The World YMCA 2018 Playbook

The World YMCA 2018 Playbook An easy guide for the YMCA movement to engage with the global OUR WAY Strategy throughout 2018.

INTRODUCING THE 2018 PLAYBOOK OUR LONG-TERM YMCA STRATEGY CONTINUES Dear YMCA friends, 2018 will be a significant year for every YMCA. We have important internal things to do, none the least being our 19th World Council. We also have the ongoing work of activating our strategy to reach and empower more and more young people. We have programmes to deliver – like the 4th cohort of YMCA Change Agents.

We also have a new strategy to embrace for 2018-2022. It continues to focus our priorities on youth empowerment for each and every YMCA. This focus has brought unity and cemented this future direction.

You can confidently invest in Youth Empowerment 4 good. This is the YMCAs commitment to meet and address the urgent needs of young people everywhere.

Each year we release The Playbook as an easy guide to explain the strategic priorities and focus for the next 12 months. It is made freely and widely available throughout the movement so that all YMCAs engage with it.

The Playbook provides you with information and insights to help you continue to deliver programmes and services that fit into your Youth Empowerment strategy.

This Playbook is not an exhaustive list, but it provides an overview of some of the lead programmes. We welcome any questions or feedback you may have.

In 2018 we celebrate our 174th year, and we also celebrate every YMCA doing great things to empower the worldĘźs young people.

The more we focus on young people the better the future we will have.

Warm regards, Johan Vilhelm Eltvik Secretary General

01

2018 PLAYBOOK OVERVIEW OUR WAY STRATEGY 2014-2018 OVERVIEW

The 2018 Playbook details some of the key programmes under each of OUR WAYs strategy elements: OUR WAY Strategic Focus: Youth Empowerment YMCA Change Agents – announcing Cohort 4 Innovation - including Innovation Camp and collaboration with the United Nations

OUR WAY Strategic Priority 1: Resource Development Staff Placements Resource mobilisation

OUR WAY Strategic Priority 2: research, communications and advocacy, impact assessment Research - including One Million Voices 2 and Youth Poll Communications – including YMCA World Challenge 2018 and YMCA4good Advocacy – including our Resource Groups and YMCA Camp Climate at COP 23 Refugee and Emergency programmes

The OUR WAY Strategy was unanimously approved at the 18th World Council after a two-year consultation process involving all the different governance levels of the movement and external partners.

Our global strategy defines Youth Empowerment as the main focus and Movement Strengthening as the basis for the extension of YMCAs reach and impact. We strengthen our movement to empower more young people.

OUR WAY Internal Strategic Focus: Movement Strengthening OUR WAY Strategy Delivery Summit 2018 Safe Space World Council 2018 (including the 3 wheels) New Strategy 2018-2022 ʻYouth Empowerment 4 Goodʼ

02

YMCA CHANGE AGENTS THE LEADERS OF OUR MOVEMENT

What is it?

The YMCA Change Agent programme is a global leadership development programme to empower young leaders as change makers in their own communities.

YMCA Change Agents are young volunteers and/or staff from YMCAs across the world who strengthen the YMCA so the YMCA can serve more young people.

They participate in innovative and life changing experiences including online and face-to-face trainings, mentoring and local project development for expansion of youth services. They gain skills to help transform their YMCA and community and they build connections to an international network of other young leaders.

Since 2014, more than 700 Change Agents have graduated and are leading change in over 70 countries around the world. Change Agents are active and their projects are changing lives. In 2017 we welcomed the 3rd cohort of Change Agents to the YMCA leadership family and this group will have a significant role to play in helping execute the 19th World Council.

Why we do it‌ Youth Empowerment is at the core of the YMCA and it is an expression of our Christian and ecumenical Identity.

