YWCA

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YWCA

Young Women's Christian Association
Founded	1855; 166 years ago (1855)
Founder	Mary Jane Kinnaird Emma Robarts
Founded at	London, United Kingdom
Headquarters	Geneva, Switzerland
Region	Worldwide
Website	www.worldywca.org www.ywca.org (US) www.ywcaindia.org (India)

The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) is a movement working for the empowerment, leadership and rights of women, young women and girls in more than 100 countries. The members and supporters include women from many different faiths, ages, backgrounds, beliefs and cultures. Their common goal is that

[B]y 2035, 100 million young women and girls will transform power structures to create justice, gender equality and a world without violence and war; leading a sustainable YWCA movement, inclusive of all women.^[1]

The World office is currently based in Geneva, Switzerland.

The YWCA is independent of the YMCA, but a few local YMCA and YWCA associations have merged into YM/YWCAs or YMCA-YWCAs and belong to both organizations, while providing the programmes of each.

Priorities[]

Although the YWCA is often associated with hostels and fitness centres, the World YWCA is a human rights-based organization that provides support and opportunities for women and girls to connect, mobilize, and inspire each other to take action for women’s rights and gender equality.

Leadership[]

As a global movement that engages with and mobilizes women and girls, the World YWCA is committed to progressive, community-based leadership. The World YWCA takes a collaborative, intergenerational approach that centers young women’s leadership.

Human Rights and Women Rights[]

The World YWCA’s work hinges on a commitment to human rights-based, feminist, faith and intersectional leadership that is inclusive, grounded in local communities, and grassroots-driven. The global YWCA movement has long emphasized a gender and human rights approach, and tackled issues in support of gender equality and human rights. YWCAs work to secure access to sexual and reproductive health and rights through comprehensive sexuality education and programming, safe spaces, health services, & training. YWCAs also provide support to victim survivors and at risk individuals through crisis, health, housing, and legal services, safe spaces, and advocacy.

Faith[]

Founded by women from Christian traditions and inspired by core principles of faith that recognize the equal value of all human beings, the YWCA has a powerful faith-based, grassroots history. There is a wide range of YWCA associations: some are ecumenical, while others are entirely secular organizations. The World YWCA works with a range of multi-faith leaders and ecumenical partners, secular organizations, governments.

Events[]

YWCA Week Without Violence[]

Each year during the third week of October, YWCAs worldwide focus on raising awareness to end violence against women and girls.

YWCA Week of Prayer[]

Starting in 1904, the World YWCA and the World Alliance of YMCAs have issued a joint call to prayer during the Week of Prayer and World Fellowship. During this week, the two movements pray and act together on a particular theme in solidarity with members and partners around the world. The week-long event is a Bible study based on that year's theme.

World YWCA Day[]

In 1948, World YWCA's Observance Day was born, to help each member see how she could act locally in relation to the theme for the year. Some chosen themes for the Observance Day have been: My Faith and My Work, My Place in the World, My Contribution to World Peace, I Confront a Changing World, Toward One World and My Task in Family Life Today. In 1972, the event name was changed to World YWCA Day, and the date of celebration for World YWCA Day became April 24.

Governance Structure[]

The World Board is the governing body of the World YWCA, and includes representatives from all regions of the global YWCA movement. The World Council is the legislative authority and governing body of the World YWCA. The 20 women who serve on the World Board are elected during the World Council, which meets every four years to make decisions that impact the entire movement. This includes the World YWCA’s policy, constitution, strategic direction, and budgets. The Council includes representatives from the 100+ member associations that are affiliated with the global YWCA movement.

History[]

The YWCA can trace its history back to 1855 when the philanthropist Lady Mary Jane Kinnaird founded the North London Home for nurses travelling to or from the Crimean War.^[2] They addressed the needs of single women arriving from rural areas to join the industrial workforce in London, by offering housing, education and support with a "warm Christian atmosphere". Kinnaird's organisation merged with the Prayer Union started by evangelist Emma Robarts in 1877.^[2]

In 1884, the YWCA was restructured. Until then, London had had almost a separate organisation, but there was now one YWCA organisation. Beneath this there were separate staffs and Presidents for London, England and Wales, Scotland, Ireland, "Foreign" and Colonial and Missionary. This organisation distributed Christian texts and literature, but it also interviewed young women in an effort to improve living conditions. In 1884, they were working amongst Scottish fisherwomen, publishing their own magazine and operating a ladies' restaurant in London.^[2]

The World YWCA was founded in 1894, with USA, Great Britain, Norway and Sweden as its founding mothers.

