Our Story
From London in 1844 to the largest YMCA region in India
The YMCA was founded in 1844 by Sir George Williams and his friends in London. The first YMCA in India was started in Calcutta in 1854, and in 1873 YMCA Trivandrum was founded by Miss Mary Bourne of the United Kingdom.
The National Council of YMCAs of India was established in 1891 in Madras and relocated to New Delhi in 1964.
The South West India Region
The National Council consists of nine regions, of which YMCA South West India Region (Kerala) is the largest, with more than 300 Good Standing YMCAs.
YMCA SWIR was established in 1954. Its headquarters and Camp Centre are at Aluva, on the banks of the Periyar River.
How the Region is governed
YMCA SWIR is managed by a Regional Committee consisting of Regional Officers, Executives of the National Council of YMCAs of India, six Standing Committees, 24 Sub Region Chairmen, and former Regional Chairpersons.