Back in 2010 the world movement embarked on a process of change aiming for more unity, visibility and impact. Change Agents are our collective investment in youth leadership for the present and for the future of the movement. It nurtures a strong network of friends all over the world, connects our movement and inspires action to serve more young people in more communities

03

YMCA CHANGE AGENTS KEY ACTIONS IN 2018

YMCA Change Agents remain a key pillar in the new 2018-2022 YMCA Strategy.

Launch:

Registrations for cohort 4 will open in October 2018 for 2019-2020.

Develop:

All Change Agents, from all cohorts, are invited and will help lead the 19th World Council before returning to their local YMCAs as graduated Change Agents.

Integration:

Continuing to work with all cohorts on integration and involvement with the movement.

Who does what?

National and Local Levels:

With registration for cohort 4 beginning October 2018 all YMCAs continue to identify new Change Agents, as well as the ongoing work to offer meaningful leadership challenges local mentoring/coaching and implementation of local projects of previous Change Agents. Taking advantage of the skills and experiences of previous cohorts is a vital part of the integration of future leadership.

Area Levels:

Areas will jointly implement the YMCA Change Agents Programme in partnership with the World YMCA and have shared responsibilities on selection, training and evaluation, Coaching/Mentorship of Change Agents.

Global Level:

World YMCA is responsible for the overall leadership and coordination of the programme, delivery of trainings (face-to-face and online), evaluation and monitoring. This will include arranging the involvement at World Council of all Change Agents and the recruitment for cohort 4.

Further information: Romulo Dantas romulo@ymca.int http://action.ymca.int/change-agents/

04

INNOVATION

INCLUDING INNOVATION CAMP, BEST PRACTICES IDENTIFICATION & SHARING. What is it?

Innovation remains at the heart of the YMCA. We are famous for our historical sport inventions and we want to be famous for our modern day youth empowerment innovations as well.

• The YMCA Innovation Camp brings together leaders from the movement to have intensive training around successful youth empowerment programmes with the view to implement them in their local YMCAs. (Includes Ten Sing, Youth and Parliement, Mental Health, Environmental Advocacy, Employment Initiatives) • On going work on identifying and sharing good practices on programmes will continue with strong use of communication technologies.

Why we do it…

In order to accelerate innovation in the YMCA this is an intentional and proactive approach in connecting people with knowledge consistently over time. It also recognises the wealth of experiences and solutions existing within the YMCA movement. Innovation is core for greater impact, visibility and to attract more and new resources to the YMCA.

KEY ACTIONS IN 2018 Launch:

The 2018 Innovation’s Camp will be held in Europe in September, 2018.

Also, online sessions on sharing of best practices/programmes throughout the year.

Develop:

The 2018 innovation topics will be announced early 2018 and shared with the movement so interested leaders can commence planning.

Integration:

We encourage you to consider learning from these successful programmes so that you may activate them locally.

Who does what?

National and Local Levels:

Consider innovation topics, potential participants and share with the World YMCA flagship programmes to be considered as part of future Innovation Camps.

Area Levels:

Promotion and support of the initiatives.

Global Level:

World YMCA hosts the event and is responsible for coordination.

Further information: Romulo Dantas romulo@ymca.int

05

WORLD YMCA STAFF PLACEMENTS

KEY ACTIONS IN 2018

UNIQUE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

What is it?

The World YMCA offers YMCA staff from across the globe the opportunity to join the World YMCA office in Geneva on a short-term placement.

Staff Placements work on specific projects within the OUR WAY strategy: youth empowerment, movement strengthening, resource mobilisation, and communications.

Why we do it…

Goals of the Staff Placement Programme: • Offer professional development experiences to YMCA staff or volunteers from a member National Movement, Local YMCA, or Area YMCA Organisation.

Launch:

Staff Placement places are open and available for applications and we encourage YMCA leaders to apply via their NGS.

Develop:

Development plans for each Staff Placement are tailored to each successful applicant.

Who does what?

National and Local Levels:

The YMCA agrees to second the professional staff person to the World YMCA headquarters office for a 3 months (consecutive) period with the salary to be paid by the sending YMCA and to maintain the staff person as an employee, cover the round trip airfare of the staff person and their ongoing salary during the placement period.

