Futures-focused with flexibility in a changing world
Cymru Global’s strategy sets out our long-term direction to 2075. It is grounded in Wales’ internationalist heritage and shaped for a rapidly changing world.
Our purpose is to learn, collaborate and act for peace, social and climate justice, building a nation of global citizens. We connect the people of Cymru to each other and the world to help shape a fair, peaceful and healthy planet.
Our strategy looks 50 years ahead so we can think beyond short cycles, respond to global challenges and remain flexible in how we deliver our work.
Responding to a changing world
The world is experiencing great change: shifting international political dynamics, technological advances, the highest global conflict levels since 1945, domestic political divisions and climate change.
There is a growing need to build communities of practice and support, provide space for difficult conversations, build peace and learning, and foster active hope.
In responding to global challenges, Cymru has a long history of action for peace. We saw great actions for peace, such as the first Youth Message of Peace and Goodwill in 1922, the 1922 launch of the Welsh Education Advisory Committee to develop ‘the world’s first global citizenship curriculum’, the 1923-24 Women’s Peace Petition and the Churches’ Appeal of 1925.
The 390,296 women of Cymru who signed Yr Apêl called for concrete action to ensure a peaceful world with the aim of “[handing] down to the generations which come after us, the proud heritage of a warless world”.
100 years later, we continue looking into the future and working to create a world fit for those who follow us. In Cymru we look “to protect those who haven’t yet been born… [as] the only country in the world with a Well-being of Future Generations Act” including a focus on global responsibility, so closely linked to our work.
This spirit of global citizenship, learning and international solidarity still guides us today. Our work aims to continue Cymru’s legacy of building connections and have a positive impact on the global challenges we all face.
New chapter, new name
Founded in 1973 as the Welsh Centre for International Affairs (WCIA), our organisation grew from Wales’ internationalist traditions and the founding of the Temple of Peace and Health in 1938.
Over time, WCIA merged with:
- United Nations Association Wales
- Council for Education and World Citizenship
- UNA Exchange
In 2025, following engagement with stakeholders across Wales and the world, we became Cymru Global. The new name reflects our role in strengthening the links between Cymru and the world.
Our strategy continues this legacy while setting direction for the decades ahead.
Our 3 Strategic Pillars
Our work is built work around our 3 strategic pillars, the foundations of our work
By tuning into global issues, we enable the people of Cymru to connect with the world and each other. Through our community, volunteering and educational programmes, we bring together a breadth and diversity of people and organisations, both locally and globally, to help create change across the world.
We provide safe, welcoming and thought-provoking spaces to explore new ways forward with hope and confidence. By sparking important conversations, we create opportunities for everyone to have a seat at the table and be part of the solutions to many of the most important issues of our time. This creates opportunities for authentic listening, ideas sharing and tangible action in a way that’s free from barriers or bias.
Partnership is at the heart of our organisation. We firmly believe that everyone has valuable thoughts, skills and solutions to give and this is what drives our passion for collaboration and connection. By bringing together like-minded people in Cymru and across the world, we act as the link to a unique community of people and partners that are grounded in shared values and united by a shared commitment to positive change.
We listen closely, support each other openly and inspire cooperation, unlocking our collective potential to shape policies and enable progress towards peace, human rights, social and climate justice.
We’re here to enable tangible, positive change. By shifting mindsets into action, we bring together communities to give everyone the chance to help make a difference in Cymru and the wider world. It’s this that drives every aspect of our work, and is a natural part of all our partnerships, projects, events and programmes.
We believe in the power of connection, hope and collaboration to turn ideas into action, and inspire participation so everyone has the opportunity to contribute to a fairer, more peaceful & healthier planet.
Our 3 Values
Our values are the beliefs that guide our actions
We embrace different perspectives with open minds and open hearts. We seek out different ideas, welcome new solutions and ask questions, using critical thinking and reflection, to form our conclusions and guide our actions. We encourage authentic conversations and genuine debate, no matter how challenging. Thriving in our diversity and learning from our differences, we’re bound together with our community by a common purpose.
Kindness runs deep within our core.
We believe this is what brings real, positive change. We care deeply and unconditionally for one another and foster a trusting, inclusive culture where everyone feels heard and valued.
Kindness to people and planet is at the heart of everything we do.
