YMCA profile
Date of Establishment: 1958
Member of the Africa Alliance of YMCAs: 1977
Member of the World Alliance of YMCAs: 1968
Staff: 95
Local Branches: 12 active (15 in total)
Volunteers: 150
Beneficiaries: 47,000
International Partners:
Africa Alliance of YMCAs, World Alliance of YMCAs, Y Care International, Ketchner Waterloo YMCA, YMCA of Middle Tennessee, International Youth Foundation, YWCA-YMCA Sweden, YMCA of Nottinghamshire
Local Partners:
Zambia Council of Churches, Technical Education & Vocational Training Authority, Zambia National Education Coalition, Churches Association of Zambia

Mission statement
To translate the principles of YMCA's Christian heritage into programmes that develop children/youth, strengthen families, and build strong communities.

History
Zambia YMCAs' work began in 1958 when Zambia, together with Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and Nyasaland (now Malawi) formed the Central African Federation. Local associations were established in Kitwe, Ndola, Kabwe and Lusaka.

The Kitwe YMCA was extended to other areas using schools, playing fields and other facilities. Today, there are 15 local branches throughout nince provinces in Zambia.

The National Council of YMCAs was formed in 1968 and affiliated to the World Alliance in the same year. Membership to the Africa Aliance of YMCAs was in 1977.

Programmes to alleviate poverty and eradicate illiteracy became the primary thrust of Zambia YMCA. Education was seen as a pre-requisite to fight poverty. Most of the local associations have pre-schools and pre-school colleges. The focus has now changed to include the empowerment of young people through leadership development, empowered decision-making and civic involvement as well as youth employment and entrepreneurship.