ESC: Volunteering in YMCA Slovakia: Liptovsky Mikulas

YMCA na Slovensku is the national association of 15 local YMCA organizations and affiliated organisations. We have altogether over 800 members but much more young people join our activities independently on client base. We have restarted our mission in 1990, starting with few clubs and gradually grown into various sizes of local associations, community and youth centres. Through the local associations we organize activities for children and youth which lead to harmonic development of their personality in body, mind and spirit - which is aim of YMCA. The activities include singing, drama, sport, camping, outdoor games, educational programmes and youth leaders development etc. depending on the needs of youth in particular community and regions. We have 10 paid staff (3 in national office and 7 in regions under independent youth associations) and around 235 volunteers in Slovakia working within local associations. YMCA na Slovensku is member of YMCA Europe movement. One of our specific interests is providing multicultural experience and inter-cultural learning possibilities to youth. We have a long-term experience with various forms of volunteering: long term local volunteers development and raising youth leaders. We have also experience delivering activities supported by Youth in Action programmes especially with European voluntary service, trainings and youth exchanges organisation. We wish to develop youth programmes further so they serve communities in their complexity, involving as many as possible, regardless of their status or abilities. As part of the worldwide YMCA movement, we would like to create a space for sharing, learning and practice in new approaches in youth work, based on wide experience YMCA as community of youth workers and other key persons in youth work can provide together with other partners. The aim of national office of YMCA na Slovensku is to link and network youth workers, volunteers and young people local associations, provide for them learning opportunities (external/outsourced or internal). More on our achievments: http://ymca.sk/vyrocne-spravy/