Meet the winners of the World YMCA Impact Awards 2026
Date: 24 July 2026
World YMCA Impact Awards 2026
World YMCA Impact Awards were presented to YMCAs in England (Community Wellbeing), Ghana (Meaningful Work), New Zealand (Sustainable Planet) and India (Just World) today at the 21st World Council in Toronto. In addition, the President's Award honoured the creator of the North American YMCA Green Network.
The 2026 Impact Awards were launched in early 2026, and by end-March 70 superlative submissions were received. These were shared in advance of World Council in a Compendium of stories of Vision 2030 transformation. The awards were adjudicated by members of the World YMCA Executive Committee, and all 16 of the shortlisted Impact Awards finalists were present at the ceremony.
View the Full Case Study CompendiumCommunity Wellbeing
YMCA Norfolk, England
The Professional Therapeutic Pathway
A project connecting vulnerable young people with mental health counsellors who offer professional therapeutic pathways to wellbeing.Metropolitan YMCA Singapore
The MYMCA Inclusive Community Ecosystem: Cultivating Wellbeing through Enterprise, Sustainability and Dignity
A project providing nature-based therapy, skills training, and employment pathways for young people and people with disabilities. ▶ Watch the VideoYMCA Queensland, Whittlesea, Western Australia
Community Schools
A project which has set up Community Schools serving vulnerable people. ▶ Watch the VideoYMCA of Middle Tennessee, USA
Mental Health First Aid Initiative
A mental health first aid initiative equipping staff with the skills to identify, understand, and respond to mental health challenges. ▶ Watch the VideoMeaningful Work
YMCA Ghana
Resilient Africa: Training in Filmmaking and Media for Peace
A project giving onsite training to young people in filmmaking and media, all for the cause of peace.YMCA Tayside, Scotland
Learn2Earn
A 'Learn2Earn' programme offering immersive programmes combining digital skills, enterprise development, and accredited qualifications. ▶ Watch the VideoYMCA Sierra Leone
Youth Livelihoods
A youth livelihoods programme providing skills and entrepreneurship training and small grants to help marginalised young people, especially women. ▶ Watch the VideoYMCA East Jerusalem
EJ YMCA Vocational Training Center — Building Sustainable Futures
A vocational training centre in a refugee camp in Jericho giving vocational education to young people and vulnerable groups, plus a boarding facility for resident students. ▶ Watch the VideoSustainable Planet
YMCA North, The Y — Camp Adair, New Zealand
Te Wairoa River Restoration Project
A community-led ecological restoration initiative to restore the Te Wairoa River.YMCA Togo
Climate-Smart Agriculture and Agro-Processing for Sustainable Solutions (CAAPSS)
A demonstration farm set up to train young farmers in climate-smart organic, zero-waste, sustainable agriculture. ▶ Watch the VideoYMCA Cameroon
YMCA Recycling Agency
A social enterprise recycling agency to reduce plastic pollution through community and school engagement, and a plastic bottle recycling unit. ▶ Watch the VideoYMCA Gombe, Nigeria
Economic Tree Planting
A climate, livelihood and training initiative to establish community nurseries and plant income-generating trees. ▶ Watch the VideoJust World
YMCA India
Community Health Programme
A programme delivering primary healthcare through a community outpatient clinic and a mobile unit travelling to villages in the mountainous Bhimtal region.Morioka YMCA, Japan
Children Human Rights Project
A children's human rights project using a traditional card game to teach human rights and counter bullying. ▶ Watch the VideoYMCA Mexico
Building a Binational YMCA in Cali-Baja
A project to build a binational YMCA in the Cali-Baja border region, coordinating programmes, leadership, fundraising and community initiatives. ▶ Watch the VideoYMCA Sweden with YMCA Madagascar and YMCA Togo
Doing it Right
The 'Doing it Right' project creating Youth Power Spaces, advancing Youth Justice rights, protection and reintegration, and supporting green ideas. ▶ Watch the VideoThe President’s Award was made to Kathy Kuras, President and CEO of YMCA Greater Austin, Texas. First inspired at the 20th YMCA World Council in Aarhus in 2022, she established a YMCA Green Network in North America which grew to encompass the Latin America and Caribbean region. ‘We choose to believe that caring for people and caring for the planet are inseparable’, she said. ‘Change begins when we’re inspired, and when we say ‘Yes!’’.
Also awarded was Bob Gilbertson, retired President/CEO of the YMCA World Urban Network, and his wife Delphine as long-time supporters of YMCA Vision 2030. Sam Blyth, great-great-grandson of YMCA founder Sir George Williams, congratulated the Award winners and said that ‘what worked for George in 1844 is still working today.’