About YMCA

YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) is the oldest, largest and most widespread youth organization in the world. It strives for the harmonious development of man, his spirit, soul and body (as symbolized by the red equilateral triangle that YMCA has in its emblem). It is based on Christian principles, but it is open to all people regardless of ethnicity, gender, religion, social status, physical and mental abilities.

YMCA was founded in 1844 in London. Its wide expansion in our country began mainly thanks to the massive help from the US and with the help of the national elites: T. G. Masaryk, Ing. V. Havel and others. It was forced to terminate its activities in 1951 and, despite unsuccessful attempts to re-establish in 1968, it resumed its activity in 1990.

Nowadays YMCA operates in 119 countries and has over 58 million members.

 Today, YMCA has 27 collective members (branches) in the Czech Republic in 11 regions with over 3,500 members. It focuses on activities that respond to the current youth problems - low civic engagement, meaningful free-time spending, mental health, intergenerational dialogue, etc. It focuses its activities to develop the soul (organizes interest groups - music, art and others, and organizes scout clubs) , summer camps, music activities - Ten Sing, educational programs), body (sports activities, work jobs) and spirit (lectures, Christian activities, self-development programs, reflection) of the youth. Special activities are also organized for socially disadvantaged groups of young people, such as low-threshold clubs, and for families (marriage meetings, mother centers, etc.). Through its work, YMCA strives to share and transmit important life moral values in the Czech Republic.

YMCA in the Czech Republic is a member of the World Alliance YMCA (WAY), the European YMCA Alliance (YMCA Europe), the Czech Children and Youth Council (ČRDM), the Czech Olympic Committee (WWTP) and the Association of Non-Governmental, Non-Profit Organizations (ANNO). It also cooperates with a number of other organizations at central and local level.

YMCA in the Czech Republic was given the title: "NGOs recognized by the MŠMT for the years 2016 to 2020" by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports

© YMCA v ČR | Czech version