Records of YMCA international work in Egypt

American YMCA members' visits to Egypt began in the early 1890s. Luther De Loraine Wishard, during his world tour, visited Egypt. He held meetings in Cairo and at the college maintained by the United Presbyterians of North America in Assiut. John R. Mott also came repeatedly beginning in 1895 on his mission for the World's Student Christian Federation. He organized a student association in the United Presbyterian college at Assiut in 1896. In 1893-94 an attempt to organize a YMCA in Cairo had been made, but it did not last longer than a year. Early in 1909 a YMCA was effectively launched, but this Association, created through local initiative, was restricted to British and American membership. The following year, in 1910, an Arabic-speaking branch was organized, largely by the British YMCA and the Church Missionary Society. The membership of this branch was primarily Coptic and Syrian Christians. The English national council did not have the means to support the Egyptian Association and in 1913, the American YMCA's International Committee began to assist. It brought in Cairo, Egypt's first resident secretary, William Mort Jessop.

Jessop was not in Egypt for long before the country became involved in World War I. Due to the British occupation Egypt sided with the Allies. Jessop worked devotedly with British troops, dedicating much of his time attempting to distract these troops from the temptations of the cities. He aspired to branch into different areas of Egypt, eventually creating an Army Branch in Alexandria for men on active service. Programs and services that he began in Egypt included communion services on Sundays, bible classes, cricket, football, tennis, and a rifle range. He also started lectures, Arabic and French classes, debate groups, a photography studio, socials and concerts, all for British or American men only. He served in Egypt until 1921 when it was decided that a change in management of the Egypt YMCA business affairs should be made. Wilbert B. Smith was brought in to handle this change in management, becoming the Senior Secretary of the YMCA in Egypt.

Drawing on his extensive experience in India, Smith quickly organized the Egyptian YMCA, including all of the men and funds coming from the English National Committee, under one North American senior secretary. While each city in Egypt had its own general committee, a central office coordinated certain aspects of the organization. Smith stressed the importance of inclusion in YMCA work and from the beginning pressed for the recruitment and training of Egyptian secretaries. He also extended his operations to Alexandria, feeling that both Cairo and Alexandria should have permanent associations in place. In Cairo he inspired the International Committee to purchase and renovate the former palace of an Egyptian Prime Minister for YMCA use. In Alexandria he opened the Anglo-American branch in 1921 and an Egyptian Branch with Muslim and Christian members in 1923. The Central Branch in Cairo also opened in 1923. Within 3 months it could report a membership of 320 Muslims, Christians and Jews.

When the YMCA began in Egypt, the country was under British control. British occupation began in 1882 and continued on until 1936. In 1921 Egypt was officially declared independent but certain functions were reserved to Britain. In 1922 a constitution was devised and nationalist sentiment grew. The nation highly identified itself with Islam and strove to make any Christian enterprise from abroad recognize this fact and adjust to it. Laws were put in place that ensured that all paperwork and documentation be written in Arabic and that a certain percent of jobs in the organization be filled by Egyptian citizens. Study of the Arabic language became a major concern for the secretaries of the YMCA in Egypt.

In the early 1930s the effects of the depression in the United States began to make themselves felt in Egypt. The Cairo Central Association gave much attention to finding work for members that were unemployed and undertook no further expansion during this time. Development was stunted in Assiut due to the delay in obtaining funds from America. Despite these difficulties the Assiut Association succeeded in raising its local budget, supporting its Egyptian Secretary and completing and dedicating its building by 1932.

Nationalist feelings continued to grow during the mid- to late-1930s, and the use of Egypt by British troops as a base for Allied operations during World War II exacerbated Egyptian discontent. In 1952 the "free officers" overthrew King Farouk, initiating the Egyptian Rebellion. Expecting immediate reforms, the workers started riots in Kafr Dawar. The existing Egyptian government then drafted a constitution and declared Egypt a republic in 1953. During this time of chaos and unrest the YMCA focused on community and leadership activities, and thus avoided being seen by the Egyptian government as a threat to the newly formed system of Arab Socialism within the country.

In 1959 the YMCA in Egypt began again to grow and develop. Several new building projects came into being during this time including, Mina and Abu Kurkas, Quesna, Port Said, Luxor, Shoubra El Kheima and Tema. The services available in each of these individual YMCAs varied depending on the needs of the communities. By 1976 Associations had formed in as many as 12 other cities and provincial towns along the Nile River. These YMCAs focused on youth work, day care programs, helping children of working mothers, medical services, inner-city work, vocational training, citizenship education, and physical education. Since 1967 leadership had been entirely in Egyptian hands and women were able to increasingly fill these leadership roles. The U.S. International Division provided a continuing liaison relationship with the Egyptian YMCA leaders.

As of 2012 the YMCA in Egypt was running strong with the Alexandria YMCA as the largest branch. At this time there were 18 branches throughout the country. Though these branches focused on working with the young people and the women of the country they also offered many different services to the diverse population of Egypt.

The following is a list of individuals who served as YMCA secretaries in Egypt along with their dates of service: