A truly global organisation YMCA Scotland links actively into the European Alliance of YMCAs and through them to the World Alliance. YMCA is very active internationally with movements in 124 countries representing over 14,000 local YMCAs with more than 45 million members world-wide.
It is one of the oldest youth movements in the world with the World headquarters based in Geneva, Switzerland since 1878. The World Alliance has had consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations since 1947 and is actively engaged in global partnerships seeking peace and justice in many countries.
World Alliance website: http://www.ymca.int
Many hundreds of Scottish YMCA members have travelled the world gaining invaluable experience of other cultures and learning about perspectives and difference.
Y Care International
In the UK the four national YMCA movements come together within Y Care International, the YMCA's international relief and development agency. Through Y Care, the YMCA works in partnership with other YMCAs across the developing world to respond to the needs of the most disadvantaged young people. This happens in many ways:
Y Care International website: http://www.ycareinternational.org
Programme Partnerships
Across local YMCAs in Scotland there are many international programme links with the HQ office in Edinburgh regularly invaded by groups of Swedish young people, delegations of Japanese YMCA volunteers or groups of American Y staff on study visits.
International partnerships across Scotland include strong links and exchanges with other YMCAs in Germany, India, Belarus, USA, Scandinavia and of course with our closer UK nations. Hundreds of young people benefit from the learning and experience of international programmes across Scottish YMCAs every year.