INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES
One of the most important aspects of building a global community is giving young people and adults opportunities to understand and celebrate diversity. The Y helps people to develop cultural competencies and the key skills to collaborate with their peers around the world. A global curriculum in camping and afterschool programs to international service-learning opportunities and partnerships, the Y gives people the knowledge, experience and confidence to successfully interact in our increasingly globalized society.
Locally, our YMCA has the following International Initiatives:
- Overseas Partnership – Our Y has a partnership with the YMCA in Hokkaido, Japan. A group leader brings students each year from the Sapporo YMCA College. www.hokkaido-ymca.or.jp
- Summer Camp Counselors – Each summer we have staff that come from other countries to help with camp. In previous years we had counselors come from England and Switzerland.
- British Soccer Camp – Coaches from the United Kingdom come each summer to teach soccer skills.
- Homestay Families – Local community members host the Japanese students, camp counselors and soccer coaches by having them stay in their homes and help with meals and transportation.
- World Service Campaign – Each year our local Y contributes to the World Service Campaign that distributes resources to Ys in other countries operating in difficult social and economic conditions.
