INTRODUCING YMCA BELARUS

YMCA Belarus as a national organization started its coordination activity in 1995. YMCA Belarus is a national organization with a status of republican social association. On the 14th of February 2000, on the Valentine's Day, the Belarusian YMCA was officially registered in the Republic of Belarus.

At the moment the Belarusian YMCA includes seven local branches in five regions of Belarus: Bobruisk (Mogilev region), Brest (Brest region), Vitebsk (Vitebsk region), Volozhin (Minsk region), Molodechno (Minsk region), Lida (Grodno region) and Minsk. The National office is situated in Lida.

The main goal of the Belarusian YMCA according to the Statute is:

All-round personal development and care of a healthy life-style of the youth.

The strategic goals for the Belarusian YMCA for 2008-2011:

1. Awareness of the mission. This strategic priority is of primary importance for us.

2. We will consolidate our Program Committees, develop leaders' professionalism and the creative potential of young volunteers.

3. One of the key priorities is development of the Youth Center in Volozhin YMCA and turning in into the Yout centre of YMCA Belarus.

Organization of and participation in different events is the main and very interesting part of our work.

There are also a lot of activities and events held by the local YMCAs: Bobruisk, Brest, Vitebsk, Volozhin, Molodechno, Lida and Minsk.

YMCA is a window to the world. Therefore, we can not imagine ourselves without the international work aimed at the experience exchange between young people from different countries participating in the joint programs and projects.

We have got a lot of successful joint projects with the YMCAs of Sweden, Switzerland, Germany and Ukraine, as well as good contacts with Poland, Scotland, USA, Moldova, Russia and Lithuania.

We are proud that since May 2000 we have been members of the family of YMCA Europe, which includes 34 national movements.

We are proud that since 2002 we have been part of the World Alliance of YMCAs, which includes 134 national movements.

We are open for everybody, we respect everyone.