National Council of YMCA's of Greece
About us
YMCA’s around the world
National Council of YMCA’s of Greece Constitution
YMCA Community Impact
Board of Directors
News
About us
The National Council of YMCA’s of Greece serves as the representative body of all YMCA’s in Greece and represents them in the World YMCA and YMCA Europe, as well as in all national and international events and conferences.
The YMCA is the oldest and largest international voluntary youth organization, founded in 1844. Today, it operates in 120 countries with more than 58 million members worldwide.
Since its founding in 1844, its primary mission has remained unchanged: to promote the balanced physical, mental, and spiritual development of young people, based on its spiritual principles, and to provide non-formal education for children and youth, aiming to create responsible and active citizens.
The YMCA’s programs cover a wide range of activities, including sports, education, and recreation. It has also pioneered innovative initiatives and methods, such as inventing basketball, volleyball, and scuba diving, as well as developing the modern structure of youth camps and lifeguard training. Its work has been recognized by the United Nations, which has classified it as a consultative NGO, and by all major international organizations.
YMCA leaders have been honored with the Nobel Peace Prize (Henri Dunant in 1901 and John R. Mott in 1948) for their contribution.
The YMCA’s programs are open to all, regardless of race, nationality, gender, or religion, with a strong emphasis on inclusion and the development of programs for children with disabilities.
The National Council of YMCA’s of Greece has been actively operating through its local YMCA’s in Athens and Thessaloniki and it’s branches, for over 100 years.
Since 1924, the National Council of YMCA’s of Greece, operates the first and oldest organized camp in Greece, located in the mountain of Pelion, at Ai Giannis.
National Council of YMCA’s of Greece Constitution
Board of Directors
On June 28th, 2024, during the General Assembly of the National Council of YMCA’s of Greece, the Board members, had the opportunity to elect the members of the National Council of YMCA’s of Greece Executive Committee.
The members for the period 2024-2026 are as follows:
Executive Committee:
- President: Ioannis Sossidis
- Vice President: Georgios Papadakis
- Secretary General / General Director: Nikolaos-Georgios Bibiris
- Deputy Secretary General: Eleni Athanasiadou
- Treasurer: Michail Kalfidis
- Deputy Treasurer: Theodoros Zervas
- Assessor: Andreas Kakouris
- Assessor: Panagiotis Petras
Deputy Board Members:
- Irini Vafeiadou
- Dimitrios Gkanakis
- Stavros Douvís
- Nefeli Kakouri
- Nikolaos Lamprou
- Athanasios Baklatzis
- Konstantinos Paximadas
- Vasiliki Tsikina
YMCA’s around the world
The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) was founded during a period of political and social upheaval following the Industrial Revolution. Ideas advocating social equality, the eradication of extreme poverty, and political rights were sweeping across Europe. It was a time of major political transformations, including the fall of monarchy (1830), the Chartist movement in England, the abolition of constitutional monarchy in France (1848), the German Revolution of 1848, and the emergence of numerous national states, such as Greece, Italy, Belgium, the Swiss Confederation, and the autonomous Principality of Serbia.
During this turbulent period, twelve young workers in London believed that the Christian message, as expressed in the Bible, contained the fundamental principles needed to create a more humane and just society. Led by George Williams, they established the YMCA on June 6, 1844, in London.
The initiative quickly gained widespread support. Just eleven years later, in 1855, representatives from eleven countries convened in Paris to draft the organization’s official charter, known as the “Paris Basis”.
The Paris Basis defined the YMCA’s core mission, stating that its goal is to create a “Christian Society”—one that promotes humanity, solidarity, mutual respect, and love, in other words, a society built on universal values, as taught by Christ.
Today, the YMCA is the oldest and largest international voluntary youth organization, operating in 120 countries with more than 65 million members.
The mission of the YMCA is to empower young people to build a fair, tolerant, and inclusive society, fostering their balanced physical, mental, and spiritual development, in accordance with the organization’s core principles.
The work of the YMCA is globally recognized by major international organizations. The United Nations (UN) classifies it as a consultative NGO, and prominent YMCA leaders have been honored with the Nobel Peace Prize, including Henri Dunant (1901) and John R. Mott (1946).
YMCA programs are open to all, regardless of race, nationality, gender, or religion, with a strong emphasis on inclusion and the development of programs for children with disabilities.
National Councils serve as the official governing bodies of each country, representing their respective YMCAs in the World and Regional YMCA (YMCA).
The National Council of YMCA’s of Greece is a federation of associations, established in 1949, consisting of two local YMCA’s: YMCA Thessaloniki (founded in 1921) and YMCA Athens (founded in 1923). The main activities of the National Council include operating the YMCA Summer Camp in Pelion and representing the two local YMCA’s in the annual General Assemblies and conferences of the World and European Alliance of YMCA, as well as in international forums and events.
The decisions made at General Assemblies and the conclusions drawn from conferences shape the policies of the YMCA’s for the years ahead.
