World YWCA

The World Young Women's Christian Association (World YWCA) is a global network of women leading social and economic change in 125 countries worldwide.

It advocates for peace, justice, health, human dignity, freedom and care of the environment, and has been at the forefront of raising the status of women since it was founded in 1894.

The World YWCA develops women’s leadership to find local solutions to the global inequalities women face. Each year, it reaches more than 25 million women and girls through work in 22,000 communities. This grassroots development experience shapes the organisation’s global advocacy agenda. YWCA work is inspired by Christian principles and a commitment to women’s full and equal participation in society. It is a volunteer membership movement, inclusive of women from many faiths, backgrounds and cultures.

A fully inclusive world where justice, peace, health, human dignity, freedom and care for the environment are promoted and sustained through women’s leadership.

The purpose of the World YWCA is to develop the leadership and collective power of women and girls around the world to achieve justice, peace, health, human dignity, freedom and a sustainable environment for all people.

History speaks to the progress that women have made and yet the daily reality for many women, young women and girls around the world - which includes hardship and discrimination - underlines the urgent need to step up efforts to create positive change and to maintain a strong relevance to the experiences of women as individuals, in their homes, communities and countries.

The World YWCA Strategic Framework 2012-2015 is a targeted response, within the continuum of the movement’s efforts, that aims to balance the diversity and energy of the movement with the necessity to focus efforts and strategically utilise available human and financial resources towards advancing our purpose. The Strategic Framework for 2012-2015 aims to encompass the geographical and cultural diversity and vast experience of the World YWCA movement, in order to coordinate and strengthen the efforts of all YWCAs over the next four years. As the World YWCA movement continues to expand around the globe, the challenge of upholding the highest level of management through good governance and accountability guides all YWCAs. Working together, for common goals, with a shared vision and guiding values, YWCAs will ensure that women, young women and girls of the world will have their voices heard, their lives improved and their rights respected.

The World YWCA Strategic Framework 2012-2015 is based on the on-going work of the organisation. It builds on the programmatic content, lessons learnt and insights gained from member associations, including from the Power to Change Fund. The 4 year questionnaire, review of Constitution and the Standards of Good Management and Accountability (SGMA) have all provided the critical information on the health of the movement; the key areas of focus, trends and gaps. The outcomes of Regional Training Institutes and other interactions with the movement, as well as World YWCA board and staff sessions over 2010 contributed to this strategy development.

Visit the World YWCA website.