Our story
Our Story
The story of Cymru Global is rooted in hope, connection, and the belief that people in Cymru can play a part in shaping a better world.
Founded as a Charitable Trust in 1973, our work is built on origins that stretch back to the aftermath of the First World War, when communities in Wales first came together with a vision for peace and international cooperation.
The story of Cymru Global is rooted in hope, connection, and the belief that people in Cymru can play a part in shaping a better world. A charity founded in 1973 as the Welsh Centre for International Affairs (WCIA), we hold a unique place in Wales and Welsh history. Our work is built on our origins that stretch back to the aftermath of the First World War and the founding of the Temple of Peace and Health in Cardiff in 1938.
The Temple was built to commemorate the tragedy of war, and to promote peace and health through international cooperation. Since its foundation, when communities in Wales came together with this vision for peace and international cooperation, the Temple has been a home for internationalists trying to create a better world. This work gave rise to the creation of the WCIA which, over time, merged with three other organisations: the United Nations Association Wales (UNA Wales), the Council for Education and World Citizenship (CEWC) and UNA Exchange to create the organisation we know today.
In 2025, following engagement with stakeholders across Wales and the world, we renamed ourselves from the Welsh Centre of International Affairs to Cymru Global. It is an important moment in the history of the organisation, positioning us to take our work forward, as we continue and grow the links that Cymru has to the world, and the world has to Cymru.
The world is experiencing great change: shifting international political dynamics, technological advances, the highest global conflict levels since 1945, domestic political divisions across parts of the world and climate change. There is a need to build communities of practice and support, provide space for difficult conversations, build peace and learning, and foster active hope.
Our work aims to continue Cymru’s legacy of building connections and have a positive impact on the global challenges we all face.
1918
Building peace from the ashes of war
As the First World War ended, communities across Cymru began asking how they could help prevent such devastation from ever happening again. At the 1918 National Eisteddfod in Neath, David Davies MP — once a soldier, now a passionate advocate for peace — called for the creation of a Welsh League of Nations Union, giving Cymru a voice in the movement for international cooperation. Over the years that followed, ordinary people across Wales joined the cause, including the 390,296 women who signed the 1923 Welsh Women’s Peace Petition, one of the most powerful acts of solidarity in our history.
1938
The Temple of Peace
The dream of peace found a permanent home in 1938, when the Temple of Peace and Health opened its doors in Cardiff. Built as a place for dialogue, remembrance, and international cooperation, every detail of its design carries meaning. The Temple remains at the heart of Cymru Global’s work today, and a symbol of Cymru’s enduring commitment to peace.
1973
Welsh Centre for International Affairs is born
Over the decades, the peace movement in Cymru evolved through organisations like CEWC (Council for Education in World Citizenship) and UNA Exchange. In 1973, the Welsh Centre for International Affairs (Cymru Global) was formally established as a Charitable Trust, bringing these strands together to help people learn, connect, and act on global issues.
Today
A community of global citizens
Today, Cymru Global continues this legacy as a charity rooted in community, learning, and action. From peace heritage to climate justice, from education to global partnerships, we bring people together to explore the big issues of our time, and to find ways of making a difference, here in Cymru and across the world.
