YMCA profile
Date of establishment: 1940s (first local association established in 1865)
Member of the Africa Alliance of YMCAs:
Member of the World Alliance of YMCAs:
Staff: In the national office there are 3 full-time and 3 part-time/contracted employees, and each local association has its own manager and staff complement
Local associations: 21 in 3 provinces
Beneficiaries: 10 000

Mission statement
Informed by Christian values, we seek to prepare young people for life, leadership and service through focused, development and sustainable programmes.

Slogan
Empowering youth for Life, Leadership and Service

History
South Africa and its peoples have a history that is well known by the international community. Subjection of the Black population in particular and apartheid as an official policy was formally overturned in 1990 and the first democratic elections held in 1994.

The first South African YMCA was established in Cape Town in 1865. Various other local associations were formed, before the establishment of the South African National Council of YMCA’s in the 1940s. Each local association is autonomous and is governed by a local board. The YMCA in South Africa has had a turbulent history, with changes of leadership reflective of political and social pressures.

In 2007, the SAYMCA went through an in-depth consultative process of revisioning and emerged with a clear direction on social relevance and sustainability. The SAYMCA also began the GOP process in 2008 and is now in its second year, working with Canada YMCA, YMCA of USAs, Y-Care International and Swedish YMCA/YWCA.