International Committee of YMCAs. World Service.

In the late 1940s, in order to begin the work in the Belgian Congo, the Danish YMCA promised an experienced secretary and committed to the supporting funds necessary for a five year period of establishment. This early dedication by the Danish YMCA encouraged the Belgian National Council to also step in and commit for later financial support. In 1949, the Danish YMCA confirmed that Mr. I. Grube Overgaard would be the chosen secretary and sent him to Belgium and to the Congo for preliminary visits. He arrived in Leopoldville to begin active work in November of 1949.

At the arrival of Overgaard there were already two native associations; one in Stanleyville and one in Leopoldville, which had been started by former Belgian YMCA members. These associations had no affiliations with any missions and their membership was open to members of any Christian church. Overgaard set himself up in Leopoldville in order to begin the establishment of a more official association. The relatively small and dispersed population of the area made an association building infeasible; initially, a boy scout hut and the office of the Y's general secretary served more than 400 members.

Because the government in the Congo could not legally recognize the Belgian National Council as responsible for work in the Congo, Overgaard proceeded to form the necessary local legal body, "Friends of the YMCA in Congo." In its constitution, this group stated its purpose to "assume charge of the development of the associations destined to develop the moral, physical, intellectual and spiritual qualities of its members both European and native living in the Congo." By 1951 the Leopoldville branch supported soccer, basketball, swimming, water-polo, tennis, dramatics, scout troops, women's group, study circles, courses for illiterates and courses in French and bookkeeping. While all of the activities were directed by Europeans, there was some effort to establish the native communities' assumption of responsibilities. In contrast, the branch at Stanleyville had only a scout troop and a study circle at this time. Due to the desire for a European to be placed in the Stanleyville YMCA, Overgaard visited the association at regular intervals supplying guidance and maintaining support. There was a request to form a YMCA at Boma, but the YMCA could not accept responsibility for it. Congo law at the time forbade natives to organize without European leadership and secretaries were not able to accept the post, nor was there funds to support them.

In the early to mid 1950s an attempt was made to open a secondary school in the Congo, intended to develop apprenticeship in several trades, train future YMCA leaders, raise the education level of YMCA membership and to train leadership for other associations. This project was turned down by the International Committee of YMCAs because it was decided that the Congo YMCA itself was not established enough to support a school and that YMCAs work with individuals might suffer because of this.

At the time of Overgaard's departure in 1958, a YMCA/YWCA building was inaugurated. Funds for the building were largely raised in Belgium and the Congo through the ladies of the YWCA but the building opened with a debt owed to the contractor. It was planned to pay off this debt with the income from the building, but the general situation in the Congo greatly changed in 1959 with the riots in Leopoldville that left nearly every building except the YMCA in the African section of the city damaged. It was increasingly difficult to raise money either in the Congo or in Belgium, so the Congo YMCA turned to other YMCA or YWCA sources. Robbins Strong, a secretary for inter movement aid and extension for the World Alliance of YMCAs, suggested that the International Committee of YMCAs supply the money to liquidate the debt on the building. Only a portion of this money was made available, but it was enough to keep it open.

In the late 1950s Belgium began to lose governmental control over the Congo. At this time nationalist riots, protesting elections that were being held to decide the parliamentary government, threw the country into chaos. The YMCA in the Congo attempted to separate itself from Belgium and establish itself with the World Alliance of YMCAs, but was never fully successful and funding became a major issue throughout the 1960s, greatly inhibiting program activities. Owing to the general insecurity of the country there was also an insecurity as to the safe arrival of any shipments to the Congo YMCA from outside agencies. A power struggle in the Congo soon took place between the Congo High Commissioner's office and the "Young Pioneers" of the MPR (Popular Movement of the Revolution) as to the ultimate control of a new centralized organization grouping all youth work on a national, provincial and regional basis. In 1967, after taking the two secretaries of the YMCA to the Young Pioneers headquarters for a 3 1/2 hour long interrogation, the Young Pioneers took the YMCA/YMCA building for their own use.

In 1968 the Young Pioneers were evacuated from the building, but the entirety of the building was not returned to the Y. A women's social service center run by the government was in the rear of the building, and another youth organization still also occupied the building. The YMCA's school operated part time with a class even in the restaurant. The auditorium was largely used for judo classes. Robbins Strong strongly suggested that nothing effective could be accomplished without the aid of a Fraternal Secretary. In addition to a secretary, funds were needed to put the building back into proper shape and to seed the program for growth.