Area Levels:

• Develop increased capacity to work on strategic initiatives for increased organisational capacity and sustainability of YMCAs around the world.

Assist with information and support.

• Support the implementation of the worldwide Youth Empowerment change model and framework, with special focus on research, resource mobilisation, and communications.

World YMCA will cover the cost of accommodation, food, local travel for the time whilst in Geneva.

• Expand the YMCAsʼ collective image and impact (with capacity, resources, and knowledge) to be made available to the worldwide YMCA movement on youth empowerment, movement strengthening, and resource mobilisation.

The staff members will return to their local and national YMCAs with increased leadership skills and competencies and an expanded network of organisational contacts and relationships.

06

Global Level:

Further information: Selma Zaidi selma@ymca.int

RESOURCE MOBILISATION

KEY ACTIONS IN 2018 Identify:

Ways your YMCA can be involved and support these innovations

What is it?

Grow:

Explore opportunities for global sharing

Resource mobilisation is strategically focused actions taken by YMCAʼs at all levels to mobilise the necessary resources to deliver our mission. This includes people, financial and other resources.

Mobilise:

Resources creatively to support the movement

At a global level it includes:

Property Development: providing global expertise to support YMCAs to develop

Who does what?

National and Local Levels:

us deeper and wider into more YMCAs and hear from more young people.

National and local YMCAs are developing new skills for resource mobilisation as well as making available expertise and resources for others to support our collective capacity. National YMCAs will work with the World YMCA to support fundraising for global resource mobilisation projects through scientific foundations and other sources.

Refugee Initiatives: enable more refugee programmes to be supported.

Area Levels:

Social Enterprise: to create and support income-generating activities to finance the implementation of our strategy. These activities include Peace Voyages (in partnership with The Peace Boat), Cook Books, Alternative Tourism and other initiatives.

Global Level:

under-utilised properties.

Research: additional resources to enable our strategic research commitment to take

Area movements are developing and implementing capacity building initiatives as well as coordinating joint access to regional funding opportunities.

Programme Sponsorships: Mobilise funds through sponsorship for programs such as

The World YMCA is committed to coordinating resources, raising funds and offering technical assistance. The World YMCA will work with all level of YMCAs to fundraise for these projects in a collaborative way within national territories.

Join Initiatives: targeted fundraising projects focused on youth empowerment – for

Further information: Jose Varghese jose@ymca.int

YMCA Change Agents: a continued commitment to the ʻInvest in Youthʼ campaign to mobilise financial resources to support the new Cohort 4 of YMCA Change Agents in 2018/19 NGS Meeting, YMCA World Challenge , World Council , etc .

youth employment, health, civic engagement and the environment.

Why we do it…

To guarantee a broad and diversified resource-base for the YMCAs long-term sustainability.

07

RESEARCH

ONE MILLION VOICES 2 AND YMCA YOUTH POLL What is it?

KEY ACTIONS IN 2018 Share:

The global report will be prepared based on the national reports and will be a significant part of the 19th World Council

Develop:

National Movements will have their country reports to be used and have access to the global report for comparison work.

Ongoing research is an important part of informing and executing our strategy.

The first YMCA global research – YMCA One Million Voices - released its findings in 2015 and remains what we believe is the worldʼs largest ever research of 15-24 year olds. The results highlight young peopleʼs critical needs, especially in the areas of employment, health and civic engagement.

In 2018 we are looking to release two new research programmes: • One Million Voices 2 (OMV 2) – a qualitative research that will build on and support the quantitative results from the first research.

• YMCA/UN Youth Poll – still in the early stages of development but we aim to work closely with the UN to conduct a quarterly poll with over 70 countries.

Why we do it…

Listening to the world's young people is crucial so we hear and understand those we aim to serve. Responding to the research and making programmatic and strategic decisions is the outcome.