As of 2022, the President of the World YMCA is Soheila Y. Hayek from Lebanon, while the Secretary-General is Carlos Sanvee from Togo, serving since 2019.
The President of the European YMCA is Emma Osmundsen from UK.
YMCA’s worldwide operate in four main areas through YMCA Vision 2030: Community Wellbeing, Meaningful Work, Sustainable Planet, and Just World. This vision was adopted during the 20th World YMCA Conference in 2022, and all National and local YMCA’s worldwide integrate Vision 2030 into their strategic planning and programs.
News
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YMCA Community Impact
Through its programs and initiatives, the YMCA plays a crucial role in the education and development of young people, guided by the principles and philosophy that define the organization.
Throughout its history, both major and minor initiatives have helped foster a spirit of volunteerism, encouraging a commitment to serving youth and vulnerable groups across Greece.
A key aspect of this commitment is the operation of the YMCA Summer Camp in Pelion, which in the summer of 2024 celebrated its 100th anniversary since its founding.
Since its early years, the camp has hosted Greek refugee children from Asia Minor, offering them joyful and carefree moments of vitality despite the hardships of displacement and deprivation.
Nearly one-quarter of the camp’s participants came from Istanbul, Smyrna, Trebizond, and other significant cities where Hellenism thrived until the early 1920’s. These children, though coming from diverse communities and homelands, shared common experiences, thoughts, and emotions shaped by the difficult years of war, deprivation, and exile. As a result, the camp allowed them to escape the hardships time, experience moments of joy, and forge lifelong friendships.
In April 1955, a powerful earthquake devastated the city of Volos, destroying much of the region. In response, the National Council of YMCA’s of Greece decided to offer an entire camp session free of charge, hosting children affected by the disaster, meeting their needs, and providing relief to dozens of families struggling with housing issues.
Throughout its long history, the Camp in Pelion has played a vital role in the development of the wider region, building strong ties with the local community and offering its residents an opportunity to engage with and participate in camping programs. Both children and their parents actively took part in camp activities, enjoying sports, swimming, and recreational programs that brought together children and local youth. These interactions foster lasting friendships and trust, which continue to this day.
Notable initiatives include the introduction of theater performances and shows and the lifeguard coverage of the area’s main beach by certified YMCA lifeguards, ensuring safety.
Continuing its commitment to youth engagement, the National Council of YMCA’s of Greece provides annual scholarships to local children whose families lack the financial means to provide for them summer vacations. Over the past decades, more than 200 children have participated in the camp’s programs and embraced the YMCA’s philosophy.
Additionally, scholarships for vulnerable families are provided annually through the YMCA’s scholarship program.
A milestone initiative was the 2006-2010 Diaspora Youth Program, during which the Camp in Pelion welcomed hundreds of Greek children from the global diaspora, helping them reconnect with their homeland, language, culture and traditions. Participants came from Georgia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Germany, and even as far as Mexico, forming friendships and lifelong bonds with their heritage.
In 2019, the YMCA—well known for its strong sports tradition—established a wheelchair basketball team, which now competes in the Greek A2 National League. For the YMCA, sports are not only a source of joy, entertainment, and exercise, but also a way of life, helping individuals with disabilities explore their physical limits, achieve rehabilitation, and enhance their development.
In 2020, the National Council of YMCA Greece co-founded the Service Network for People with Disabilities, a nonprofit organization dedicated to scientific and social welfare services for individuals with disabilities.
In the summer of 2022, the YMCA demonstrated its commitment to humanitarian efforts by hosting displaced children from war-torn Ukraine, providing them with a safe and welcoming summer camp experience throughout the entire season.
In the summer of 2024, to mark its 100-year anniversary, the Pelion Camp welcomed 18 children from SOS Children’s Villages in Filiro, Thessaloniki an international non-governmental organization, for orphaned children. This initiative was a unique and enriching experience, both for the children and for the camp.
The National Council of YMCA’s Greece continues its mission through its branches in Athens and Thessaloniki, offering unique programs for young people while prioritizing support for vulnerable communities. The organization’s strength lies in its dedicated professionals and volunteers, whose sense of responsibility and commitment drive the achievement of its goals.
With an unwavering dedication to service, solidarity, and inclusion, the YMCA remains a beacon of hope and support for society’s most vulnerable. Over the past century, it has opened its doors to hundreds of children in need, consistently responding to requests from government agencies, ministries, and institutions.
From the Asia Minor refugees of the 1920s to the displaced children of today, the YMCA has remained a safe haven—a place of joy, learning, and meaningful inclusion.
As it enters its second century, the National Council of YMCA’s Greece remains as passionate as ever about creating opportunities and offering life-changing experiences. It ensures that no child is deprived of education, joy, and carefree play—the values that shape its vision.
At the heart of this long journey remains the unwavering commitment to always stand by young people and those in need!