The Young Men's Christian Association ("YMCA") was founded on June 6, 1844 in London, England by a young man named George Williams. At the time, the organization was dedicated to putting Christian principles into practice, as taught by Jesus Christ. Young men who came to London for work were often living in squalid and unsafe conditions, and the YMCA was dedicated to replacing life on the streets with prayer and bible study. The YMCA idea, which began among evangelicals, was unusual because it crossed the rigid lines that separated all the different churches and social classes in England in those days. This openness was a trait that would lead eventually to including in YMCAs all men, women and children, regardless of race, religion or nationality. Also, its target of meeting social need in the community was dear from the start. Now the YMCA uses a holistic approach to individual and social development encompassing spiritual, intellectual and physical methods.

The YMCA tradition is not new to India as well. Way back in the year 1857 the first YMCA in Asia was started at the then Capital of India, Calcutta and YMCA Trivandrum was founded in the year 1873 by Miss Mary Bourne of United Kingdom under the president ship of Rev Fr. Samuel Mateer.

YMCA Mission

• The Core - To put Christian principles into practice …
• The Action - Through programs that build spirit, mind and body...
• The Audience - For all…

• Generates new directions, new methods, new strategies consistent with the core
• Generates movement toward goals, improvement, long term vision
• Generates new ideas and possibilities for the organization to impact