The research gives a voice to young people and their concerns and needs. The scientific results strengthen the position of the YMCA in society and in the local, national and global political spaces.

OMV 2 will go deeper with national movements having the opportunity to ask young people about what is important to them and how the YMCA can better support their voices to be heard.

08

Who will do what?

National and Local Levels:

Movements are invited to continue to share and use the results of OMV 1 and to widely share OMV 2.

Area Levels:

Offer support to implement the OMV 2 research project.

Global Level:

Responsible for global coordination of the research and release of final OMV 2 report at World Council.

Further information: Michal Szymanczak michal@ymca.int

YMCA WORLD CHALLENGE 2018

KEY ACTIONS IN 2018

RUN THE YMCA WORLD

What is it?

Our annual event to mobilise the YMCA movement to share their great impact with local communities.

Launch:

This year’s Challenge is to see if we can run the distance to every YMCA member in the world. All 125,000 kilometres!

Think:

YMCAs are invited to consider how they will participate on June 2nd, 2018. We empowering young people by taking steps towards each other.

Create:

A plan for how your YMCA can share with your local communities

Who will do what?

Why we do it…

Each year in the first week of June (celebrating YMCA's Birthday) YMCAʼs invite people to connect to the global movement through showing all the great things that happen in their local movements and community.

National and Local Levels:

Our goals are: • To raise awareness • To invite others to join us • To speak of our mission • To connect and celebrate our 174th birthday!

Area Levels:

All movements at all levels are invited to organise a local event or adopt planned activities to take part in World Challenge 2018.

Can offer support or area level co-ordinations for activities happening at national or local level.

Global Level:

The World YMCA will provide guidance and resources to support and enhance communication of activities happening as part of World Challenge 2018. The global movement will also encourage online engagement through social media and website platforms.

Further information: Andrew McKenzie andrew@ymca.int 2018

2018

09

YMCA4GOOD DIGITAL PLATFORM

KEY ACTIONS IN 2018 Support:

The platform is currently in beta format and is being tested throughout early 2018.

What is it?

Share:

The YMCA4good idea with your young people looking to promote and share their programmes.

A digital platform to share global YMCA projects in our 4 advocacy areas that address the needs of young people today.

Test:

Become a ‘test pilot’ and help develop the digital platform.

This is a project that is being developed in conjunction with the YMCA World Urban Network.

Who will do what?

National and Local Levels:

Why we do it…

Movements are invited to load projects and share their programmes.

This is how we can amplify the voices of young people.

The projectʼs purpose is to create a digital platform … to empower young people … by engaging with the young leaders of the YMCA … by giving all young people a voice.

Area Levels:

Areas are invited to share and also load projects.

Global Level:

Leadership of the platformʼs development.

Further information: Andrew McKenzie andrew@ymca.int

10

ADVOCACY

KEY ACTIONS IN 2018

HEALTH, EMPLOYMENT, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND ENVIRONMENT What is it?

Advance:

There are 4 global work groups, one for each of the 4 strategic advocacy areas. We invite you to join and participate in global advocacy.

Engage:

Events, activities and learning experiences will take place during the whole year of 2018 including ECOSOC Youth Forum and UN General Assembly in New York, World Health Assembly in Geneva in May and Camp Climate/COP 24 during November in Poland. We invite you to consider sending young leaders to participate.

Advocacy is how we address the untold story of injustice against young people.

The World YMCA acknowledges the importance of supporting the voice of young people to enhance our ability to empower more young people from more communities around the world.

There are global work groups for each area. We invite you to participate. These groups are involved in many different activities. For example, the Resource Group on the Environment is active in running YMCA Camp Climate at the annual COP Environment event.

Throughout the year, the 4 Resource Groups hold on line meetings that are open for leaders from the movement to participate.

Unite:

Continue to use the global research results to lead and influence your YMCA strategy.

Why we do it‌

Who will do what?

