YMCA Youth Ambassador posts from Bulgaria

I'm in Varna, Bulgaria as the official delegate for YMCA Europe to the European Youth Forum along with Ana Sofia Abreu from YMCA Portugal. We are tasked with representing the position of YMCA as a full member of the YFJ with voting rights. We will engage in the amendment of the YFJ strategy and work plan, vote on new members and a new board for 2017-19. We will also have opportunities to gain more insight around the work of YFJ and other member organisation through workshops on migration, youth rights, youth advocacy and much more.

This was the view from my morning jog after a very long first day at the European Youth Forum (YFJ) General Assembly in Varna, Bulgaria. This is the only glimpse of the outside world I will most likely see so I'll savour it.

Our journey here was slightly tricky but we made the most of it, even allowing Ana to have the quickest tour London at midnight on our way from Heathrow to Luton. I was unsure about the scale of the Forum but once we arrived it became clear the importance and responsibility that we had be trusted with. After settling in the hotel, we were taken to a large venue in Varna where we received a keynote speech from an executive in the UNFPA on our part in delivering the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. Very inspirational is an understatement.

Already overwhelmed, we were then lead to a “room” where 2000 people were waiting for us and received an almost Olympics style welcome. We were honorary  guests to the selection of the next Youth Capital, a prestigious award for a city working to empower young people. What then transpired was incredible (see images!). Performance after performance, with each one surpassing the last.

The next day marked the beginning of official  proceedings. Ana and I, being the newbies, were apprehensive to say the least but we have had amazing support from the many other youth organisations like the Scouts and Girl guides and of course Ilenia, Heidi and Tinna from YMCA Europe.We got our head around the online system, voted, listen, fought for our amendments and made some new friends. We watched a debate from all the candidates for the Presidency, Vice presidency and Board members. There is strong political machine at work and I hope we come out of it unscathed. We are make YMCA proud and represent them well and have already managed to get some amendments accepted after some gruelling debates and look forward to more. The day ended at 11pm and a cold Bulgaria beer in true YMCA fashion. We are thoroughly enjoying the experience and grateful for the opportunity to represent YMCAs across Europe to empower young people.

Bring on Day 2!

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!