YMCA Global Initiatives
YMCA Northumberland’s Global Initiative Program was established in the early 1990s, with the vision of providing support to YMCAs in developing countries in times of need. By forming a partnership with a YMCA in a developing country we can support projects, enjoy mutual learning and provide our membership and community with an avenue to learn about our world as well as participate in development learning opportunities.
Donate TodayOur Partnership With YMCA OF Nicaragua
Development Partnership with YMCA Nicaragua
In 2000, we began developing a partnership with the YMCA of Nicaragua. Through this partnership we support a youth development project to provide young people in Nicaragua with access to education, training and participation in citizenship leadership, not normally available to them due to economic circumstances. Their participation in the YMCA program enables them to find employment, be involved in their community and local municipal activities, and be active participants in their community and their country. Our partnership is one of mutual exchange of learning and resources and we focus on making human connections through shared values and common goals for youth and families in Nicaragua and Northumberland.
YMCA Youth Exchange
With our YMCA partners in Nicaragua, we have developed a Youth Exchange program of sharing and learning between youth from both of our associations including travel, home-stays, active participation and learning. The goal is to enable the youth at both YMCAs to become agents of change for global learning at our YMCA and in our community. Check out some of the experiences our exchange participants have had in the past. For more information on the YMCA Youth Exchange, please email [email protected].
YMCA Women Para Mujeres
In 2002, the mothers of the youth in our exchange developed a group called Women Para Mujeres – Women for Women. This group is composed of mothers of the youth exchange participants from past years, staff and members of our International Committee who work annually to support women’s projects through our partner YMCA in micro-credit, literacy and small livestock. They volunteer their time year round to raise funds, with the focus of an annual event, La Cena – to support the mothers in Nicaragua. They also meet weekly to learn Spanish and participate in learning about development issues. In 2012 a group of the women were able to travel to Nicaragua to connect with the women and children in remote communities who they had been supporting. For information on Women Para Mujeres, please email [email protected].