Community Development YMCA

Thanks for following along this week in learning about the Gateway Region YMCA's global efforts and international partners for this ! The Y is proud to be a welcoming place that fosters community engagement and bridge-building. Our community is full of individuals from different cultures and backgrounds, and we seek to meet the needs of all! 🫶🌎

The Y offers many programs serving our foreign-born community, including:
— English language learning classes
— Financial assistance for Y membership and programming
— Discounted soccer and swim lesson programming at many Ys in the area

Learn more about our global relations and community engagement initiatives: https://bit.ly/41PdEvd

Our final international partner spotlight for is YMCA Brazil! 🇧🇷 An incredibly diverse organization, YMCA Brazil runs sports and camp programming, early childhood and school age educational support, technical courses in nursing and radiology, a plastics processing plant, and operates an ecumenical cemetery. The Gateway Region YMCA partners with YMCA Brazil through international teen and staff trips. Our partners often host our international teen trips, and have sent several young adults to YMCA Camp Lakewood to join the team of camp counselors!

Teen exchange trips to our YMCA's global partners are a major initiative of the Y’s international work. This year, 8 local teens will visit our partners in Belize! During this trip, local Y teens will meet new friends, experience the culture and history of their host country, and participate in activities like kite making and learning Belizean Creole. After returning, our teens will have a chance to host their new friends as the Belizean youth travel to St. Louis!

International teen trips are directly funded by the Gateway Region YMCA through our YMCA World Service Campaign. When you give to World Service, you help make it possible for any teen, regardless of their situation, to experience international travel. Consider donating today: https://bit.ly/4cAw87D