When In Mombasa

YMCA Heart of England Staff Represent UK at YMCA Accelerator Summit in Kenya 

Two YMCA Heart of England employees recently joined over 450 YMCA representatives from 60 countries at the YMCA Accelerator Summit in Mombasa, Kenya, immersing themselves in an event dedicated to shaping a shared global vision for YMCA’s “Vision 2030” and empowering communities worldwide. 

Held from October 21 to October 25, the Summit brought together participants from YMCAs across the globe, from Albania to Zimbabwe, to collaborate, innovate, and set impactful goals to help empower young people and promote community wellbeing. The opening ceremony set a powerful tone, with YMCA Kenya National General Secretary Jared Musima and President Pius Ng’ang’a warmly welcoming attendees with a ‘karibu’ (Swahili for “welcome”) to Kenya. 

YMCA Heart of England’s representatives, Head of PR, Communications and Engagement M. Elena Roselli, and Head of Christian Mission Development, Rotimi Benjamin, joined a series of workshops and discussions, each aimed at equipping YMCA staff with the tools to address pressing challenges in the modern world. Highlights of the Summit included workshops like “Empower Your Future with IBM SkillsBuild,” which emphasized digital skills development; “Turning YMCA Vision 2030 into Action for a Sustainable Planet,” which focused on sustainability initiatives; and “Fostering Relational Wellbeing,” a workshop supported by Grand Challenges Canada that aimed to strengthen mental health and youth empowerment.

One of the most memorable parts of the event was the hands-on experiential activities, which allowed attendees to see local YMCA initiatives first-hand. YMCA Heart of England staff participated in visits to YMCA Kenya and a series of local charitable organizations that provide essential support to marginalized groups. Notable visits included Bombolulu Workshops and Cultural Centre, a creative workshop supporting young people with disabilities, a technology and innovation hub encouraging entrepreneurship among youth, and a human rights organization dedicated to fostering equality. These visits underscored the powerful work being done on the ground in Kenya and inspired the YMCA Heart of England team to take fresh ideas and new perspectives back to their own organization. 

“The Summit offered our staff members an invaluable opportunity to witness, learn, and contribute to the collective goals outlined in YMCA’s Vision 2030. This experience reinforced our commitment to making a meaningful difference and motivated us to expand our programs and services with new insights from our international peers,” said a spokesperson from YMCA Heart of England. 

If you would like to support YMCA Heart of England’s mission and help us continue our work with young people and communities, please click here to learn more about how you can get involved.