About YMCA Bitola

YMCA Bitola is a non-profit, nongovernmental, nonreligious and inclusive youth association which aims to provide opportunities for local youth and to actively work with them in our community. YMCA Bitola is part of the YMCA family spread throughout more than 125 countries worldwide with over 45 million members. YMCA Bitola was established in May 2002.

We welcome all people with a focus on youth.

Fields that we are focused on: culture and art, social and educational activities, healthy lifestyle, civil society and human rights.
We accomplish our activities through: trainings, seminars, workshops, camps, festivals, international study visits and other activities. We work on both local and international level.
Multimedia products from our activities include: documentary movies, short videos, comics and promotional materials.

VISION: YMCA Bitola is а respected local organization that provides opportunities which empower young people to meet the ever-changing future with greater courage, wisdom and love.

MISSION: YMCA Bitola works with young people on their personal development of body, mind and spirit by providing opportunities that nurture their responsibility, stimulate their creativity and celebrate the diversity of all God's creations.

MOTTO: Empowering youth!

VALUES that we nurture and support: Courage - Responsibility - Respect - Creativity - Care

YMCA in the Balkans

According to certain sources, YMCA in Macedonia existed at the end of 19th and the beginning of 20th century (under influence of the American missionaries in the Balkans). Its work in that period was focused on the protection of the human rights of the people in the Ottoman Empire.

After the World War Two, there was a period of non-acceptance and extinction of the YMCA in South Eastern Europe. After 1989, YMCA started again with its renewal.

YMCA in Macedonia

In Macedonia the first local YMCA was formed in 1999 in Skopje. Today in Macedonia nowadays there are two local YMCA associations in Skopje and Bitola united as YMCA Macedonia.

YMCA Macedonia has more than 250 members.