Young Edinburgh changemakers celebrated for driving positive community impact

Edie Chaw and Tarek Hydara Estribio, both 11 years old, are being celebrated by YMCA Edinburgh for driving change. 

Both children, residents of Cables Wynd House in Leith and active members of youth-led advocacy groups supported by the charity, are leading the charge in helping develop their neighbourhood for the better.

Edie and Tarek are active participants in several of YMCA Edinburgh's initiatives, including The Cables Wynd House Youth Residents Forum, a youth-led advocacy group where they held consultations with their peers and collaborated with adult residents and human-rights organisation, Making Rights Real, to present a comprehensive housing report to the City of Edinburgh Council. As part of the initiative, they were consulted on public-space improvements.

They are also involved in The Next Generation Youth Forum, a programme focused on empowering the next generation of changemakers. In addition, they work on local green-space projects, sustainable food and composting workshops and creative community awareness programmes, including climate-themed workshops.

The success of these youth-led initiatives by YMCA Edinburgh was recently recognised on the global stage. At the 2026 YMCA World Council in Toronto, Mike Kerracher, chief executive of YMCA Edinburgh, represented the organisation alongside international leaders and Felipe Paullier, the UN assistant secretary general for youth affairs.

Speaking on a panel at the event, which had 1,400 representatives from over 120 countries, Mike showcased how organisations can move beyond merely consulting young people to actively creating genuine opportunities for them to lead.

Now, YMCA Edinburgh is launching a renewed call to create these leadership opportunities locally and nationally, emphasising that youth are ready to drive real community change if given the chance.

Mike commented: "Edie and Tarek are fantastic examples of what happens when young people are empowered to take the lead. True community change happens when we stop making decisions for young people and start making decisions with them. When we give them a genuine seat at the table and invest in their ideas, they shine."

Edie said: “Sometimes people think only grown-ups know how to fix things, but kids see the neighbourhood differently. When you don't only ask adults, but also ask what kids want, and when everyone actually listens to each other, we can come together and combine our ideas to create something everyone wants.”

Tarek added: "Being part of these projects helps me learn how to communicate, work as a team and socialise with lots of different people. It’s given us a real chance to speak up because we just want to be heard, and it feels great to know we're actually helping to make things better."

This international recognition follows a successful year for YMCA Edinburgh, which supported over 250 individuals across its services. Mentorship remains a cornerstone of the organisation's success. Over the last year, 39 dedicated volunteer mentors provided vital one-to-one support to 59 young people. As a result, 98 per cent of participants reported improved access to opportunities and 94 per cent experienced enhanced well-being.

Alongside these programmes, the organisation delivered seven weeks of free holiday activities, expanding sports, outdoor learning, and well-being support for local families.

YMCA Edinburgh is committed to creating even more opportunities for young people to lead, influence decisions and shape the future of their communities.

Young people who want to make a difference are encouraged to get in touch to find out more about the Next Generation Youth Forum and other participation opportunities. The organisation is also keen to hear from adults interested in volunteering as mentors, collaborating with young people on climate action in the local community, or supporting its wider work. 

www.ymcaedinburgh.com

Pictured left-right: Mike Kerracher, Tarek Hydara Estribio and Edie Chaw