YWCA Kottayam ACTION FOCUS

Action Focus

YWCA is an embodiment of social service through volunteers who are its members. In addition to providing ample of opportunities and avenues for the empowerment of its volunteers and its work on social and cultural changes, YWCA of Kottayam respond to current needs by offering a variety of service oriented programmes to facilitate the development of self-reliance and independence in young women, the deprived and the marginalized through its committees. YWCA of Kottayam is also concerned about the degradation of quality of life and environment, global warming, black carbon deposits, air pollution and climate change issues that have implications on existence and survival of humanity in general and women in specific. The Committees of YWCA of Kottayam undertake long term and short term programmes to realize its vision and accomplish its mission.


	At the core of all its efforts is to: 1. Build Socio Economic, Political Empowerment, Gender Equality, Self esteem and Justice for women In order to achieve the core objective of empowerment and development of women to enable them to make informed choices about their lives, YWCA of Kottayam adopts a multi pronged approach that includes:


	Awareness Generation & Information Dissemination regarding	Provision of Support Systems like	Planning & Participate in Campaign and Intervention Programmes to		Organization & Execution of Development Services like


	• Woman and Human rights • Legal Procedures in aid of women in distress– where to go, what to do to use llaws • All forms of Oppression • Reasons for Oppression • Health, Nutrition, Reproductive Rights • Environment and Quality of Life a. Methods – Training, Educational Workshops, Form Commitees in Schools


	• Shelter Home for Destitute Women, Children & Aged • Rehabilitation Centers • Counseling Therapy - Crisis Centers • Marketing Outlets of Products, eg. Cooperatives • Child Guidance Centers • Networking to build Solidarity with and for the Under privileged


	• Raise Public Awareness on Vision of YWCA of Kottayam • Fight patriarchal Structure and Fundamentalism • Protest Child Labor • Raise Social Awareness on Gender Equality • Attack Anti women Media Portrayals • Initiate Network with and for Women • Set up Committees to Address all Forms of Violence


	• Literacy Need based Education • Training Programmes to Develop Socio Political Cultural Awareness and Empowerment • Anti Poverty Programmes • Leadership Development • Value Education Programmes

Long term and Short term Programmes
Programmes based on each of these approaches are chalked out by YWCA of Kottayam through its committees and these are subsequently approved by the Board and then translated into action. On the one hand, long term programmes cover health, literacy, counseling, emergency shelters, legal aid, rehabilitation, centre for senior citizens, vocational training, social activism (advocacy) for women empowerment political/social/economic/legal, domestic violence, gender relations, child rights, environment protection and so on. On the other hand short term programmes cover seminars, workshops, conferences, dialogues, consultation networking on various issues of social relevance and significance like women concerns literacy, remedial education, health, leadership and so on. Programmes lay emphasis on advocacy, lobbying, networking and removal of all forms of discrimination, violence and awareness dissemination through voluntary organizations and women development centers, research and documentation, audio visual media and street theatre.

Networking with YWCAs and Other Voluntary and Government Organizations
YWCA of Kottayam networks with local YWCA in Kerala and other Regions and with YWCA of India and other organizations in Kottayam, Kerala state and India on a wide variety of issues of concern to women and girl children and in support of the mission of national and world YWCA.