Faces in OUR crowd
Row 1 -- Dorothy Markell, Lou Falk, Mike Frith.
Row 2 -- Dave and Bonnie Saunders, Bruce Macdonald, Kevin and Tania Griffin
International
Service Corps (ISC)
A program of YMCA Alumni
Leading the way
ISC is managed by a committee of representatives from each YMCA Alumni chapter chaired by Bob Martin of the Willis Chapter. The committee reports to the YMCA Alumni Board of Directors.
Special Opportunity:
Help develop aquatics programs in Salto, Uruguay -- must speak Spanish
ISC is seeking volunteers for a terrific opportunity at the Salto YMCA (La ACJ YMCA de Salto) in Uruguay.
To lead this effort effectively, you must be fluent in Spanish and have experience with aquatics programs.
The volunteers' goals are
to help the Y expand the use of its heated pool (occupancy is only 45 percent) and provide more services and new programs.
The Y leaders are certain that as activities and growth opportunities become more widely known, new sources of support will open up that will allow the Y to continue developing services to the community.
This experience offers quality recreational free time to explore the city and the surrounding areas.. Salto offers hot springs just a few kilometers away, a water park, the Salto Grande Dam on the Uruguay River. It is just 20 minutes from Argentina.
ISC will pay your airfare, and the YMCA will provide lodging and food.
You may stay two to four weeks and make a big difference.
The ideal time for volunteering at the Uruguay YMCA is from December 15 to February 25. This is their summer season. You are welcome to take two or three weeks, and they would love for you to stay with them the entire summer season if you wish. You can miss winter in the States and enjoy Uruguay’s typically perfec80-degreeee weather
Interested? Email Tracy Mucky or call or text her at (804 389-8488).
Current opportunities to serve
YMCAs from other countries have requested volunteers from ISC for a variety of service opportunities. Here are current opportunities. Have an interest in any of them? Just click the button at the bottom and send us a note asking for the details on any opportunity in which you might be interested. All are face-to-face onsite experiences unless otherwise noted.
Bahamas
The YMCA of Grand Bahamas in Freeport brings as many as 500 children a day into its aquatics programs. The Y requests support in aquatics programming, government grant writing, staff development and member services.
Teresa Hill of the Grand Canyon Chapter was on ISC assignment at the YMCA of the Grand Bahamas in November 2023, developing and enhancing the Y's aquatics programs, providing staff and customer service training, and consulting on funding.
Dominican Republic
The YMCA of the Dominican Republic (ACJ/YMCA), founded in 1963, seeks support in daycare at an elementary school, including computer training, aquatic program development, and teaching swim lessons. Assignment: Fall 2025.
Macedonia
YMCA Macedonia in Bitola was formed in 1999 and serves more than 2,000 young people annually. The Y seeks support in governance (constitution revisions, policies, guidance), and building a focus on long-term sustainability and corporate social responsibility. Assignment: Summer 2025.
Uruguay
YMCA Uruguay was founded more than a century ago in Montevideo. The Salto Y, in the northwest part of the country, requests support for leadership training in marketing of the YMCA brand and image; positioning of the YMCA abroad and on the international agenda; development of financial campaigns and retaining volunteers. Assignment: 2025.
Mexico
Last fall, a group of ISC leaders spent a week in Tijuana, Mexico, working with Y officials at Casa de Minores Migrantes YMCA.
The Casa Y works with teens who are left behind when their parents cross the border to the U.S. and await a chance to join them.The group met with the president of YMCA Mexico to establish an ongoing link between ISC and YMCA Mexico. Another visit is planned for Fall 2025, and ISC is exploring staff and volunteer training programs in Mexico City.