The first world conference of the YWCA was held in 1898 in London, with 326 participants from 77 countries from around the world.^[3]

Early 20th Century[]

In the beginning of the 20th century, a profound shift began within the YWCA. While industrialization had been a founding concern of the association, it had sought primarily to insulate women morally and socially from urban life. During the 1910 World YWCA conference in Berlin, however, the voices of thousands of working women from the United States were heard, and these objectives began to change. A resolution was passed requiring the association to study social and industrial problems, and to educate working women about the "social measures and legislation enacted in their behalf."^[4]

Until 1930, the headquarters of the World YWCA were in London. The executive committee was entirely British, with an American General Secretary. This policy resulted in a resolutely Anglo-Saxon lens through which the association viewed the world. In 1930, however, the World YWCA headquarters were moved to Geneva, Switzerland, the same city as the newly formed League of Nations. This was symbolic of the drive to become a more diverse association, and also to co-operate fully with other organizations in Geneva (such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and the YMCA).^{[citation needed]}

World War II[]

The Second World War both strengthened the YWCAs of the world and left its mark. Many of its members found it necessary to choose between their conscience and the safety of themselves and their families. In several countries, particularly in Eastern Europe, YWCAs were suppressed and disbanded. Throughout occupied Europe, however, women worked relentlessly to construct support systems for their neighbors and refugees, often with exceedingly limited resources.^[5]

Shortly after the end of the war, the YWCA worked to fortify the bonds of women throughout the world by holding the first World Council meeting in nearly a decade in Hangzhou in 1947. This was significant in being the first World Council held outside of the West, and further voiced the desire to be an inclusive, worldwide movement.^[5] It also served to bring together women who lived in countries that had been enemies during the war, and to raise awareness among the western YWCAs that the ruin of war was not limited to Europe.

During the following decades, the World YWCA spent much time researching and working with the issues of refugees, health, HIV and AIDS, literacy, the human rights of women and girls, the advancement of women and the eradication of poverty; mutual service, sustainable development and the environment; education and youth, peace and disarmament, and young women's leadership. These issues continue to play an integral role in the World YWCA movement.

YWCAs around the world[]

As a global movement that engages women and girls from across backgrounds, beliefs and cultures, YWCA has a presence in over 100 countries across eight regions, with over 130,000 volunteer leaders in thousands of local communities across the globe.^[6]

Around the world, YWCAs vary in size and programming. Many YWCAs operate as independent entities at the local level, and belong to their country’s national YWCA body as part of a federated, membership-based model. The YWCA movement is grounded in local communities, with programs led by and for women in response to the unique needs that they see in their communities.

Europe[]

The European YWCA includes national YWCAs in Belarus, Denmark, Great Britain, Norway, Romania, and more. The European YWCA is a regional legally registered body, serving as an umbrella organization for the national YWCAs around the European continent.

Middle East[]

The YWCAs of the Middle East region are in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine.

Africa[]

There are over 20 national YWCAs serving communities across the Africa region, including in Burkina Faso, Malawi, South Africa, and Togo.

Asia[]

YWCA has a presence in a number of countries in Asia, including Bangladesh, China, India, Korea, Nepal, Taiwan, and Thailand. Sophia Cooke established of the Young Women's Christian Association in Singapore in 1875.^[7]

Pacific[]

National YWCAs in the Pacific region include New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Samoa. In 1878 Dunedin activists established the first YWCA in the southern hemisphere.^[8] The YWCA branch in Christchurch was established in 1883 to support visitations to the sick; and, in 1885 Auckland's chapter started up with a strong focus on providing a clean and properly supervised living space for working girls.^[9] YWCA Australia dates back to 1880, when the first YWCA in the country was established in Sydney to help migrant women.

North America[]

In North America, YWCA has a presence in the United States and Canada. YWCA USA was founded in 1858 and today has over 200 member associations, serving over 2 million women, girls, and their families. YWCA USA is one of the largest provider of domestic violence programs and shelters in the United States. YWCA Canada dates back to 1870. Today, YWCA Canada has over 30 member associations, serving 1 million women, girls, and their families.

YWCA USA is headquartered in Washington, DC.^[10] Previously its headquarters were in the Empire State Building in New York City.^[11]

Caribbean[]

National YWCAs in the Caribbean region include Barbados, Grenada, Haiti, and Trinidad & Tobago.

Latin America[]

YWCAs of Latina America include Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Honduras.

