World Young Womens Christian Assoc

Programs: World YWCA programmes and global work contribute to advancing advocacy on women's reproductive health and rights, leadership training of individual women and development, and addressing the issue of violence against women - in 125 countries. Work supported through the World YWCA has:

Addressed women’s rights:

At the 2010 United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), the World YWCA had the largest delegation ever– 49 women from 19 YWCAs. Many women attended CSW independently as members of national delegations or representing other organisations, but they came together as YWCA women and were involved in over 100 events. Highlights included hosting an Intergenerational Conversation on sexual and reproductive health and rights, HIV and AIDS and violence against women, and presenting a panel on peace with justice, where the YWCA's of Sudan, Palestine and Sri Lanka shared their work, stories and impressions on progress. A Young Women's Caucus was co-facilitated by the YWCA, and the World YWCA Resolutions Committee proposed and influenced the CSW wording of the resolutions on young women’s concerns. The YWCA was seen everywhere. As one YWCA member put it: “the YWCA was highly visible, credible and diverse in all our presentations”.

Provided leadership opportunities and capacity building:

In 2009-2010, the World YWCA convened Regional Training Institutes (RTIs) in the Caribbean, Africa and Asia and the Pacific under the theme “Women Creating Safe and Secure Communities”. A total of 286 YWCA members, including 83 young women, joined one of the RTI in 2009, contributing to the long-term visioning of the movement, by developing regional strategies on sexual and reproductive health and rights, HIV and AIDS and violence against women. In all RTIs, the power of young women leaders was evident. A Young Women Leaders Dialogue pre meeting allowed young women to discuss in a safe place their issues of concern and develop recommendations for the regional strategies. In 2010, RTIs will be held in Europe, Middle East and Latin America.

Built the Skills of Young Women:

Funding also supported 38 young women from 18 member associations from the Asia and Pacific region to meet in Melbourne, Australia for the “Our Bodies, Our Rights: Young Women Leading Change in Asia Pacific” conference in December 2009. Participants took part in skills sessions and a panel on ' Reaching out to Vulnerable Communities' engaged them in dialogue with women working with sex workers, injecting drug users and young women living with HIV. “I think the change has to begin with me. I have to begin the initiative. I cannot wait for others because it is my responsibility. I am responsible for the girls and women in my community,” said Sarah Arumugam from the YWCA of Sri Lanka at the end of the leadership training.