What We Do
The National Council of South African YMCA's, guided by the national vision of 'Empowering young people for life, leadership, and service,' strategically develops four signature programs. This initiative aims to identify successful local YMCA practices, create marketable programs, and strengthen the YMCA brand for enhanced impact on both internal and external stakeholders
Signature Programs
Y-ZONE
The Y-Zone programme, catering to school-aged children (6-18), aims to offer after-care services in a secure environment owned or operated by the YMCA, with a mission to empower young people for life, leadership, and service. The program, reaching 1,500 young people weekly, focuses on homework supervision, sports, life-skills, leadership training, and arts, providing a 12-year window to equip youth with tools to navigate life's challenges and become resilient individuals.
Y-JUSTICE
The Youth Justice Programme, aligned with the mission to empower young people for life, leadership, and service, addresses those in conflict with the law or at high risk. Activities encompass community-based awareness and prevention initiatives, visits to correctional facilities for various support activities, and reintegration programs such as Parole Centres and Halfway House Facilities, aiming to positively impact and prevent recidivism. Local YMCA associations are encouraged to engage in at least two of these activities, with a focus on maintaining contact with individuals post-release for progress monitoring and potential future involvement in the program.
Y-ARTS
In 2007, the South African YMCA underwent a comprehensive re-visioning process, establishing Signature Programmes as a key strategic pillar, with a focus on Y-ART—a youth-led initiative integrating art, music, and culture into a program that fosters leadership development, life skills, and community engagement. The initiative emphasizes gender mainstreaming and aims to provide a platform for youth expression on gender-related issues, with progress documented and shared through the YMCA website to recognize youth achievements and foster global connections and partnerships.
Y-HEALTH
The development of a Y-Health Signature program presents a promising opportunity for YMCA sustainability by creating a paying membership base, reducing reliance on traditional donor funding. The Soweto YMCA's refurbished gym, now the flagship of the Health and Wellness program, aims to serve as a model for future Y-Active gyms in Cape Town, Athlone, and Durban, contributing to a broader Y-Health and Wellness initiative.