Through our research, we have heard the needs young people have in these areas. Our mission calls us to act in response to these injustices in an inclusive way.

National and Local Levels:

Advocacy is designed to influence public policy and political actions at all levels of society. YMCA advocacy is focused on empowering young people in the four areas of our strategy; employment, health, civic engagement and environment.

2) Recommend leaders and participate in the work of the 4 Resource Groups.

1) Share broadly and work on local responses to the position papers on Health, Environment, Employment and Civic Engagement.

Area Levels:

Area offices can support the engagement of national YMCAĘźs by identifying issues and participating at regional level events.

Global Level:

The World YMCA is committed to providing safe supportive spaces in which dialogue and engagement on youth advocacy challenges can take place. The World YMCA movement will continue to guarantee that a youth voice is heard and understood at global events of relevance to young people.

11

Further information: Romulo Dantas romulo@ymca.int

REFUGEE & EMERGENCY INITIATIVES

KEY ACTIONS IN 2018 Support:

YMCA refugee activities at all levels

Understand: Ways in which your YMCA can support the global initiatives

What is it?

Fundraise:

The YMCA re-established the global Refugee Assistance Programme in 2016 with the co-operation of YMCA experts to respond to humanitarian crisis. A new field office was established in Greece and we are working together with local and national movements, collaborating also with the International Organisation for Migration and United Nation High Commissionaire for Refugees where we have now received observer and partner organization status.

Continue to fundraise for ongoing refugee assistance activities

Who will do what?

National and Local Levels:

National and local YMCAs continue to implement own refugee programmes and support the global initiative.

Area Levels:

Why we do it‌

Are the primary implementing body for area refugee initiatives, including advocacy and fundraising.

The YMCA has a long-standing history of working to support refugees and assisting in emergencies. The refugee crisis and emergencies are global issues and ones where often there are many examples of injustice against young people.

Global Level:

Is responsible for supporting and monitoring selected refugee initiatives.

World YMCA works closely with an expert group of representatives from across the YMCA movement and receives their advice and recommendations on where and how support is granted. World YMCA provides know-how and consultancies, advocacy and networking actions in the field of refugee assistance

Further information: Michal Szymanczak michal@ymca.int

12

MOVEMENT STRENGTHENING

KEY ACTIONS IN 2018 Expand:

Think creatively about new ways to do Movement Strength ening. As part of the new 2018-2022 Strategy we encour age YMCAs to consider timely responses to improve the old definition and approaches

Invite:

More YMCAs and more YMCA leaders to engage in Movement Strengthening processes and developments

Share:

Widely the results of activities

What is it?

It is a system for global action and cooperation to support the long term sustainability of national YMCAs. The Movement Strengthening framework is based on the three pillars of mission clarity, social relevance and institutional viability. It also has leadership and governance as a crosscutting perspective. In 2018 there are five significant developments that will be shared with the movement: (i) New Strategy for 2018-2022 (refer below) (ii) Revised Governance Policy Agreement (the revised version will be voted upon at the 19th World Council) (iii) YMCA Safe Space resolution (refer below) (iv) National General Secretaries meeting planned for February 2018 (v) Our Way Strategy Delivery Summit 4. This event is for leaders of the movement and is planned for November 2018.

Why we do it‌

Who will do what?

National and Local Levels:

National and local movements are able to support each other by sharing new initiatives resources.

Area Levels:

The area levels and offices exist to primarily implement Movement Strengthening.

Global Level:

To guarantee that YMCAs will continue to be relevant to young people and communities now and in the future by building on the achievement of more than 170 years of existence.

The World YMCA is responsible for monitoring and reporting on Movement Strengthening as well as leading by example by implementing projects that have a global reach as we seek to continue to work across the movement to improve leadership and governance.

Further information: Michal Szymanczak michal@ymca.int

13

SAFE SPACE

PROTECTING AND STRENGTHENING OUR MOVEMENT What is it?

