The ECyD is an international organization of Catholic teenagers committed to following Christ’s example and bearing witness to charity, sincerity, friendship, purity, and generosity.

Since the early 1960s, with the Cruzados de Cristo Rey, the Legionaries had attempted to establish an organization in Mexico City specifically dedicated to teenagers, but it did not prosper. However, around 1970, they renewed their efforts, motivated by the positive experiences of the early steps of Regnum Christi. In 1971, the first incorporations into ECyD took place. The acronym stands for Educación, Cultura y Deporte (Education, Culture, and Sports), summarizing the three main areas of activity offered to adolescents. The operational base for activities in each ECyD center was called a “club.”

The launch of ECyD quickly became a major focus for both Regnum Christi sections and many Legionary religious. This led to the establishment of numerous clubs in different cities between 1972 and 1973.

The first clubs in Spain were San Pablo in Salamanca (February 1972) and Everest in Madrid (May 1973). In Mexico, they were Faro in Monterrey and Kilimanjaro in Mexico City (September 1972). Italy also saw the foundation of a club, Vetta in Rome (January 1973). In July 1974, the First International ECyD Convention was held in Ontaneda, Spain, with the participation of 54 teenagers from Spain, Mexico, Ireland, and Italy. They gathered to discuss the theme: Christ’s challenge to modern youth. Sports and cultural clubs multiplied rapidly.

To further train and inspire young people, additional activities such as summer camps and various associations were introduced. ECyD quickly spread to the United States, where the acronym was translated as Education, Culture, and Youth Development, adding the concept of youth development to its mission.