Celebration of the 181st Founding Anniversary of the YMCA

Celebration of the 181st Founding Anniversary of the YMCA
Organized by Local YMCAs of Bangladesh

The YMCA worldwide celebrated its 181st Founding Anniversary on the 6th June 2025, marking nearly two centuries of impactful work around the globe. In line with the World Alliance of YMCAs’ Vision 2030, which focuses on four key pillars: Just World, Meaningful Work, Sustainable Planet, and Community Wellbeing, the local YMCAs across Bangladesh joyfully commemorated this historic occasion with a wide variety of activities.

Most of these celebrations focused on the “Sustainable Planet” pillar, organizing tree plantation drives, sapling distribution programs, and awareness campaigns. Under the impact pillar of “Community Wellbeing”, also arranged basketball tournaments, cleaning activities, and other community-focused events.

This year’s celebrations were carried out with enthusiastic participation from YMCA lay leaders, volunteers, youth members, students, and professionals across the country. Moreover, the local YMCAs took the opportunity to honor the memory of Sir George Williams, the visionary founder of the YMCA, whose initiative in 1844 laid the foundation for one of the largest global youth organizations.

Barishal YMCA	Chittagonj YMCA

Celebration Highlights Across Bangladesh

The central theme embraced by nearly all local YMCAs was environmental conservation. Keeping in mind the urgent need to protect the planet and foster a more sustainable future, tree plantation and sapling distribution programs were held as the main activities.

Most YMCAs conducted large-scale plantation events in collaboration with School Students, Lay Leaders, Professionals, Youth and Volunteers. Over 500 saplings were planted in both urban and rural neighborhoods. The events featured speeches by YMCA lay leaders and youth representatives, highlighting the YMCA’s commitment to climate action.

Several YMCAs not only planted fruit-bearing trees around their community centers but also distributed mango, jackfruit, and mahogany saplings to school students and local families, encouraging them to plant trees in their own surroundings. In every case, the message was clear: the YMCA stands united for a sustainable planet.

Birisiri YMCA 2

The celebrations witnessed wide participation from all YMCA stakeholders. Lay leaders played a crucial role in organizing logistics and mobilizing their communities. Volunteers and youth members actively participated in tree planting, environmental clean-up, and awareness-building activities that engaged people of all ages.

As part of the anniversary programs, special remembrance sessions were held to honor Sir George Williams, the founder of the YMCA. Born in 1821 in England, George Williams started the YMCA in London in 1844 to provide a safe and spiritually grounded space for young men during the Industrial Revolution.

Many local YMCAs arranged brief sessions where leaders, professionals, and youth members shared reflections on the life, vision, and legacy of Sir George Williams. These sessions served as a powerful reminder of the founding principles of the YMCA service, faith, and youth empowerment.

No celebration is complete without a touch of festivity. Most local YMCAs marked the occasion with cake-cutting ceremonies, symbolizing unity and shared joy.

Kaligram YMCA

The 181st Anniversary of the World YMCA was not just a moment to celebrate the past, but a time to reflect on our shared future. The local YMCAs of Bangladesh came together with a unified purpose to honor the legacy of the YMCA and to take meaningful action for a better, greener, and more sustainable world.

From planting trees and distributing saplings to engaging youth and educating communities, every action taken was a step toward realizing Vision 2030’s dream of a Sustainable Planet.

With heartfelt appreciation to all participants lay Leaders, Youth, Staff, and community peoples we celebrate not only 181 years of global YMCA impact, but also the strong and growing contribution of Bangladesh YMCA to this global movement.

Savar YMCA

Reported by:

Ronel Francis Costa

Executive Secretary for Programme

National Council of YMCAs of Bangladesh