Taking youngsters’ views to Thailand
Global conference was trip of a lifetime for David
A kind-hearted Buddie has returned from the trip of a lifetime after representing Paisley at the global YMCA conference in Thailand.
David McAdam, 25, flew from his hometown of Paisley to join the YMCA World Council in Chiang Mai earlier this month.
David, who volunteers as a digital youth worker at the YMCA Paisley, said the trip had been “truly life changing”.
Having worked closely with the YMCA Paisley for over two years, David was appointed as a change agent for Scotland at the worldwide meeting.
He said: “My job was to be a voice for young people in Scotland. I took their opinions and ideas forward to the president of the YMCA who will hopefully act on it.
“The meeting is all about encouraging change and empowering young people to help improve the future for everyone.
“Young people are the future, so it is so important that we listen to them and make sure their voices are heard.”
Around1,500 volunteers from across the globe took part in the week-long event in celebration of the oldest and largest youth charity in the world.
The World Council meets every four years and is responsible for setting the policies and direction of the World Alliance, revaluating the work of the last four years and planning future objectives.
David said: “It was an amazing opportunity to go to Thailand and represent Scotland and Paisley.
“It really was a humbling, lifechanging experience.
“To go and meet so many YMCA volunteers and hear their thoughts on how to empower young people was incredible.
“I am excited to come back and use what I learned in Thailand and apply it to the Paisley centre.”
YMCA Paisley is part of a global Christian youth work organisation that provides support for young people and their families.
The charity operates in more than 120 communities across Scotland and offers everything from art classes to sports clubs.
The Paisley centre currently runs coding clubs each week that introduce young people to the basics of computer programming.
Darran Gillan, 42, youth manager at Paisley YMCA, said the opportunity to represent Paisley on a global platform was greatly appreciated by the charity.
He added that the Paisley YMCA had long been admired around the world as the centre is one of only four that pre-existed the official YMCA launch in 1844.
Darran said: “The Paisley YMCA has been on the High Street for more than 185 years and is a massive part of the community.
“We really consider our centre to be a gateway to the world.
“This is a passport for us to send you across the world that will open you up to different opportunities and cultures.
“For the likes of David and our other volunteers, it has given them a chance to go to far-flung places that they otherwise would not have been able to afford to travel to.
“It’s great for them, but it is also great for us and our centre.
“They can come back with new ideas about best practice and replicate this for us back home.”