YMCA Arat Kilo

Since its inception in 1947, the Central YMCA has had a life marked by both remarkable progress and formidable challenges. Beginning in Arat Kilo under very humble circumstances, it grew into a nation-wide organization with 25 branches in the 14 provinces, three camps and over 20 program sites throughout the country.

The story of YMCA Arat Kilo is one of faith, enthusiasm, and dedication.

All members of YMCA and other participants in its various programs remember those pioneering days with great emotion, love and gratitude.

The following are some of the major programs launched by YMCA Arat Kilo:

The alleviation of urban poverty and the illiteracy;

The physical, spiritual, and mental development of individual members;

Rendering free service to the have-nots;
Instilling in its members aspiration for higher and better goals;

Creating awareness that YMCA Ethiopia is part of the larger family of YMCA;

Fostering social awareness and community-mindedness; and

Preparing potential leaders through different leadership training and club activities.

Unfortunately, these bright beginnings were abruptly interrupted by the outbreak of the Ethiopian Revolution in 1974. YMCA Ethiopia became one of the many casualties of that process. On August 30, 1976, the Derg dissolved the Association for no good reason. Its property was illegally partitioned among various government ministries and departments.

The Transitional Government of Ethiopia gave a positive response to this effort and YMCA Ethiopia was reconstituted in March 1992. The return of the confiscated building of the Central YMCA that has not materialized to date. This has forced the Association to operate from the rented office near Trinity Church in Arat Kilo.

This problem, combined with the problem of resources, has meant that YMCA could not as yet repeat the performance of its glorious days. YMCA Arat kilo has to overcome a number of institutional weaknesses before it could implement its program.

Thus, we are faced with enormous challenges at the moment. However, we are not dispirited. As the Amharic proverb goes: "Fifty lemons are a burden for one person, but light and a source of beauty when fifty people carry a lemon each". This is the sort of sharing of duty and responsibility that we are all committed to. With that kind of spirit, we hope to revive YMCA Arat kilo and enable it to repeat its past accomplishments.

At the moment, the Arat kilo branch of YMCA has been reconstituted on a new basis. A new Board has also come into place. A program of activities has been outlined.


We have no doubt that you; all members will always stand by our side, as indeed you have always done in the past.