Development of the Young Men’s and Women’s Christian Associations (YMCA and YWCA) in Czechoslovakia

Tomáš Jelínek

doi:10.14712/23366052.2020.9

Abstract

The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) and its later sister organization, focusing on care of girls (YWCA), have a long tradition dating back to 1844. They were targeted at young people aged between 12 and 18 years, trying to provide conditions for their overall development. In the Czech lands, the first organization was founded in 1886 as part of the Evangelical Church. In 1919, its American offshoot came to Bohemia along with returning legionnaires, and soon, a local association was formed, which was generously subsidized mainly from American sources. Many of these organizations then operated here mainly with their social and sports activities. Above all, American affiliates brought new methods of training and sports. YMCA and YWCA were abolished twice in 1943 and 1951.

Highlights

When you say Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), most people in the Czech Lands imagine the American YMCA, richly subsidised by its mother state and later by our own state, operating in the social field and that of culture, and above all sports, bringing with it modern sport, a modern lifestyle and a modern world view
In 1919, its American offshoot came to Bohemia along with returning legionnaires, and soon, a local association was formed, which was generously subsidized mainly from American sources
The World Council of Churches1 and the International Federation of Democratic Women2 emerged from this environment; the Czechoslovak YMCA and YWCA were members of these

Summary

INTRODUCTION

When you say YMCA, most people in the Czech Lands imagine the American YMCA, richly subsidised by its mother state and later by our own state, operating in the social field and that of culture, and above all sports, bringing with it modern sport, a modern lifestyle and a modern world view. The Prague City Archive stores the files of all the main YMCA associations.5 They contain basic data mainly on their origin and termination. He was a founding member of the Revival Movement of Czechoslovak Students, which was considered part of the World Christian Student Federation (WSCF), and which was later incorporated in the Academic YMCA, which took its place on the international scene. It reveals the interconnection of these organizations, the impact they had on each other, their joint projects and ties. The chairman of the association was parish priest Dr Robert Zilchert. Other members of the committee were more middle class. From 1927, Richard Klier was in the

39 Its members were

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CONCLUSION