After the proposed secretary, Tewfik Wissa, was unable to obtain a visa for the Congo, it was suggested that a Swedish secretary was found. The International Committee desired the Swiss National Committee to eventually take responsibility for this project. Jean-Emile Fontannaz started his work in the Congo YWCA/YMCA on October 1st, 1969 as a fraternal secretary of the Swiss Council of YMCAs. The development of the Congo Y after the involvement of the International Committee and the World Alliance of YMCAs ceased is unclear, and it is equally unclear as to whether the YMCA still exists in any form in the Congo.

(Historical information largely adapted and quoted from the collection.)

From the guide to the Records of YMCA international work in the Congo, 1949-1969, (University of Minnesota. Kautz Family YMCA Archives. [ymca])

In 1919 Herbert S. Gott, returning from northern Russia, went to Tallinn (Reval) Estonia in order to see what opportunity existed for the YMCA. In 1920 George F. Robinson opened the Tartu (Dorpat) Association and planned to serve both the community and students in the university. It was mainly through Gott as Senior Secretary that the Association in Estonia was developed. The Y quickly became rooted among the Estonians, won their support and was carried on chiefly by them.

At the time of arrival of the YMCA in Reval, practically all capital had been lost in the revolution. Industry had been reduced to a standstill. Estonia had broken from Russia to become an independent republic in February, 1918. Along with the financial difficulties that the country was facing, the YMCA also initially faced distrust; the YMCA was so strange to the populace of Estonia that they at first regarded it with suspicion. Language problems were also significant, with three different nationalities in the city of Reval using three different languages, Estonian, Russian and German.

During the YMCA's first two years in Estonia, Russian refugee relief work was a major focus, including organizing and administering a school system to meet the needs of 1,500 Russian children. The YMCA assisted with the promotion of play and hygiene for Estonian children, including operating a large summer camp in cooperation with the Red Cross. The YMCA also organized night courses and other educational work in order to help re-adjust officers, soldiers and refugees returning from war. In addition, the YMCA in Estonia operated social and athletic clubs and courses in physical education, cooperated with educational authorities through lectures on American school systems and carried on a large work of service for young men in need of work or advice.

Many men came forward to be trained as volunteers and then later as secretaries. Throughout the years in Estonia, more indigenous secretarial leadership came forward and was trained than could be used. The educational department grew into a well-organized evening school. Lectures were greatly attended. An auto school was successfully founded and the YMCA entered into cooperation with the government in a country-wide moving picture program of educational pictures for schools. Boys' work grew beyond the possibility of housing it in the YMCA building. In 1923 already, there were three pioneer clubs and three troops of scouts.The Hi-Y program was also exceedingly popular and widespread.

The YMCA in Estonia attempted to cover all the areas of life for an Estonian citizen. It focused programs around the cities and rural communities, students, industrial work, work with religious organizations, and with different nationalities. The organization had the support of the Estonian government and big industries backed it as well. In 1925 the organization became a national movement, a National Council was formed and Herbert S. Gott was chosen as National Advisory Secretary. By 1928 there were Associations in Tallinn (Reval), the capital; Tartu (Dorpat), the university center; and Narva, the main industrial city. Plans were also being outlined for an industrial secretary. By 1930 Gott was the only North American secretary remaining.

During the Depression, the International Committee was only able to send slight financial aid, contributing to a reduction of the budget of the Estonian YMCAs. Gott also withdrew from Estonia in 1933, due to problems with his health and issues within the North American YMCA brought on by the Depression. He was succeeded by an Estonian, Herbert Tonisson, who was later elected national general secretary. A diversified program continued on and in 1933, twenty associations and eight sub-associations were reported. Two other associations were in the process of organization and four cities were waiting for associations.

In 1936, due to a government order placing youth organizations under the Youth Department of the Ministry of Education, the Estonian YMCA and YWCA were the only Christian bodies in which youth under twenty were able to participate. In 1938 The National Council elected Arthur Kasak the full-time General Secretary. Kasak relieved Tonisson, who along with being National General Secretary was still also General Secretary of the Tallinn YMCA.

In 1940 World War II and the occupation of Estonia by Russian troops led to the dissolution of all the YMCAs in Estonia.

The following is a list of individuals who served as YMCA secretaries in Estonia along with their dates of service:

Alexander, Chester Stephen (1923-1926) Nestle, Mark Howard (1927-1930) Frederiksen, Oliver Jul (1925-1928) Robinson, George F. (1920-1923) Gott, Herbert Sidney (1919-1933) Ross, Maurice (1920-1925) Kempa, Arthur Adolphus (1925-1927)

Historical information is largely adapted and quoted from World Service: A History of the Foreign Work and World Service of the Young Men's Christian Associations of the United States and Canada, (New York: Association Press, 1957) by Kenneth Scott Latourette, and from the collection.

