Small Seeds by Stephanie Hillier

We came from all over the world

Into a group we were hurled

We explored stories untold

And watched the ideas unfold

Young people need to lead our service

It’s essential as our communities deserve this

The theme was young people in the driving seat

We welcome their learnings to talk, to greet

Let’s guide them and watch them grow

And their ideas and passion will clearly show

They are the key to prevention

The possibilities too many to mention

Education and mental health to meet Individual needs

Big change will come from these small seeds

With heart at the centre of all we think

We will ensure young people don’t sink

Connect, listen, trust and empower

Young people can stand as strong as the tallest tower

In any language  empowerment sounds like opportunity and hope

Young people, YMCA can throw you that rope

Grow strong and claim your right

The world needs your insight

By Stephanie Hillier

YMCA Norfolk

Refuelled and ready to go

I’m currently sat on a plane on my way back to London after a few days at World YMCA’s Strategy Delivery Summit.

I won’t lie to you, the few months haven’t been easy for me, both in terms of work and personally. I’d started to question where next, or even if there was a next.

But sat here reflecting about the last few days, I feel as high as the 39,000 feet up I am now.

We received updates on the progress being made at a global level against our strategy, some best practice models being developed, learnt about our visibility in the media globally, and heard about the plans for World Council and a new Secretary General.

I want to be part of a movement that has a vision and is taking steps to reach, empower and mobilise many more of the 1.8 billion young people living across the world today.

To take those next steps, I think we need to challenge our understanding of this generation, go deeper in understanding young people, and then be bold and innovating in speaking out on the issues that matter to them in the spaces they operate and live in.

Armed with a renewed sense of just how amazing our movement is, some emerging ideas of how we turn our aspiration into action, a list of contacts from amazing colleagues around the world, (and some new pin badges), I feel refuelled and ready to go again.

Lets make this happen!