Safe Space is the name for the YMCA process of dealing with sensitive issues.

The creation of a Learning Group for social inclusion and non-discrimination was passed as a resolution at the 18th YMCA World Council. The World YMCA Value Statement was endorsed by the Executive Committee in April 2017 for the World YMCA and for sharing with all National Movements. It is non-prescriptive and non-binding for any member Movement, in accordance with the World YMCA Constitution 14:2 and 3.

KEY ACTIONS IN 2018 Share:

The work of the Learning Group has been regularly shared with the Movement.

Discuss:

Member Movements are encouraged to become familiar with the Value Statement and Safe Space methodology and consider for their own adoption.

Prepare:

The World Council will be asked to receive a report from the Learning Group.

Who does what?

National and Local Levels:

Include time for discussion in National meetings prior to World Council.

Why we do it‌

Area Levels:

The resolution is designed to address urgent societal issues amongst young people. How the YMCA goes about this is also managing risks for the Movement.

Having discussions inside the YMCA about social inclusion issues in safe spaces is preferred over having potentially damaging discourses in public.

Include time for discussion within Area meetings prior to World Council.

Global Level:

World YMCA is responsible for coordinating the work and report of the Safe Space Learning Group

Further information: Carlos Sanvee carlos@ymca.int

14

WORLD COUNCIL 2018

KEY ACTIONS IN 2018

THE FUTURE FOR OUR MOVEMENT What is it?

The 19th World Council will be held in Chiang Mai, Thailand from 8-14th July, 2018.

The YMCA World Council is held every 4 years and is the highest governance for the movement. At this event the global strategy is adopted and the Executive Committee elected.

Register:

Registrations are now open. The early bird pricing is available only until the 31st January, 2018.

Develop:

We invite and encourage all YMCAs – from local through to national movements - to consider sending as many as possible to attend as part of their delegation.

Prepare:

Papers and information will be prepared and sent to National Movements for review and feedback.

Who does what?

Why we do it…

National and Local Levels:

This is where the entire YMCA is invited to come together and discuss and agree on key elements that set the tone and direction for the movementʼs future. This is the highest decision making body of the World Alliance and is where policy is agreed for the direction of the global movement. Other governance tasks include electing the World YMCA Officers and Executive Committee, evaluating the work of the last four years, and deliberating on priorities for the next quadrennial.

Area Levels:

Prepare delegation, register and review papers.

Prepare delegation, register and review papers.

Global Level:

As there is no host movement for the 19th World Council the World YMCA is solely responsible.

Further information: https://worldcouncil.ymca.int/ Jose Varghese jose@ymca.int

15

NEW STRATEGY 2018-2022 ‘YOUTH EMPOWERMENT 4 GOOD’

What is it?

The strategy for the YMCA movement. This new strategy, like those before it, is for every local YMCA, through to National Movements, Area offices and the World Alliance.

The title is ʻYouth Empowerment 4 Goodʼ.

The ʻ4ʼ relates to our 4 focus areas of health, employment, environment and civic engagement. ʻ4 goodʼ has the dual meaning of being “forever” and “for good works”.

KEY ACTIONS IN 2018 Share:

The Strategy papers have been shared with the Movement.

Discuss:

Member Movements are encouraged to become familiar with the Strategy and consider for their own adoption.

Prepare:

The World Council will be asked to formally approve the Strategy.

Who does what?

National and Local Levels:

Include time for discussion in National meetings prior to World Council.

Area Levels:

Include time for discussion within Area meetings prior to World Council.

Why we do it…

Global Level:

The Executive Committee has shared 2 versions of the new strategy over a 2 year consultation process. The agreement on Strategy demonstrates our commitment to unity and walking together.

Further information: Andrew McKenzie andrew@ymca.int

World YMCA is responsible for coordinating the Strategy.

16

#WORLDYMCA www.ymca.int

12, Clos-Belmont 1208 Geneva, Switzerland office@ymca.int

DECEMBER 2017