Leadership since 1855[]

Past Presidents

Name	Country	Year
Mrs. J. Herbert Tritton	United Kingdom	1898–1902
Mrs. George Campbell	United Kingdom	1902–1906
Miss Mary Morley	United Kingdom	1906–1910
Mrs. J. Herbert Tritton	United Kingdom	1910–1914
The Hon. Mrs. Montague Weldgrave	United Kingdom	1914–1924
The Rt. Hon. The Baroness Parmoor	United Kingdom	1924–1928
The Hon. Mrs. Montague Weldgrave	United Kingdom	1928–1930
Miss C. M. Van Asch Van Wijck	Netherlands	1930–1938
Miss Ruth Rouse	United Kingdom	1938–1946
Miss C. M. Van Asch Van Wijck	Netherlands	1946–1947
Miss Lilace Reid Barnes	USA	1947–1955
The Hon. Isabel Catto	United Kingdom	1955–1963
Dr. Una B. Porter	Australia	1963–1967
Mrs. Athena Athanassiou	Greece	1967–1975
Dame Nita Barrow	Barbados	1975–1983
Mrs. Ann Northcote	Canada	1983–1987
Dr. Jewel Freeman Graham	USA	1987–1991
Mrs. Razia Ismail Abbasi	India	1991–1995
Mrs. Anita Andersson	Sweden	1995–1999
Ms. Jane Lee Wolfe	USA	1999–2003
Ms Mónica Zetzsche	Argentina	2003–2007
Susan Brenan	Australia	2007-2011
Deborah Thomas-Austin	Trinidad and Tobago	2011–2019
Mira Rizeq	Palestine	2019 – present

Past General Secretaries

Name	Country	Year
Miss Annie Reynolds	USA	1894–1904
Miss Clarissa Spencer	USA	1904–1920
Miss Charlotte T. Niven	USA	1920–1935
Miss Ruth Woodsmall	USA	1935–1947
Miss Helen Roberts	United Kingdom	1947–1955
Miss Elizabeth Palmer	USA	1955–1978
Miss Erica Brodie	New Zealand	1978–1982
Mrs. Ruth Sovik	USA	1982–1985
Miss Ellen Clark (acting)	USA	1985–1986
Mrs. Genevieve Jacques (acting)	France	1986–1987
Mrs. Elaine Hesse Steel	New Zealand	1987–1997
Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro	Kenya	1998–2007
Mrs. Nyaradzai Gumbonzvanda	Zimbabwe	2007–2016
Ms. Malayah Harper	Canada	2016–2019
Mrs. Casey Harden	USA	2019 – present

Partners[]

As a movement that values collaboration and centers young women's leadership, the World YWCA is involved and is a part of the Big Six Alliance of Youth Organisations (World Alliance of Young Men’s Christian Associations, World Young Women’s Christian Association, World Organization of the Scout Movement, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation). It is also a member of Accountable Now, ACT Alliance, and has consultative status with ECOSOC of the United Nations. World YWCA works in partnership with a number of ecumenical players (World Council of Churches, Lutheran World Federation, etc.) and a number of international institutional and government donors.

Bibliography[]

• Mary S. Sims, The YWCA: An Unfolding Purpose (New York: Woman's Press, 1950)
• Mary S. Sims, The Purpose Widens, 1947-1967 (New York: YWCA, 1969)
• Anna Rice, A History of the World’s Young Women’s Christian Association (New York: Woman's Press 1947)
• Karen Garner, Global Feminism and Postwar Reconstruction: The World YWCA Visitation to Occupied Japan, 1947
• Carole Seymour-Jones, Journey of Faith: The History of the World YWCA 1945-1994 (London: Allison & Busby 1994)
• Dorothea Browder, A Christian Solution of the Labor Situation: How Workingwomen Reshaped the YWCA's Religious Mission and Politics (Journal of Women's History, Vol. 19, Summer 2007)
• List of other YWCA articles

Archives[]

• Young Women's Christian Association (University of Washington) Records. 1903-1982. 50.6 cubic feet. At the Labor Archives of Washington, University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.
• Young Women's Christian Association of Canada fonds at Library and Archives Canada.^[12] The archival reference number is R4957. 1870-1991. 26.1 meters of textual records;1045 photographs (chiefly b&w); 7 audio discs (ca. 3 h, 11 min.); 9 architectural drawings; 5 crests and pennants; 2 printing blocks, linocut, photomechanical cut; 1 print photo-mechanical; 1 award plexiglass; 12 audio reels (ca. 11 h, 35 min); 7 audio cassettes (ca. 7 h, 30 min.); 7 film reels (ca. 3 h).^[13]

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to YWCA.

• World YWCA official website
• YWCA Canada official website
• YWCA USA official website
• Catalogue of the British YWCA archives, held at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick
• YWCA of the U.S.A. Records, 1855-,Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College.