Solidarity is, and has always been, a core part of our story. Since 1938, solidarity has enabled us to make a positive difference in times of war by providing sanctuary and working side by side with those who share our values and purpose. We act with warmth, respect, empathy and understanding. We’re not afraid to stand up to the status quo. We’re unified in our approach and actions, gaining courage and strength from each other and working together towards a fairer, more peaceful and healthier world.
Our strategy shows how we turn ideas into action
Our vision for 2075: the world we want to see
In 2075, Cymru is big with hope as a hub of global citizenship. We craft and act on ambitious ideas that address the greatest challenges of the time.
We are living in a Cymru where people and planet thrive in balance, in an inclusive society which prides itself on equity of opportunity.
From the Temple of Peace and Health, through people and places across the country and worldwide, we are shaping a Cymru where we discuss and exchange knowledge, practice, learning and ideas, continuing our work on peace, climate and social justice.
Strategy 2025-2030
Five years of action towards 2075
Our 50-year vision is delivered through shorter periods of focused action.
The period 2025–2030 sets the direction for the next phase of Cymru Global’s work. During this time, we focus on strengthening partnerships, deepening community connections and supporting practical action across our areas of work.
This approach allows us to remain responsive to global change while keeping our long-term vision in sight.
Our areas of work
Our strategy is delivered through five interconnected areas of work. These reflect Wales’ internationalist heritage and today’s global realities, enabling people in Cymru to engage with global challenges and contribute to positive change.
At Cymru Global, we’re proud to host Climate Cymru, an active movement of around 400 organisations and thousands of individuals across the country. United by a shared mission to campaign for climate justice and a net zero, nature positive nation. Together with these like-minded businesses, innovators, community groups and educators, we’re working to drive collective action to address the climate and nature emergencies and build a better society.
Our strength lies in our diversity, combining scientific knowledge with grassroots wisdom to create meaningful change. Together, we’re building more than a movement, we’re putting Cymru at the heart of global change and taking action to shape a better future for communities here across the globe.
Our objective is to:
Create the conditions where urgent, fair climate action is happening and where positive transformation is possible.
We will work towards this objective by:
- Building a powerful, diverse and engaged movement through Climate Cymru with the principles of community, collaboration & connection, recognising interconnection, shifting power in society, and the movement, and bringing value to the movement
- Demanding and inspiring climate action
- Changing narratives: helping the people of Cymru understand the extraordinary potential for climate action, to improve people’s lives and solve a wide range of interconnected issues.
Over the years, our programmes and purpose have diversified in response to the dynamic shifts in Cymru and the world. This has enabled us to work with domestic and international communities, in schools and youth spaces, with decision and policy makers, and adults and higher education, collaborating to make the world better and ensure all voices are heard.
Today, our programmes focus on developing curiosity about the world and enabling learners to take that first step in asking questions and finding out more, in a safe environment. We support learners to connect to their communities, celebrate cynefin and heritage, and speak honestly about their experiences of the world to learn about international communities with empathy and respect. Importantly, we work with everyone to imagine solutions for a better world, empowering our participants to build relationships and work towards solutions, ensuring an outward facing Cymru that shines for all.
Our objective is to:
Promote and support opportunities for global learning, from first steps in engagement to informed and ethical citizenship practice.
We will work towards this objective, engage in formal and informal learning spaces by:
Evidencing growth in empowerment, hope for the future and confidence in knowledge gained.
- Developing empathetic communities across Cymru and the world, with safe spaces to learn from each other and build diverse relationships: looking outwards to develop communities
- Celebrating multiple identities and championing rights, working across generations and cultures and towards a shared future: looking inwards to develop the self
- Growing spaces of curiosity and communication, where we can learn and speak honestly about complex issues, be intellectually humble, and develop skills in debate and respectful disagreement: asking questions and negotiating solutions
- Imagining better futures through creative approaches to problems, and taking action with hope and patience to build a fairer world
Our work is strongly rooted in Wales’ long heritage of grassroots internationalism, and our guardianship of Wales’ National Temple of Peace and Health. Founded in 1938 as Wales’ memorial to the fallen of WW1, and opened on the eve of WW2, the Temple was built to ‘drive’ a national mission for Wales to build a better world for future generations – through the League of Nations, United Nations and international cooperation. Learning from and building on our heritage remains as relevant now as ever.
