YMCA Change Agents: shaping the next generation of community leaders
Our Change Agent Programme
The YMCA Change Agent programme is a global leadership development initiative that empowers young leaders as changemakers within their own communities, bridging the gap between local action and global collaboration.
The YMCA is unique: deeply embedded in local communities in over 120 countries, yet able to leverage a vast international network, expertise, and shared vision to multiply impact. Change Agents are at the heart of this powerful system, equipped to address immediate community needs and contribute to global solutions.
Since the Programmeโs inception in 2012, nearly 900 YMCA Change Agents have graduated, leading positive transformation in over 67 countries worldwide. These young people, often YMCA volunteers and staff, come from all corners of the globe, united by a commitment to strengthen the YMCA Movement and better to serve young people everywhere.
The Change Agent journey
Change Agents embark on an 18-month journey of growth and collaboration that includes:
- Online & in-person training
- Small group work and peer learning
- Coaching from experienced mentors, including external experts
The Change Agent curriculum
The curriculum is designed to be relevant and adaptable to local contexts, with modules covering:
- Leadership
- Governance
- Communications
- Advocacy
- Project management
Change Agents collaborate in action learning teams, organized by region and focus area, to address unique community challenges while connecting to global strategies.
Leading change where it matters
Each Change Agent designs and leads action projects within their local YMCA, directly responding to community needs. Supported by ongoing mentorship and micro-grants, they:
- bring innovation to youth services
- advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals
- help shape a more just and inclusive world
Meet the Change Agents
Cedric Dzelu
Cohort 2: 2015-2016 Thailand
Ghana
โWhen I entered the program, I was an unemployed young person, still searching for a clear professional path. By the time I completed it, I had emerged as a rising global voice in Climate Change and Sustainability.โ
Emily Greco
Cohort 2: 2015-2016 Thailand
Australia
โLeadership is not about being the loudest voice, but about being the one who listens, who connects, and who lifts others up.โ
Mizuki Sakachi
Cohort 5: 2023-2024 Kenya
Japan
โI was able to take these actions thanks to the experience and confidence I gained through the Change Agent programme.โ
Emma Dwyer
Cohort 5: 2023-2024 Kenya
Canada
โLeadership means recognizing a need in your community, and having the courage to act on it.โ
Where are the Change Agents now?
Oscar Villacorta, YMCA Peru, Change Agent cohort 1 (2013-2014)
Oscarโs YMCA journey began as a young participant at YMCA Peru, where he grew through local programmes and eventually rose to serve on the National Board. This path instilled in him the values of service, resilience, and leadership that would carry over into every stage of his career.
Trang Truong-Hill, YโUSA, Change Agents Cohort 1 2013 - 2014
Since completing the Change Agent programme, Trang Truong has continued her YMCA journey with remarkable purpose. She now serves as the Director of Newcomer Engagement and Family Stability at YMCA of the USA, where she supports local YMCAs across the country in welcoming immigrant and refugee communitiesโhelping families build belonging, stability, and hope. Trang describes the programme as a pivotal moment in her career, one that strengthened her leadership and deepened her lifelong commitment to equity and inclusion.
Ronald Senghore, The Gambia YMCA, Change Agent Cohort 3 (2017-2018)
From The Gambia to the global stage, the Change Agent journey has shaped a leader whose influence now spans corporate, governance, and community impact. Today, he serves as Senior Manager of Marketing & Communications at Africell Gambia, while also holding key leadership roles as Chair of the Governance Committee for both the World YMCA Board and the Africa YMCA Board.
Mike Bromfield, England & Wales YMCA, Change Agents Cohort 3 2017-2018
For Mike Bromfield, joining the Change Agent programme was more than a leadership opportunity: it was a springboard into a life of global connection and purpose-driven impact. The experience didnโt just shape his own development; it transformed how he understood the power of people and values-driven leadership.
Loris Tarazi, East Jerusalem YMCA, Change Agent Cohort 4 (2019-2020)
Based in Palestine, Loris Tarazi works as a web developer while serving on the Board of the East Jerusalem YMCA, and representing young people globally as a Youth Board Representative with the Global Youth Mobilization (GYM) through World YMCA. Since completing the Change Agent programme, her journey has been nothing short of transformative.
Ruth Toh, Metropolitan YMCA Singapore, Change Agent Cohort 5 (2023-2024)
Ruth Tohโs journey with the YMCA is a testament to how the Change Agent programme unlocks leadership potential and multiplies impact. Today, she leads youth work at Metropolitan YMCA Singapore, where she focuses on mental wellness, leadership, and global citizenship. Alongside her professional role, Ruth is pursuing a Masters in Management at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, building on her earlier studies in digital marketing. She proudly carries forward her experience as a Change Agent (Cohort 5.0) by serving as a Coach for Cohort 6.0.
Change Agents write
Change Agentsย on screen
Change Agents' testimonials
Members of the Change Agent programme share personal stories of growth, challenge, and transformation. From skill development to community impact, they reflect on how the programme empowered them to lead change and make a difference.
The Change Agent programme in one word
What difference has the Change Agent Programme made in the lives of its participants? In this short video, several change agents share โ each in a single word โ how the programme transformed them, what it gave them, or how it shaped their outlook. Simple, powerful, honest.
World YMCA Executive Committee: Former Change Agents
Alumni of the Change Agent Programme reflect on their journey and the leadership roles they now hold on the World YMCA Executive Committee. Hear firsthand how the programme shaped their outlook, strengthened their commitment to youth empowerment, and prepared them for global leadership.
Change Agents in action
Change Agents news
Be a Change Agent, or support the Change Agents programme
Learn more about what to expect if you become a Change Agent and how companies, foundations and funders can work with or support the Change Agents programme