The History of the YMCA

By: Braedon McCormack

Founded in 1844 as a safe place for young boys in London, the YMCA has grown into a global organization dedicated to youth development and the well-being of the community. The YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) was founded on June 6, 1884 by George Williams in London. Williams felt unsettled by the kids who migrated from the city to rural areas to escape industrialized London. The YMCA was created to help young men escape the dangerous streets. The YMCA grew very quickly. By December 29, 1851, the YMCA was already in the United States. Nowadays, the YMCA is located in 120 countries such as Finland, France, Germany, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, and many more. Click here to see all the countries the YMCA is in.

Currently, the YMCA is a nonprofit focused on child development. The YMCA offers programs such as fitness, education, and community service. They work to build inclusiveness for everyone by putting people of all age groups and backgrounds together so they can get to know each other and understand we are all people and should respect each other. The YMCA works to ensure everyone has the same opportunities. One of these opportunities is Youth in Government, also known as YIG. Since 1934, YIG has been an opportunity for students in grades 7-12 to join. In YIG, students can choose to do legislative, judicial, or media.