The YMCA movement is a world-wide Christian, ecumenical, voluntary movement for both men and women with special emphasis on and the genuine involvement of young people, which seeks to share the Christian ideal of building a human community of justice with love, peace and reconciliation for the fullness of life for all creation. The first YMCA was started in England in 1844 and today there are more
than 15,000 local associations with 45 million members in nearly 130 countries, making the movement the largest International Ecumenical Youth Organization in the world. YMCA aims at the overall welfare and development of spiritual, mental and physical faculties of the people without any distinction of caste, colour, s*x or race. The movement has rendered pioneering services in the spheres of Education, Sports, Relief and Refugee work, Physical Education, Youth Work, Camping, Hostels, Co-operative endeavors and Rural Reconstruction work. Its members form the World Alliance of YMCAs, an organization that has consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. The Young Men’s Christian Association Kerala Region seeks to unite young men, women, boys and girls for the development of their physical, social, intellectual and spiritual manhood/womanhood, to inspire them with the ideals of Jesus Christ and to lead them to His discipleship and co-operate with the church and other organizations working for the welfare of India and to stimulate the formation of movements for the highest advancement of humanity. The Kerala YMCAs contributed greatly to the development of sports and youth welfare in the state. It provides hostel and recreational facilities for young people in almost all the urban and semi-urban areas in the state. The Kerala YMCAs initiated a number of development projects in the state such as Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Integrated Tribal Development Project, Development education and empowerment of people, Boys Homes, School for the disabled, Summer Schools, Camp Center etc. The YMCA Campsites at Alwaye and Vythiri is playing a conspicuous role in building leaders at various levels.
