21st YMCA World Council 2026- Toronto
SAWA Project Impact Stories: Young Africans Turning Vision Into Change
09/06/2026
The global YMCA family gathered in Toronto, Canada, from 19 to 25 July 2026 for the 21st YMCA World Counci, held under the banner "Be part of the transformation." Hosted by YMCA Canada and YMCA of Greater Toronto, the week celebrated and accelerated progress on YMCA Vision 2030 and our four impact pillars: Community Wellbeing, Meaningful Work, Sustainable Planet,and a Just World.
For the Africa YMCAs, it was a Council to remember. Across governance, awards, membership and youth leadership, our continent's voice, vision and aspirations were felt on the world stage. Here are the moments that put Africa at the heart of the transformation.
Niger welcomed into the World Alliance
As the Council opened on 19 July, the global movement warmly welcomed YMCA Niger as an associate member of the World Alliance of YMCAs — a proud milestone. Niger joined alongside Ukraine as delegates adopted a new Membership Framework, a mutual agreement setting out the responsibilities and obligations shared between National Movements and World YMCA. The decision was carried by 112 voting delegates representing 56 National Movements, who specifically recognised Niger's youth empowerment programmes.
Niger's admission is a testament to the growing reach and impact of the YMCA across Africa, and a signal that our movement continues to expand into new communities and new frontiers of youth work on the continent.
Newly Elected World YMCA Executive Committee
On 21 July, the Council elected the World YMCA Executive Committee for the 2026–2030 term, led by newly elected President Christopher Lewis (Australia), Deputy President Emma Osmundsen-White (England & Wales) and Treasurer Laurie Lynn Skinner (Canada).
We especially celebrate two of our own elected to serve on the Committee: Pius Kamau Ng'ang'a (Kenya) and Nalisoa Andrianarivo (Madagascar). Their leadership carries the voice, vision and aspirations of young people across Africa directly into global decision-making — ensuring the continent's priorities help shape the direction of the worldwide movement for the next four years.
YMCA Ghana wins a World YMCA Impact Award
Africa's youth-led work was recognised on the world stage on 23 July, when YMCA Ghana was named winner of the World YMCA Impact Award 2026 in the Meaningful Work category. Their project, Resilient Africa: Training in Filmmaking and Media for Peace, equips young people with hands-on skills in filmmaking and media production — all in service of peace across the region.
Ghana's win came from a field of 70 submissions and 16 finalists, and stood alongside fellow category winners YMCA India (Just World), YMCA North / Camp Adair, New Zealand (Sustainable Planet) and YMCA Norfolk, England (Community Wellbeing). To see African creativity and peace-building honoured among the movement's very best is a source of pride for the entire continent.
Change Agents graduate ready to lead
Also on 23 July, the Council celebrated the graduation of Cohort 6 (2025–2026) of the YMCA Change Agents — 79 young leaders representing 44 countries. Since its launch in 2012, this flagship 18-month leadership programme has now trained more than 800 changemakers from 67 countries, bridging local action and global collaboration.
We are especially proud of the young leaders from YMCAs across Africa who completed this journey and are now ready to turn learning into action within their communities. In the words of graduate Khalid Muse: "The last two years of learning have taught us 'belief': in us, in our cultures, our stories, our lived experiences, and in the change we can bring about." Their leadership strengthens our movement and our continent.
From a new National Movement welcomed in Niger, to African leaders seated at the global table, to award-winning youth work in Ghana and a new generation of Change Agents ready to serve — the 21st World Council showed a continent rising with confidence and purpose. As the global movement moves forward on Vision 2030, Africa is not a bystander to the transformation. We are part of it.
