Nordic YWCA-YMCAs meet in Sweden
YWCA-YMCA Sweden hosted a meeting of Nordic YWCA-YMCAs in Umea, Sweden, from January 27-29, 2012. The annual meeting provides space for member associations from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden to report on their activities and future plans, and to discuss current challenges facing their respective movements.
World YWCA Deputy General Secretary and new focal point for Europe, Michelle Higelin, was invited to the meeting to report on outcomes of World Council 2011 and the new strategic directions for the YWCA movement.
"It was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the Nordic associations, who have an incredible outreach to young people in the region and are identifying creative ways of linking development with advocacy, and faith with action," reported Michelle.
YWCA–YMCA of Iceland is a leading provider of youth and children’s services in the country, with a strong focus on protecting children from violence by training service providers to identify and intervene in situations of child abuse.
In Finland, the YWCA continues to promote the impact of violence against women through the Rosealley exhibition, which was featured at the World YWCA Council and is currently expanding into new countries.
YWCA–YMCA of Denmark has been engaged in a Future Forum designed to consider future options for the organisation and particularly its relevance and sustainability in a changing environment.
YWCA-YMCA of Norway shared their activities associated with the Climate Change Caravan that travelled from Nairobi to Durban in the lead up to COP17 (17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), including a music clip produced by young people involved in their Ten Sing leadership programme ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZI9Tow3eHJI).
YWCA-YMCA Sweden currently has a strong focus on sustainable development and climate change, international co-operation and raising awareness among young people about the opportunities to engage in their movement, which brings together three major youth organisations. Their local association in Umea will also host the YMCA World Festival in 2014, as the Swedish city also serves as the European cultural capital during the year.
The new Secretary General of YMCA Europe, Juan Simoes Inglesias, also attended the meeting, sharing key directions for partner organisation YMCA, including a strong focus on youth empowerment, inclusive Christianity and youth empowerment. The meeting explored areas for greater collaboration among YWCA and YMCA movements at the European level.
