INTRODUCING THE 2017 YMCA WORLD CHALLENGE The YMCAs annual event to mobilise the Movement to share their great impact with local communities Saturday 3rd June, 2017

WHY DO WE DO THE YMCA WORLD CHALLENGE? To raise awareness To invite others to join us To speak of our mission To celebrate our 173rd birthday!

Empowering young people through basketball. WHAT IS 2017’S CHALLENGE? How can your YMCA bring people together to play basketball? Empowering young people through basketball.

It’s the 125th anniversary of our invention of basketball. WHY BASKETBALL? Our game. Our communities. It’s the 125th anniversary of our invention of basketball.

THE POWER OF SPORT Sport is part of the YMCA. We love it! We’ve had great innovations : volleyball, futsal, and of course, basketball. Each was created to serve local communities. Sport is much more than just good fun. It’s Body, Mind & Spirit. At its best, sport is how the YMCA serves local communities and empowers young people.

THE STORY OF BASKETBALL James Naismith created basketball in his YMCA to solve a local community need with young people. He helped empower young people through a new game suited to their community. That was 125 years ago!

And in 2017 we’ll use basketball! There is so much great sport in the YMCA. Whether its teaching kids to swim, learning gymnastics, playing basketball or any sport … OUR CHALLENGE IS TO FIND CREATIVE WAYS TO SERVE LOCAL COMMUNITIES & EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH SPORT. And in 2017 we’ll use basketball!

LET’S GO PLAY BASKETBALL! We want to see how your YMCAs engage with your communities like never before. World YMCA will reward: * the most diverse activity * the most creative activity * the biggest activity * the most unique activity * the most inspiring activity How can you be as diverse as your community?

BRAINSTORM How do you Empower Young People through sport in your YMCA? How can you use basketball to bring your communities together in new ways? How can you tell the story of your YMCA, of basketball’s invention, of why we use sport not just to compete but to serve? What’s the most diverse group you can dream of bringing together to get this great experience?

WAYS YOU MIGHT DO IT Go into the streets & find young people to play Fundraise for a YMCA project Play basketball for 24 hours Talk about ‘slam dunking’ negative things in sport Create a new team Make a video Offer free basketball at your YMCA

MORE WAYS YOU MIGHT DO IT Create a street game Invite the media Bring out your old YMCA singlets Go out of your YMCA into schools, clubs & other places young people are …. and many more

FUN-DRAISE THROUGH THE WORLD CHALLENGE Your YMCA might like to raise funds to enable others to also experience the benefits of sport. One possible project is the World YMCA Refugee Initiative in Greece where we are raising funds to give every child a basketball & the community a court. http://www.ymca.int/donate/

* Compassion * Respect * Love * Enlightenment * Balance * Joy SPORT IN THE SERVICE OF HUMANITY World YMCA participated in the 1st Global Conference on Faith & Sport, hosted by Pope Francis at the Vatican. This global gathering with people from different religions, sports, business and more discussed how faith and sports can work together to promote positive values, inspire young people and better serve humanity. We embrace their principles of: * Compassion * Respect * Love * Enlightenment * Balance * Joy “Challenge yourself in the game of life, as you do in the game of sports” - Pope Francis http://www.sportforhumanity.com/

Saturday 3rd June, 2017. WHEN WILL IT TAKE PLACE? We will focus on the closest Saturday to our birthday (June 6th). Use the day & time that works best for your YMCA & your local community.

All with #ymcachallenge WHAT TO DO ON EVENT DAY? Share your story! In the media Make a video Put in on line Sing “happy birthday YMCA” Tweet it World YMCA will help with Resources Social media And more between now & June All with #ymcachallenge

WHAT’S OUR GOAL? More visibility + more recognition = more public support for YMCAs everywhere So save the date and spread the word. World Challenge is a great fun way to share your YMCAs good news.

HOW FAR WILL YOUR YMCA GO? Reaching deep into diversity in community ? Exploring empowerment through sport ? Just playing basketball ? We encourage you to go deep, exploring the power of sport to serve & empower

HISTORY OF THE YMCA WORLD CHALLENGE 2012 Shooting hoops for hope 2014 I stand for young people 2015 Kicking goals for youth empowerment 2016 Give a voice for youth empowerment 2017 Empowering young people through basketball 2018 … 2019 … 2020 …