World YMCA Secretary General Carlos Sanvee addressed the Y’s Men International Conference in Chiang Mai, Thailand on 9 August 2024, recalling it as the venue where he delivered his acceptance speech as Secretary General of the World YMCA at the YMCA World Council in 2018.
“I was full of enthusiasm, younger, and perhaps a bit naive. On the final day, I was overwhelmed by the magnitude of the task ahead, questioning, “Who am I, and why me, and why now?” and I broke into tears on this very stage.”
He stressed how much he has learned from YMI, its leaders, and its youth. He welcomed newly appointed International President Shanava Khan, and Philips Cherian, the newly appointed YMI representative to the World YMCA Executive Committee. He thanked YMI: “Whenever we’ve needed help, you’ve extended a generous hand, providing financial support for our YMCA Change Agents, our National General Secretaries meetings, and – today! – the Mombasa Accelerator Summit which will be held in October. I must also acknowledge your support to our National Movements, local YMCAs, and the Areas. Thank you, YMI.”
Carlos Sanvee spoke about the YMCA’s global Mission. “Today, our Mission has two facets: an outward-facing component that we all embrace, and an inward-facing component that is essential for a successful journey.”
The outward facet, he explained, is the collective vision, mission, pillars of impact and strategic goals of YMCA Vision 2030. “I’m thrilled to say that YMCA National Movements – and even YMCA local associations – are more and more excited and practically aligned over Vision 2030. Nearly 80 of them are at advanced stages of being so, and our task now is to get Movement-wide momentum on the four Pillars of Community Wellbeing, Meaningful Work, Sustainable Planet and Just World.”
