World & National YWCA
Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) is a global
movement that started way back in 1855 as a Prayer Circle in
London, i.e., much before the concept of ‘Global Village
– Our Common Future’ emerged in the late 1980s.
Soon after, the Prayer Circle became a YWCA – Young Women’s
Christian Association which came to be known as World YWCA -
A Global Movement.
World YWCA is the largest membership based women’s
organization and it unites and speaks for more than 25 million
women involved in YWCA work in over 90 countries including
India where there are over 62 local YWCAs. Some of the local
YWCAs in India date back to 1875.
Of all the various international organizations, the YWCA
has the longest history of training, advocating and supporting
social and economic development of women.
Aims of World YWCA of India
- To develop and unite National Associations and extend
the work of YWCA in new areas of the world
- To develop programmes to support and meet educational,
spiritual and recreational needs of women
- To work for removal of barriers and to create understanding
between nations, races and social
- To provide channels of communication, through network,
written material and other means like electronic media,
for countries to work on common goals
About National YWCA of India
In 1875 an organized YWCA came into being in Bombay. In 1878
YWCA of Poona, Patna and Calcutta were established. Following
these, YWCA of Madras, Ceylon, Hyderabad, Kandy, Lahore and
Simla took shape. In 1894 the World YWCA was established.
In 1895 YWCA of India, Burma and Ceylon were formed. National
YWCA was formally set up in India in 1896 as an outcome of
the resolution drawn by 99 branches that attended the first
National Conference held on December 20 – 31, 1896.
National YWCA became affiliated to World YWCA in1897. YWCA
of India, Burma, Ceylon and Pakistan were affiliated to the
world YWCA as separate National Associations in 1951.
In the words of Madam Susan Mathai, National President, YWCA
of India
“Our experience as a YWCA movement which
has worked in the voluntary sector for over 100 years leads
us to believe that voluntarism has an important role in building
civil society. The challenge today is to mobilize like minded
people to play an effective role in working for a society
that is just and humane and upholds democratic values. In
the social, economic, political and communal upheavals of
the times, there is need for people with vision to work for
the transformation of society” (November 2000).
Basis
Faith in God, the Father Almighty, and Jesus
Christ, His only Son, our Lord and Saviour, and in the Holy
Spirit.
Objectives of National YWCA (YWCA of India)
National YWCA was formed in 1896 by local YWCAs even though
it was at work in India since 1875. The specific objectives
of National YWCA include:
• To Promote physical, mental and spiritual development
of its membership and to encourage and train them for service
• To meet needs of women and girls through programmes
and service projects
• To generate awareness on issues of national interest
and concerns specially affecting women
• To promote interaction, understanding through concrete
projects, study programmes and so on to lessen tension and
develop good will among women in different countries
• To facilitate membership from all walks of life without
distinction of caste, colour and creed
• To train leaders and develop awareness of social responsibility
YWCA of India is divided into Six
Regions;
namely, Head Quarters, North Region, East Region, West Region,
South East Region and South West Region.
All the YWCAs in Kerala come under South
West (SW) Region. Vice President of South West
Region of YWCAs is Prof. (Mrs) Wilma John - 2006 – 2010
The five clusters under SW Region are Calicut, Ernakulam,
Kottayam, Thiruvalla and Trivandrum. South West Region is
represented in committees of National YWCA for the period
2006-2010. They are:
National Board Members (YWCA of India):
Mrs.Sheeba Varghese, Ernakulam YWCA
Mrs.Geetha James, Moovattupuzha YWCA
Mrs.Smitha Thomas, Kottayam YWCA
National Nomination Committee Members (YWCA of
India)
Mrs.Laly Itticheriah, Kottayam YWCA
Mrs.Latha Maman, Quilon YWCA
Democratic Process
The goals
of the movement are reviewed and set by delegates of local
YWCAs at a National Convention, held every 4 years. They are
based on the values and directive principles of the AIM and
within the framework of Priorities of the World YWCA.
These (Priorities of World YWCA) are currently:
HUMAN RIGHTS; HEALTH; PEACE; ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY; REFUGEE
& MIGRANT WOMEN with special emphasis on Leadership
by young women.
Unfolding and Unfinished
There is an unfolding and unfinished spiritual
dimension to the YWCA which keeps the century old World
movement perpetually young. Always on the move, challenging
women to new thoughts of professionalism in a voluntary
movement of citizens in our country who network with YWCAs
in 90 countries around the World on issues of justice, peace
and development.
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