Healthy Communities • Healthy Kids • YMCA Global Initatives
Naucalpan YMCA celebrates 35 years as a Centre of Community
03 May 2017 - by Leigh Coffey
This September, the Naucalpan YMCA will celebrate 35 years of operating programs and services for their community. When Naucalpan YMCA opened its doors, its goal was to become a community, and during our visit this week, we saw first-hand how deeply they have achieved that goal.
We had the opportunity to speak with four 14-year old youth who have been a part of the Naucalpan YMCA since they were 4 years old. They started in the kinder childcare program, and are now members of the Youth Leadership program. When asked what they loved about the YMCA, they all agreed it was the activities they get to participate in, and the support they receive from their teachers and the YMCA staff.
In addition to childcare and youth leadership programs, the Naucalpan YMCA has an after-school homework club, drop-in children’s soccer and basketball programs each week, a registered Karate program, Cyclefit, yoga, and Zumba classes. They also provide a wide range of employment training programs and services, including an entrepreneur course for women, English lessons, and a six-month secretarial training program (72% of the jobs available in this municipality are administrative) where individuals learn typing skills — on both computers and typewriters, which are still used in many political offices.
One of the Naucalpan YMCA’s newest programs that it offers is called “Ven Inspirate Vende” or “Come Inspire Yourself.” This free employment training program for women consists of four training modules in customer service, marketing, sales, and promotion. We are looking forward to hearing how the first session of this program goes, and the success of the first 12 participants. Congratulations to our colleagues at the YMCA of Mexico City’s Naucalpan YMCA Centre!
Leigh Coffey is the manager of Summer Day Camps at the YMCA of Greater Toronto. She recently travelled to Mexico to learn about programs hosted by our international Y partners.
We had the opportunity to speak with four 14-year old youth who have been a part of the Naucalpan YMCA since they were 4 years old. They started in the kinder childcare program, and are now members of the Youth Leadership program. When asked what they loved about the YMCA, they all agreed it was the activities they get to participate in, and the support they receive from their teachers and the YMCA staff.
In addition to childcare and youth leadership programs, the Naucalpan YMCA has an after-school homework club, drop-in children’s soccer and basketball programs each week, a registered Karate program, Cyclefit, yoga, and Zumba classes. They also provide a wide range of employment training programs and services, including an entrepreneur course for women, English lessons, and a six-month secretarial training program (72% of the jobs available in this municipality are administrative) where individuals learn typing skills — on both computers and typewriters, which are still used in many political offices.
One of the Naucalpan YMCA’s newest programs that it offers is called “Ven Inspirate Vende” or “Come Inspire Yourself.” This free employment training program for women consists of four training modules in customer service, marketing, sales, and promotion. We are looking forward to hearing how the first session of this program goes, and the success of the first 12 participants. Congratulations to our colleagues at the YMCA of Mexico City’s Naucalpan YMCA Centre!
Leigh Coffey is the manager of Summer Day Camps at the YMCA of Greater Toronto. She recently travelled to Mexico to learn about programs hosted by our international Y partners.