“A ‘Temple of Peace’ is more than bricks and mortar. It is the realisation of the hopes and dreams of generations… for a world free from the scourge of war, free from the scourge of disease. Free to foster friendship with our fellow human kind; to Unite the Nations of our world as one, to shape our shared futures – together. And to never… never again forget the human cost of waging war before law; of ignoring internationalism… our common humanity.”
Gwilym Davies, Welsh League of Nations Union
Our objective is by:
Reaching out from the Temple of Peace and Health, we ensure our internationalist heritage is accessible to all people and places across Cymru and the world.
We will work towards this objective by:
- Building awareness of the Temple of Peace and Health, increasing diverse usage of the building: as a civil and civic venue, arts and cultural space and multi-functioning community hub – connecting users to the history & heritage of the building
- Celebrating the Temple of Peace and Health, we work on restoring the building to preserve and conserve it for current and future generations: facilitating access by removing barriers to usage and enhancing everyone’s experiences
- Increasing access to Temple Tours and our peace and internationalist archives, thereby contributing to building Cymru as a Nation of Peace through its past, present and future work
- Developing a wider range of partnership activities that increase public usage and engagement with the Temple to spark curiosity and learning, with spaces for community conversations on global citizenship, peace, climate and nature: reaching across Cymru and worldwide
Peace Education:
Our peace education work supports people of all ages to deepen their understanding of the multiple facets of peace and bring about change in their communities and the wider world. Participation and partnership is a central tenet of all our work with schools, communities and adult learning. We develop learning resources and training around peace heritage, social and emotional wellbeing and peer mediation, as well as holding peace conferences and celebrating the achievements of young people through the Peacemaker Awards.
Academi Heddwch Cymru:
As one of our key programmes and as the UK’s first peace institute, Academi Heddwch Cymru is Wales’s national peace institute, uniting the WCIA, all of Cymru’s universities, the peace movement and national institutions in the pursuit of peace. It coordinates the best academic minds and experts from across Cymru, whilst offering ways for everyone to take action. It’s this collaboration that’s helping to place peace firmly on our national agenda. Part of a global network of peace institutes, Academi Heddwch enables the vital conversations, crucial solutions and tangible action needed to extend Cymru’s strong tradition of peace-making and peace-promotion and help create change across the world.
Our objective is to:
Work to deepen our understanding, build our ties and strengthen our role in Wales and the world in peace and peacebuilding for people across all stages of life.
We will work towards this objective by:
- Building a nation of peacemakers and peace builders through peace education by deepening people’s knowledge, critical and creative thinking skills around peace and conflict resolution
- Recognising Cymru’s global role as a Nation of Peace through Cymru’s peace heritage and Academi Heddwch Cymru
- Growing the work and reach of the Academi Heddwch Cymru which helps Cymru make an internationally recognised contribution to peace research and practice
- Ensuring public engagement on peace research, learning and practice in Cymru
Volunteering across Cymru and the world with Cymru Global is a chance to be part of something meaningful: connecting with people, learning new skills, and taking action for a fairer, more peaceful, and healthier world. Our programmes are shaped by the belief that everyone has something to give — and something to gain. From youth ambassadors to climate campaigns, heritage projects to global exchanges, we create safe, inclusive spaces for people of all backgrounds to contribute, grow and lead.
We don’t ask for experience, just curiosity, care and a willingness to learn. We aim to make sure that international exchange and volunteering work for everyone and is open and accessible to all. Fostering a sense of belonging, growth, and shared purpose among all who take part.
Our objective is to:
Provide quality, inclusive and varied opportunities for all the people of Cymru and welcoming people from around the world to Cymru to act together on global issues, build knowledge, appreciate difference and foster mutual understanding to grow communities of global citizens. By offering engaging volunteering opportunities across Cymru Global, this will empower people of Cymru to take action on issues that matter to them and strengthen every area of the organisation.
We will work towards this objective by:
- Ensuring and openly promoting international volunteering and exchange to (young) people of all backgrounds across Cymru and developing international communities
- Ensuring the voice of Cymru is represented and heard on local, national and international level so that all people of Cymru benefit from the positive impact of international exchange in Cymru and abroad
- Expanding the growing grassroots movement of volunteers taking action for climate justice
- Growing the Friends of the Temple into a nationwide movement built on the legacy of the Welsh League of Nations 100 years ago
- Building on the success of the Youth, Peace and Climate Ambassadors to expand our support for youth-led programmes