What We Believe In
We believe in the power of inspired young people.
On June 6, 1844, as the Industrial Revolution was coming to an end and despair and poverty was widespread, the YMCA was founded in London, England, with a simple belief: that through mutual support the community could gain renewed strength in body, mind and spirit.
While the focus in those early days was on the welfare of young men, today’s YMCA is more inclusive, but that simple belief still holds firm.
In Australia, the YMCA has been working in local communities since 1851 and in Western Australia since 1908, providing opportunities for children and young people to grow in body, mind and spirit.
We believe social impact, health, wellbeing and positive change in society hinges upon the ability for us to inspire, engage, listen and work with the potential of the young.
Guided by Christian values and a set of four key operational values - honesty, respect, responsibility and caring - we provide a wide range of services, tailored to the needs of the communities we serve, from the Pilbara in the north of Western Australia, to the Great Southern in the south. Services designed to empower young people by focusing on community level impacts through three key areas:
- Early Education, with an investment in transition into preschool;
- Youth Participation, investing in young people as they transition into adulthood and community leadership; and
- Health and Wellness, investing in transitions into healthy living and physical activity.
At YMCA WA we believe that focusing on these key areas will help children and young people achieve optimal wellbeing, enabling and equipping them to live life well and actively contribute in relationships with family, friends and their community.
We believe providing opportunities to children and young people will help them grow in body, mind and spirit.
We believe young people represent hope. And where there’s hope, there’s possibility.
In short, we believe in the power of inspired young people.