Stronger Ys Partner Meeting

AAYMCA joined seven other YMCA/YWCA partners from across the globe in Nairobi (21–25 September 2026) for the Stronger Ys Partner Meeting — our first-ever global programme and our first direct partnership agreement with Sida. AAYMCA was represented by Osborne Wanyama (SAMS Lead) and Anne, with our General Secretary joining on the final day to close out the meeting.

Across the week, partners worked through Stronger Ys’ three pillars — Organisational Development, Youth & Women Empowerment, and Advocacy — asking one central question: beyond the activities we run, what real change are we creating, and how do we know?

For AAYMCA, what stood out most was the thread connecting our Movement Strengthening work — a backbone function for the whole Movement — to change at the individual level. Strengthening an organisation’s governance, policies, and systems isn’t the end goal; it’s what creates the conditions for young people and women to step into leadership, build resilient livelihoods, and shape decisions in their own communities. Movement Strengthening isn’t abstract — it’s the foundation that lets real, human-level change happen.

Our appreciation to YWCA-YMCA of Sweden for facilitating this Sida-funded programme and coordinating the meeting — the Y Sweden delegation was led by Niclas Sannerheim, International Secretary, alongside Martin Hedberg and Isabelle Renval.

Grateful too for the rich exchange with partners from Togo, Ghana, Madagascar, Ukraine, Moldova, Senegal, and Palestine YWCA — and for a shared commitment to building a programme we all genuinely own together.