Partner Support Group Meeting with the YMCA Cambodia

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Partner Support Group Meeting with the YMCA Cambodia

The Partner Support Group (PSG) Meeting for the Cambodia YMCA was organized by the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs under its program on Movement Strengthening (MS). The meeting that was held in Phnom Penh on April 28-30, 2025, was the first in-person meeting post pandemic time. The meeting aimed to understand, embrace, adopt and implement the regional and world YMCA MS vision, goal and process to be applied in the current MS approach; clarify roles of the parties/stakeholders involved; facilitate initial conversions with the incumber leaders and staff on the formulation of short-, medium-, and long-term strategies for strengthening Cambodia YMCA.

Current Situation and Challenges of Cambodia

The attendees of the meeting visited the Cambodia YMCA Youth Institute located at Railway, karkab1, PorSen Chey, Phnom Penh. The said facility that is being rented includes a room that serves as the General Secretary and Finance staff office space; and two (2) classrooms that accommodate the daily classes or after school programs under the Street Children Project. The facility is also located in a marginalized community from which the YMCA extends home visit to support children and their families.

The visit to the street children project and the interaction with the project beneficiaries was supplemented by the presentation of the Cambodia YMCA Annual Report 2024 and the Operational Plan 2025. The presentation delivered by General Secretary Nimey Rin provided additional information on the vision, mission, objectives, programs and key activities of the Cambodia YMCA.  Among the other programs and key activities conducted includes youth empowerment programs, childcare for women's employment support, and alternative tourism (international exchange program). It was also mentioned that the Cambodia YMCA is faced with the challenges namely, limited human resources, lack of funding and delays on the fund flow. During the open forum session, the following serious challenges were identified:

  • Unstable/Fragile financial base.
  • Delayed payment of staff salaries.
  • Limited human resources.
  • Lack of membership and volunteer-based system.
  • Dysfunctional governance.

Recommendations

One of the main objectives of the meeting is to facilitate dialogue and discussion among the stakeholders particularly to strategically plan (immediate, short-, mid- and long-term) the course of action for the strengthening of the Cambodia YMCA.  Thus, learning from the current situation and challenges faced, the APAY MS direction and process and alongside the support that is given by the PSG members, the following areas will be the focus of MS engagement for the goal of Cambodia YMCA on becoming a self-sustaining YMCA by 2027:

  • Governance and Institutional Reform
  • Strengthening the Financial Base
  • Coordination and Support Structure
  • Administrative Status and Legal Registration
  • Staff and Leadership Capacity Building

 

Reported by: Maria Cristina Miranda

Movement Strengthening Coordinator, APAY