The 6th Cohort of YMCA Change Agents graduates – ‘Change is what we create together’

21st YMCA World Council, Toronto, Canada – Thursday 23 July 2026

79 members of cohort 6 (2025-2026) of the YMCA Change Agents programme, representing 44 countries, graduated today at the 21st YMCA World council in Toronto. All are now ready to turn learning into action. 

Reflecting on the Change Agents’ training in leadership, Matilda Rishmawi (YMCA East Jerusalem) said ‘we celebrate not what we have achieved, but the responsibility we have been given to bring about change in our communities’. Khalid Muse (YMCA Australia) said: ‘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. Change Agents shows what happens when young people are trusted, supported and given opportunities to lead.’ 

This global leadership development initiative is an 18-month journey of growth and collaboration that empowers young leaders as changemakers within their own communities, bridging the gap between local action and global collaboration. Established in 2012, the Initiative has now trained over 800 people from 67 countries.