Ivan grew up in Zagreb (Croatia). During the Balkan war, he and his family made it to escape to Germany. However, the violence of the war produced profoundly negative effects on Ivan that led him to aggressiveness and dependence on drugs and alcohol. There were those who thought he could never be rehabilitated. He was invited to the CVJM (German YMCA) Center. For the first time he heard someone speak of God’s love for each person. There he learned that Jesus is forgiving and brings back peace among men.

Stories of this kind encourage us to keep going to form strong children and youth and a solid society. In our YMCA groups – there are a great variety of them – deep friendships are often built. Children are given the opportunity to prove themselves and discover their hidden talents as they get involved in sports activities, games, hobbies or music, for example. Vacations or traveling are ideal occasions for them to experience faith, trust and the joy of getting along with others.

During our meetings we try to dedicate ourselves particularly to young people who come from difficult social situations or who feel alienated. We try to make them feel welcome and listen to them. Our groups try to develop expertise in social action, the capacity to build relationships and solve conflicts, as well as a sense of responsibility in the youth.

The YMCA Movement was born in London as an ecumenical movement in 1844; from then it spread throughout the world as the largest Christian-ecumenical movement for the youth. In Germany alone, there are 30,000 volunteers (men and women) and 700 consultants who work full-time for the youth.

(Mathias Ritter – Katja Muessig)