基督教青年会(YMCA)

全名Young Men's Christian Association

以通过群体活动和公民训练发扬基督徒高尚品德为宗旨的跨教派的非政治性组织。1844年在伦敦，十二位青年成立俱乐部以「提高青年的灵性修养」。1851年传到北美洲。基督教青年会的活动包括体育运动、野营、生活辅导、正规及非正规教育、公共事务和公民活动。此外该会还经营公寓、宿舍和自助餐厅。世界基督教青年会联盟成立於1855年，总部设在日内瓦。根据1929年的「日内瓦公约」，基督教青年会有责任在许多战俘营中开展教育和文娱设备的添置。基督教女青年会（YWCA）於1877年在英国成立。其目的救济贫寒，辅导女青年和妇女进入社会生活的主流。美国基督教青年会成立於1906年。世界协会在1894年成立於伦敦。

English version：

YMCA

Nonsectarian, nonpolitical Christian lay movement that aims to develop high standards of Christian character among its members. It originated in London in 1844 when 12 young men formed a club to improve the spiritual condition of young tradesmen. The first U.S. club was formed in Boston in the 1850s. YMCA programs include sports and physical education, camping, formal and informal education, and citizenship activities. It also runs hotels, residence halls, and cafeterias. National councils are members of the World Alliance of YMCAs (established 1855), headquartered in Geneva. The YMCA was charged with sponsoring educational and recreational facilities in prisoner-of-war camps by the Geneva Convention of 1929. It now operates in dozens of countries. The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) was founded in Britain (1877) to address the needs of women from rural areas who came to the cities to find work; in the U.S. (founded 1906), it has championed racial equality. The Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association (YM-YWHA) developed in the mid-19th century from Jewish men's literary societies in the U.S. and now exists in some 20 other countries worldwide.