The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) movement was started in 1844 in London by Mr George Williams and a group of likeminded concerned Christians.  Subsequently, over the last 160 years since its foundation, the YMCA Movement has been established in more than 120 countries with 45 million members worldwide.

Established in 1902, the YMCA of Singapore is a Christian voluntary welfare organisation (VWO), affiliated worldwide, which seeks to serve and enrich all members of the community, regardless of race, language or religion, through wholesome programmes, to develop body, mind and spirit, which are based on Christian principles. Activities and programmes are organised with the aim of “touching lives and lifting spirits” among its members, community and beneficiaries.

On 13 November 2008, YMCA was conferred the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre’s (NVPC) Outstanding Non-Profit Organization Award at the National Volunteerism & Philanthropy Awards 2008. The award recognizes YMCA’s best practices in volunteer and donor management, fundraising and corporate governance. YMCA also received the NVPC’s Non-profit Organisation Award for Philanthropy Management in 2007.

As an acknowledgement of YMCA’s 105 years of service to the community, National Parks Board named a new orchid hybrid, “Dendrobium YMCA” on 19 November 2007. The robust, free flowering hybrid reflects the work sustained over the years by the YMCA and its volunteers in touching lives and lifting spirits in the community.

The YMCA programmes comprises of YMCA-Tan Chin Tuan Community Service Programmes, YMCA-Lim Kim San Volunteers Programme, Lifestyle Programmes and International Programmes.

Through the YMCA-Tan Chin Tuan Community Service Programmes, we aim to bring cheer to the intellectually, physically and mentally challenged through fun and meaningful programmes. We respond to the community’s needs and provide platforms for volunteers to contribute meaningfully through structured and sustained programmes with selected VWOs. The programmes include Y Visits, Y Outings, Y Camp Challenge, Y Arts Challenge, Y Dance Outreach, Y Care to Dance, Y Green Fingers, Y Reading Clubs, Y Nature Walks, Y Chorus, Y Movie Escapades, Y Festival of Love, Y Proms @ the Park and YMCA Project Bridge.

YMCA Project Bridge was established as a collaborative effort between YMCA, North West Community Development Council and the National Youth Council to provide support to out-of-school youths, with the objective of integrating them into full time studies or employment. YMCA Project Bridge aims to help these youth find their calling, by providing them with information, guidance and a listening ear. 

YMCA also offers the YMCA Financial Assistance cum Capability for Employment Scheme (FACES) that aims to provide short-term and supplementary financial aid for families in emergency crisis, facilitate transitional supportive employment training for people with special needs as well as provide work attachments at YMCA for out-of-school youth and youth-at-risk.

Under the YMCA-Lim Kim San Volunteers Programme, YMCA has introduced the YMCA–NUS Business School Volunteer Service Management Programme, together with NUS Business School and its alumni in 2007. It aims to equip the volunteers and staff in the non-profit sector with the knowledge to implement service projects successfully. Other volunteer training programmes, such as Y Service-Learning, Y Safety Management and Y Events Management are conducted regularly for the volunteers.

In partnership with Citibank, the YMCA has been organizing the annual Citibank-YMCA Youth For Causes programme since 2002, which aims to promote social entrepreneurship among the youths in Singapore. For its excellence in youth development and nurturing youths to support social causes, the Citibank-YMCA Youth For Causes was conferred the Singapore Youth Award 2008 by the National Youth Council on 6 July 2008.

In an effort to promote youth development, YMCA has established University YMCAs (Uni-Ys) in tertiary institutions in Singapore with the mission of empowering youths to be servant leaders who will impact our local and international communities. The first Uni-Y was established in Singapore Management University in 2005, followed by Uni-Y in National University of Singapore in 2007. There are plans to set up a Uni-Y at Nanyang Technological University and High School YMCA (Hi-Y) Club, a club for the Junior College students in 2009. 

YMCA has also been organizing the annual YMCA Speaking Awards opened to Primary, Secondary, Junior College, Polytechnic, ITE and Centralised Institutes students with the aim to sharpen communication skills and build self-confidence among youth. The Awards comprise of the YMCA Plain English Speaking Awards (PESA) and the YMCA Mandarin Speaking Awards (MSA). There are plans in place to inaugurate a YMCA Malay Speaking Award in the near future.

To promote better international relations, the International Programmes organises overseas trips, in collaboration with our YMCA overseas. Outreach to the less privileged overseas is extended through its International Service Programmes, Disaster Response Programme and Rebuilding Communities Programme. Regular language enrichment programmes and exchange programmes are also organised  to forge friendship bonds among local and overseas students.

Lifestyle Programmes offers fitness & dance courses, performing arts productions, and outdoor & adventure programmes. Through youth dance-outreach programmes, like the MCYS & NYC-supported Care to Dance, YMCA develops social awareness and encourages youth volunteerism. Through Y Proms @ CLAP! heartland concerts in collaboration with Central Singapore CDC, we reach out to the community at large. Our Arts Education Programme has engaged 300,000 students over the past nine years. YMCA also offers treks, ski, snowboard and mountain bike trips.

Through the YMCA School, students can experience a wholesome education experience that incorporates community service programmes as well as embedded with Christian values. The School prides itself in having dedicated teachers and offering courses at affordable fees.

Through the Child Development Centers and Student Care Centres, YMCA continues to offer quality care to toddlers and pre-schoolers through the support and guidance in their character and overall development, in a nurturing environment. YMCA seeks to inculcate our four core values of caring, honesty, responsibility and respect.

In January 2009, a tertiary arm was launched to offer a world-class MBA from Strathclyde University, a niche MBA and degree courses in Maritime and Logistics Management from the Australian Maritime College as well as certification courses from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) and the Workforce Development Agency.

YMCA International House offers guests warm hospitality and comfortable rooms at a convenient location within the heart of the city. We strive to be a blessing to travelers seeking a preferred home-away-from-home experience.