The Balkan Project as the coordinated long-term process of the development YMCAs the Balkan area was initiated in 2000. The period 2009-2011 is the next important stage of it. The countries where the YMCA exists are: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, Romania and Serbia. All of them create the Balkan Region. The project in its main part is funded by the Swiss HorYzon - a structural part of the Swiss YMCA.
The main focus has been the same from the beginning of the project: the continuous support and facilitation of the development of national and local YMCAs in the Balkan Peninsula. However, the democratic base of governing that was achieved in the previous periods and the engagement of foreign partners allow more attention to the fluent progress in the programme area. The external evaluation ordered by the HorYzon helped to introduce some important elements to the Project policy 2009-11.
The crucial points are:
- Clarification of ambitions on local and national levels.
- Identifying a reasonable number of goals that will allow the allocation the human resources in a more effective way.
- Support in the development of realistic strategies and related to them implementation plans, which should allow to achieve the goals.
- Strengthening of institutional capacities in terms of management and administration.
Over and above, in the period 2006 - 2008 appeared a new factor: the interest in interregional co-operation. Such YMCAs as the Romanian, Bulgarian and certainly Greek are well placed to develop this line. This in turn corresponds well with the methods of Global Operating Plan and stays in full accordance with objectives recognised in the countries covered by it. The common projects with YMCAs in other Regions are already advanced in the preparatory process.
The first official contact between the Turkish and European were made in 2009,
Overview of the Applications from 2009
YMCA in Romania full member of YMCA Europe
An amazing experience. See the photo gallery.
Powered by Youth in Action Programme, the 7th training organized by YMCA Romania and YMCA Europe,
YMCA Voievod Moldova activity
Balkan YMCAs in YMCA Europe General Assambly 2010