Związek Młodzieży Chrześcijańskiej (Christian Young People Association) – also known as the ''Polish YMCA'' – is a youth social organization, based on the international organizations that

YMCA YMCA, sometimes regionally called the Y, is a worldwide youth organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, with more than 64 million beneficiaries in 120 countries. It was founded on 6 June 1844 by George Williams in London, originally ...

built. It encourages good conduct, charity and education, and activities based on Christian morals. People of both sexes can be members.

History

The American

came to Poland with General

Józef Haller Józef Haller von Hallenburg (13 August 1873 – 4 June 1960) was a lieutenant general of the Polish Army, a legionary in the Polish Legions, harcmistrz (the highest Scouting instructor rank in Poland), the president of the Polish Scouti ...

army An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...

during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

. The main aim was to serve soldiers and prisoners of war. After the war the YMCA continued to work with students, children and poor people. And, with the help of the American YMCA, Poles started to build their own YMCA, which was founded formally in 1923. Before

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

, the YMCA worked in many cities in Poland. Three campsites and four buildings (in Krakow, Lodz,

Warsaw Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officiall ...

and

Gdynia Gdynia ( ; ; german: Gdingen (currently), (1939–1945); csb, Gdiniô, , , ) is a city in northern Poland and a seaport on the Baltic Sea coast. With a population of 243,918, it is the 12th-largest city in Poland and the second-largest in th ...

) were built with the help of the American YMCA. The YMCA houses had rooms for residents, common rooms, gyms, and swimming pools. Sport and camping played a main role in its programme. Young people from many European countries, and from the US, participated in Polish YMCA camps. A very important part of the programme was education, development of patriotism and participation of young people. Most of the programmes for youngsters were led by young leaders. During World War II the Polish YMCA was closed by the Nazis, but the Polish movement continued to work in France, England, Romania and even in Africa with the Polish Army of General

Władysław Anders ) , birth_name = Władysław Albert Anders , birth_date = , birth_place = Krośniewice-Błonie, Warsaw Governorate, Congress Poland, Russian Empire , death_date = , death_place = London, England, United Kingdom , serviceyears ...

. The Polish YMCA in London was founded, which still exists today. Immediately after World War II the YMCA restarted its activity. But after four years, in 1949 the YMCA of Poland was once more closed, this time by the communists. All its possessions were taken over by the government. The YMCA started its activity again in 1990, with the help of people who were members of the YMCA 40 years earlier. They revived the organisation and involved new members in its activities. It got back its houses in

, Lodz and Cracow and the camp "Pilica" near Lodz. Today the YMCA of Poland has 18 branches and continues to develop its programmes.

References

External links

* * YMCA Youth organisations based in Poland Youth organizations established in 1923 {{poland-org-stub