From the guide to the Records of YMCA international work in Estonia, 1920-1946, (bulk 1920-1936), (University of Minnesota. Kautz Family YMCA Archives. [ymca])

The American YMCA's Advisory Committee for the West Indies focused a large portion of its efforts on Puerto Rico. In 1910 a board of directors was assembled for an association in San Juan, a campaign was inaugurated for a building fund, and a site was donated for the building, which was completed in 1913. With the aid of the YMCA's International Committee and a local campaign, the mortgage was paid off entirely by 1916.

W. G. Coxhead, formerly in Mexico, was appointed by the International Committee and arrived in Puerto Rico in 1914. The first staff consisted of a general secretary, assistant secretary, physical director, educational secretary and a building manager. Membership by the beginning of 1915 was 373 people but by the end of the year it increased to 554. The programs offered by the Puerto Rico YMCA included gymnastics, tumbling, dancing, basketball, volleyball, swimming, leaders training classes, educational classes, night school options and religious meetings.

Beginning in 1917, Puerto Rico participated in the United War Work campaign through the YMCA, with extensive YMCA war work in training camps throughout 1918. Eventually athletic equipment, office supplies and reimbursement services were received as an aftermath of the war. Many words of commendation were extended to the YMCA of San Juan for its role in war work. A. F. Grimm, a secretary in the Puerto Rican YMCA, also introduced the Boy Scout movement to Puerto Rico in 1917 in order to help the boys' programs with growth. The two movements often worked together through the YMCA boys' programs to assist in war work.

In 1919 the San Juan building was renovated and efforts and surveys were made to start YMCA work in the communities of Mayaguez and Ponce. Building and equipment upkeep was very difficult due to the environmental conditions, but membership doubled in the first five years. In the year 1926 W. G. Coxhead was succeeded by General Secretary by E. J. Simonds. Simonds left in 1930 and George Babcock came in on a year's special assignment. In 1931 John H. Warner took over as General Secretary from 1931 to 1933 and was succeeded by Manuel Bueno in 1934, the first native Puerto Rican General Secretary.

A hurricane in September of 1928 destroyed approximately one hundred thousand houses and major portions of crops. Again in 1931 there was another massive storm. The International Committee donated $4500 towards repairs to the YMCA building after these storms.

The YMCA of Puerto Rico became self-supporting in 1934. Due to financial difficulties, no help was forthcoming from the International Committee. The General Secretary received no salary checks for six months. Supervision by the International Committee during the next several years was limited. A desire to be more closely related to the states led to an affiliation with the Southern Area YMCA Council in 1944 and in 1947 the Puerto Rican YMCA sought affiliation with the Central Atlantic Area YMCA Council.

By 1947 Puerto Rico had seven associations, four YMCA buildings, over 8200 members, and 200 board and committee members in Puerto Rico. In 1953 two new YMCAs in Ponce and Mayaguez and a new San Juan building were erected. A building site was secured and the building was started in Ponce. A building site was proposed for Mayaguez. Several new lodges at the Boys' Camp in El Yunque Mountains were also erected.

In the 1960s Puerto Rico went through an industrial revolution, there was new wealth, a raised standard of living and life changed for the citizens of Puerto Rico. New YMCA locations surfaced in Mayaguez, Ensenada and Aguirre. The YMCA focused its attention on preparing youth to face their new circumstances with instruction on business industry, general education, community and political development. The intention was to ensure the continual Christian values in the community and to ensure that these communities had what they needed to succeed in changing environments.

The following is a list of individuals who served as YMCA secretaries in Puerto Rico along with their dates of service:

Babcock, George Ira (1930-1932) Simonds, Everett James (1926-1930) Beck, Cameron (1909-1914) Thayer, Clarence Putnam (1924-1928) Coxhead, William George (1914-1926) Tibbitts, Frank (1910-1914) Dome, Earl (1923-1924) Tibbitts, George F. (1909-1914) Grimm, Alfred Frederick (1913-1919) Warner, John Howell (1931-1935) Hitch, Herbert Taylor (1919-1924) Whittaker, Frederic N (1919-1920) Russell, Howard Odlin (1924-1926,1941-1942)

Historical information largely adapted and quoted from World Service: A History of the Foreign Work and World Service of the Young Men's Christian Associations of the United States and Canada, (New York: Association Press, 1957) by Kenneth Scott Latourette, and from the collection.

From the guide to the Records of YMCA international work in Puerto Rico, 1908-1969., (University of Minnesota. Kautz Family YMCA Archives. [ymca])