Young Men’s Christian Association’s (YMCA) Activities in Turkey

Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) is a missionary organization that accepts as its goal the adaptation of Christian life and culture among young people. This organization entered into the Ottoman Empire at the end of the 19th century. It started its works under the auspices of an organization called American Board, and soon opened new branches in Istanbul, Izmir and Adana. Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), the women branch of YMCA, conducted various activities targeting women in particular. YMCA served a youth organization in the Ottoman Empire and was influential especially on the non-Muslim population. After the foundation of the Turkish Republic, although it had to slow down its activities, YMCA, unlike many other missionary organization, never left Anatolia. This article offers a brief history of the organization of YMCA in Turkey and discusses the activities it performed towards its goal.