BRIEF FACTS ABOUT THE YMCA

His Imperial Majesty Hail Selassie I founded the YMCA in 1947.

The Central YMCA started active programs in 1949.
There were 300,000 paying members of the YMCA.

YMCA was the first institution to conduct free literacy classes for adults in Ethiopia.

The YMCA used to have a regular radio program on Saturday afternoon.

The YMCA is the first institution to develop a detached youth work program on the streets of Addis Ababa for street boys. The program is known As Operation Better Boys".

For the first time in Ethiopia, high school student leaders from different high schools took part at Africa Hall in a Model United Nation’s Program sponsored by the YMCA on December 7, 1968.

The YMCA has a regular Sunday Bible Fellowship Program for adults and College student members.

The YMCA sponsors an agricultural extension program in Jimma, Nekmpet, and Baherdar in Cooperation with World Neighbors. This project has been reputed by farming experts to be the only project of its kind achieving far more rapid success.

In co-operation with the YMCA Center on International Management Studies, the YMCA of Ethiopia sponsored the first of a series of Consultations to be held between Ethiopian and American businessmen. These businesspersons share mutual interests in being laymen of the YMCA.

Organized youth camping in Ethiopia was started by the YMCA.

The YMCA is the first agency to receive the Hail Selassie First Prize Trust Award for "Outstanding Achievement in Humanitarian Activities" on October 10, 1964.

YMCA became one of the many casualties of the Derg era. On August 30, 1976, the Derg dissolved the Association for no good reason. Its property was illegally partitioned among various government ministries and departments.

Upon the downfall of the Derg in May 1991, former members of YMCA eagerly seized the opportunity to revive their organization. An ad-hoc committee for this purpose was formed in August 1991.

The Transitional Government of Ethiopia gave a positive response to this effort and YMCA was reconstituted in March 1992.

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