Freehold YMCA goes international

The YMCA is more than day camp, child care, sports, fitness or youth programs. It is a worldwide family of more than 120 autonomous national movements with a goal of building a positive future for youth and families. There is a variety of exchange opportunities for individuals living in the United States to travel overseas, as well as for YMCAs and local communities to host young people from all over the world.

One of these programs is the International Camp Counselor Program (ICCP), which annually brings thousands of young adults from 60 nations to serve as counselors at day camps and resident camps throughout the United States.

ICCP provides leadership opportunities for young adults, while helping camps internationalize their programs. This year the YMCA of Western Monmouth County in Freehold Township is hosting two camp counselors from the Ukraine, Olga Dudnyk and Julia Goretska, for eight weeks.

"We feel that our YMCA in the Freehold area has such a diverse population, it would be a great venue for these two young women to experience living, working and playing in an American community. It would also give our staff and members, especially our young campers, an opportunity to learn about the culture and life in the Ukraine," said Cynthia Joy, president and CEO of the YMCA of the Western Monmouth County.

According to a press release, Olga and Julia will be working in all of the camp programs that include the Freehold Branch, Camp Topanemus, the Freehold Borough Community Center and Hightstown at some point during their eightweek stay. Additionally, the staff of the association is taking turns entertaining the young guests on the weekends and showing them life at the Jersey Shore and in New York City. They will also spend time with host families.

For more information about the international programs at the YMCA or how to become a host family, contact Debbie Forte at 609-448-1357 or e-mail dforte@ymcanj. org.