Chisinau, the capital of Moldova was the chosen city for the 11th YMCA National General Secretaries Forum, a strategic working space for key leaders from our national YMCAs which was established in 2012.
Hosted by YMCA Moldova between the 24th and 27th of November 2024, the event gathered 22 colleagues from across Europe who followed an ambitious agenda who had been put together by a diverse planning team led by our Chief Operating Officer – John Peacock and our Chief Service Officer – Alina Pop.
The opening session included an official welcome by the Mayor of Chisinau Mr. Ion Ceban who wished a successful meeting to all participants gathered YMCA Europe’s emphasizing the growing cooperation between his institution and our movement in Moldova.
Dumitru Roibu presented the reality of YMCA Moldova with details about the existing partnerships and the profiles of the beneficiaries inviting his secretary generals colleagues to interact with the young people and beneficiaries at the YMCA center where the meeting took place.
The agenda included also inputs by Dorina Lluka Davis and Alexander Clemenson (YMCA Kosovo and YMCA Sweden), Pedro Fueyo (YMCA Spain) and Juha Virtanen (YMCA Finland), Vardan Hambarzumyan (YMCA Europe), Alina Pop (YMCA Romania & YMCA Europe) on socially relevant initiatives, identity and peace & justice and governance such as the constitutional review process currently developed by our Area Organization.
Juan Simoes Iglesias and Carlos Sanvee as Secretary Generals of YMCA Europe and World YMCA led a participatory session on the relation between the regional and global levels, emphasizing the need for further alignment, efficient use of resources and coordination under the spirit of Vision 2030.
Inspiring devotions under the classical YMCA triangle – Body, Mind & Spirit – were shared by Anthony Camilleri (YMCA Malta), Lucas Apetroae (IKE Transyilavia) and Hansjörg Kopp (YMCA Germany).
The event also included an exposure to the rich culture of Moldova and working spaces to strengthen the network and fellowship among the secretary generals, including side meetings to advance existing and new partnerships.
At the end of the meeting, YMCA Europe’s Secretary General thanked and congratulated the Board, volunteers and executive team of YMCA Moldova, the Planning Team of this 11th Forum and all participants for their involvement and support. A special reference was made to those colleagues who could not attend this meeting.
YMCA Finland will host the 2025 NGS’s Forum in Helsinki.
The YMCA Europe’s National General Secretaries (NGS) Forum is a platform that brings together the national leaders of YMCA organizations across Europe. The purpose of the forum is to provide a space for national general secretaries to exchange knowledge, discuss best practices, and collaborate on strategic initiatives that will strengthen the YMCA movement in Europe.
