Across Borders: How One Summer at the Y Inspired a Lifetime of Paying It Forward
For Amy Najarro Bojorquez, the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) became part of her life long before she ever entered a Y facility. Growing up in Peru, she remembers her mother playing the Village People’s song “YMCA” at home. Amy and her siblings loved it long before they knew what the letters meant. “We didn’t understand the lyrics,” she says. “We just danced. It was one of those warm childhood memories you keep with you.”
The Y has a presence across the globe in 120 countries, serving 64 million people. It is one of the largest volunteer organizations in the world. Asociación Cristiana de Jóvenes (ACJ) is the Spanish name for the Young Men’s Christian Association. This name is used officially in many Spanish-speaking countries. The ACJ Peru was founded on May 17, 1920, through the initiative of Peruvian engineer Ricardo Tizón y Bueno and with the support of Dr. Jay C. Field, who served as the first secretary.
When Amy was eight, she experienced the Y in a new way through the ACJ Peru summer camp program. It was her first and only summer at ACJ Peru. At the time, the program did not offer financial assistance, but her mother still wanted her to be part of it, and with support from a family member in the United States, she was able to attend.
“That summer, I tried so many activities,” Amy recalled. She tried swimming, volleyball, arts and crafts, dance, and theater. She also enjoyed field trips to museums and the planetarium. “I felt proud of myself for trying new things,” she says. “I felt included. I felt like I belonged.”
She experienced her first sleepover, a YMCA “acampada,” where she played games, watched a movie paired with fresh popcorn, and swam at night. “That summer was one of the best experiences of my life,” Amy says.
Amy even had the opportunity to spend three nights at the overnight camp, YMCA Asia, in the coastal district of Asia, in Cañete Province, south of Lima, Peru. She ran obstacle courses, swam in the ocean, built sandcastles, and collected treasured seashells along the shore. “It was simple, but it felt so special,” she remembers. Amy’s evenings were spent around a crackling bonfire with marshmallows, guitar-led songs, and spooky stories that felt a little too real in the dark.
Since 1955, YMCA Asia has offered camps for people of all ages to experience what life looks like away from the hustle and bustle of urban life. Today, as the surrounding area faces rapid urbanization, YMCA Asia stands firm as a preservation of a connected, caring community in tune with nature. The camps go beyond recreation, supporting the World YMCA’s Vision 2030 through encouraging sustainable practices and fostering youth leadership.
That summer, American counselors visited through an exchange program. It was the first time Amy had heard English spoken in person. She only caught a few words, but the experience left a lasting impression.
As a global organization, the Y's impact is both far-reaching and long-lasting. Through its international exchange programs, the Y creates opportunities for cultural understanding, shared learning, and community service in real settings. Y-USA currently offers exchange programs in Colombia and Brazil, where volunteers work with local Ys to build global solidarity, expand cultural understanding, and amplify the Y’s mission worldwide.
Years later, at 17, Amy moved to the United States. Adjusting to a new country, language, and culture was difficult, but she pushed ahead. She worked, went to college, and built her new life step by step. Today, Amy works at the YMCA of Greenwich as an assistant teacher in the Early Learning Center (ELC), where she helps the youngest members of our community grow, explore, and build confidence.
Her ELC days involve offering the kind of care she remembers from her own childhood. “Sometimes I pause and think about how full circle this feels,” she says. “The YMCA helped shape my childhood, and now I get to help create that same safe, caring, joyful environment for toddlers here.”
There is no place like this place. The Y is a movement that brings people together, offering the opportunity try new things, meet others from different backgrounds, and carry those experiences long after they leave. From members to volunteers to staff, the YMCA of Greenwich helps everyone find purpose and contribute to something meaningful, continuing the cycle of care and growth that makes the Y so special.