YMCA SA’s Angela Joins Global Youth Leadership Program: Change Agents 6.0

YMCA South Australia is proud to announce that Angela, a dedicated young leader from our own team, has been selected to represent us in Change Agents 6.0, a global initiative from World YMCA that empowers young people to lead meaningful, community-driven change.

Angela has been part of the YMCA SA family for over four years, working across various roles at The Parks Recreation and Sports Centre. Most recently, she has led our Defence Programs, supporting the wellbeing and resilience of families connected to the Australian Defence Force. Her passion for community connection, inclusive programming, and youth voice makes her an outstanding representative in this international leadership cohort.

She now joins 85 young leaders from 44 countries, including eight from across Australia, for an 18-month journey of immersive learning, cross-cultural collaboration, and bold, impact-focused action.

The Change Agents program is grounded in four global pillars:

Just World | Sustainable Planet | Community Wellbeing | Meaningful Work

Angela will take part in virtual summits, team challenges, global mentoring, and project-based learning, all while driving real change right here in South Australia.

“I’m excited to collaborate with young leaders from around the world, apply what I learn back home, and make a real difference in our communities,” said Angela.

The journey kicked off this week with a global onboarding session, where participants met YMCA leaders including Soheila Y. Hayek and Carlos Madjri Sanvee. Guest speaker Corrine Momai-Vanian of the Kofi Annan Foundation encouraged participants to “build a resilient strategy” as they step into this new role.

At YMCA SA, we believe young people, like Angela, aren’t just preparing for the future, they’re shaping it, now! We’re thrilled to stand beside her as she grows, leads, and represents the values of our community on the global stage.

Throughout the year, we’ll share updates on Angela’s journey and the impact of her Change Agent project. We invite you to follow along, celebrate her progress, and help amplify the work of young leaders growing in the movement.