Monday, October 22, 2012

Ten Thousand Villages Day!


Join us on November 10th at Ten Thousand Villages.  You can donate 15% of your purchase to our International Partnerships by using this coupon. We'll have volunteers at both the Plaza Drive and Henderson locations. For more information, please contact the International Working Group at info@ymcaywca.mb.ca or 204.831.2975.

Learn more about this event and invite your friends on Facebook!

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Update on CASA


The YMCA of Mexico has hosted a Casa for migrant youth in Juarez since 1995, providing a safe and healthy shelter where migrant children receive food, clothing and access to telecommunications, and then reunite them with their families.  In 2011 a new Casa Canada building was opened with the support of the YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg, YMCAs and YMCA-YWCAs across the prairies, and the YMCA-YWCA of Guelph - a true partnership effort!

Juarez is a city of 1.5 million people, located about mid-continent, on the banks of the Rio Grande, the border between Mexico and the United States.  There are also YMCA Casas in Tijuana, Piedras Negras, and Agua Prieta.

Casa Canada has played an important role in the community, assisting migrant youth, providing space for conferences, delivering adult education, providing recreational painting programs, programming for the elderly, hosting festivals and, that YMCA staple, summer camps.

Conferences have focused on Family workshops, youth participation in the community, prevention and identification of addictions, and Human & Children Rights training.  Ciudad Juarez has been the site of a high level of drug cartel violence in recent years, and the community is in need of support to rebuild and restore confidence and trust.

On weekends the Casa delivers a 4 month secondary school diploma to adults, in conjunction with the Chihuahuan Institute of Adult Education.  The Art School of Ciudad Juarez has provided volunteer-led Art programs for youth, an opportunity that is not readily available in local area.

The Casa has hosted Children’s Day and mother’s Day festivals, to engage and build trust in the community, and provides those very popular indoor summer camp opportunities for youth.

While political and economic changes have reduced the number of migrant youth, the Casa continues to provide community building and enrichment services, benefitting hundreds of youth, adults and seniors, who live and come to Ciudad Juarez.

Read more about the Casa programs on the YMCA of Mexico's website.

Would you like to support the YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg's International Partnerships? Donate to the Strong Kids Campaign and designate your donation to Support the International Partnership Program! 

Post submitted by Don Fraser,
Member - International Working Group

Friday, October 12, 2012

Y-PASS VIDEO | World Challenge

Join us on Saturday for the YMCA World Challenge: Hoop Springs Eternal!
We'll be taking part at the Downtown branch from 11 am - 1 pm.

Check out the official event video (see if you can spot the YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg!)



"The Y-PASS" - YMCA World CHALLENGE 2012 from YMCA on Vimeo.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

YMCA World Challenge: Hoop Springs Eternal!


The YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg will join Ys from 70 countries around the world on October 13th for the World Challenge: Hoop Springs Eternal.

The goal of Hoop Springs Eternal is to gather 5 million people worldwide to set a world record for number of people shooting a basketball in one day.  At the same time, the event will be used to share the YMCA story and how the organization works across the globe to strengthen communities and leadership in young people.

The Challenge officially begins at 8h00, local time, in New Zealand and ends in Hawaii at 17h00.  Photos and videos of activities around the world will be shared through social media. 

Why basketball?
Did you know basketball was invented by the YMCA in 1891? Now one of the most popular sports in the world, basketball is used to promote a healthy lifestyle as well as to empower youth.

The Winnipeg event will be hosted by the Y Leaders as part of their Leaders Jamboree at the Downtown Branch!

11:00 am – Noon
The gym will be split into two halves. One side will have a
pick-up game, while the other has a skills competition.

Noon – 1:00 pm
Join the Y Leaders for a full court game of King’s Court! 

Follow the World Alliance of YMCAs on Facebook and Twitter to see what is planned around the world!
#YMCAworldchallenge