“Making the Difference” Y’s Men European Convention Arendal (Norway) – June Ed Eggink President YMCA Europe

Greetings to all of you from: Juan Simoes Iglesias (Spain) our Secretary- General Our Executive Committee Our Staff

Some facts YMCA Europe is an umbrella organisation. With 41 National YMCA’s in Europe as full member (34) or as co-operating member (7). Additionally serving YMCA’s developing in at least 4 other countries. Reaching approx. 1.8 mln. benificiaries per year By approx local YMCA’s

YMCA Europe’s Strategy  Priorities. Clear mission Relevant programme’s Sustainability  Signature programme’s. Peace; Justice and Democracy Healthy Living Inclusive Christianity

Accents. Accents on work: In Eastern European countries (since 1989); sucessful; now solid YMCA’s Now emphasis on developing YMCA’s in Balkan countries; strengthening existing YMCA’s and building up new YMCA’s Also in Baltic countries And in southern European countries Work in progress !

Support from Y’s Men (1) Examples of YMCA projects supported by Y’s Men  Strengthening YMCA work in Balkan Countries and in Lithuania. Programme Initiative Centers in Kosovo; Serbia; Macedonia; Romania and Lithuania. Very successful !  Gjakovo (Kosovo); 2 charity shops lead to a sustainable YMCA Kosovo

Support from Y’s Men (2)  Activity support in Gdynia (Poland)  Plovdiv (Bulgaria); support for office and activities  Constanta (Romania); support for father/son educational programme  Baia Mare (Romania); supporting YMCA activities  Vilnius (Lithuania); support for YMCA activities

Thank you !! These YMCA’s are very grateful for your support As well as we are for your continued support and for contributing to the Friends of YMCA Europe Campaign (recently re-launched) Strengthening YMCA Movements is our common goal

Developments  Preparing for the next strategic period  New impulses for Strengthening YMCA’s in Europe by establishing an office in Brussels  Working on sustainability

Strategy Interactive process started May 2015 and will lead to adoption of the new Strategy in May 2016 Examples of important trends:  Growing radicalisation amongst young people  Growing number of young refugees and asylum seekers  Still growing youth unemployment How can the YMCA respond ?

Youth unemployment

Strengthening YMCA’s Strengthening our National Movements is a key priority:  Clear mission about what we stand for  Programmes relevant for nowadays societies  Sustainability to do our work All for the benefit of young people in Europe ! Therefore: …………………. we want to open an

Office in Brussels (1)  With the tasks: To collect; filter and disseminate information from European Union Institutions and the Council of Europe for our National Movements To assist National Movements in making contacts To assist National Movements and YMCA Europe’s Programme Groups in preparing grant applications To host trainings for Board- and Staff members of National Movements

Office in Brussels (2) To network with other European Youth Organisations in preparing positions on Youth Policy issues To network with European Union officials and make the work of the YMCA better known To offer a meeting facility for National Movements and our international representatives

Office in Brussels (3) We aim at a 3-4 years project; after that it should be self sustainable. Total costs per year, including salary; office space; travels, approx.: € For a 3 years project approx.: € Great support from the World Alliance of YMCA’s is confirmed (approx. € for the first year) Aiming at a start on 1st. January 2016

Sustainability Human resources: Our “YES network” of young leaders (51 in a training last May; more than 220 in the network available for their YMCA’s) Leadership trainings by programme groups and in projects Governance training Financial resources: The Festival in Prague (2013) helped us In May 2015 the “Friends of YMCA Europe” campaign was re- launched Support from our members; from Institutions and from private donors

Making the difference We have big ambitions and big plans YMCA and Y’s Men can make the difference in the lives of many young people in Europe For the unemployed; for the refugees; for the ennemies because of different faiths; for ennemies for political reasons; for young people coming from prison; for young people with health problems; for homeless young people We, as Y’s Men and as YMCA, definitely can make the difference. Never think that we are too small to make that difference because ……………………………

To small ??

Dear friends, be the mosquito Looking forward to a continued good co-operation. Thank you very much !