World YWCA Day

On 24 April 2010, YWCA's worldwide celebrated World YWCA Day, most of them by holding the traditional YWCA “Round-the-World Breakfast” with members and friends. A much awaited yearly opportunity to celebrate women's leadership and the movement they are all so proud to be a part of.

On 24 April 2010, Susan Brennan, President of the World YWCA, enthusiastically celebrated World YWCA Day in Taiwan with 200 local YWCA members.

On 24 April 2010, a much awaited yearly tradition, which has been upheld since 1947, will once again take place: Through a variety of programs, YWCA's across the globe will unite for a common global goal by actively celebrating WORLD YWCA DAY. They will commemorate the history of the movement they are so proud of and reflect on this year's chosen theme “Women Creating a Safe World” (theme of World Council 2011).

Toutes les femmes ont le droit de vivre dans un monde sûr et sans violence

Les Femmes et jeunes filles du mouvement de la YWCA sont sur le point de fêter dans plus de 120 pays la Journée de la YWCA Mondiale. Au cours de ces célébrations, les associations membres prendront le temps de réfléchir au thème de la journée qui est aussi celui du Conseil Mondial de la YWCA de 2011 : « Un monde sûr : une affaire de femmes ». (Women Creating a Safe World)

Since 1947, World YWCA Day has been celebrated annually and is an opportunity for YWCAs around the world to commemorate the history of this special movement. Each year the celebration has a different theme and programme that enables members to act locally for a common global goal and on April 24, 2010, the World YWCA will continue to focus on ‘Women Creating a Safe World.’

Over 40 friends and partners of the World YWCA joined in World YWCA Day celebrations in Geneva, Switzerland on April 24. The occasion was an opportunity to reflect on the World YWCA Day theme ‘Women Creating a Safe World’ and also learn more about the work of the World YWCA. The event involved a number of different presentations including ‘Honouring Women Leaders’ and an introduction to World YWCA Council 2011 along with a photo stream of YWCA programmes around the globe.

Dear Friends,
From here in the Pacific where World YWCA Day comes first, I join with our World YWCA General Secretary in sending greetings for our special day. If you haven't had a chance to watch Nyaradzai's message on www.worldywca.org, I encourage you to do so.

The World YWCA wishes everybody a Happy World YWCA Day as we celebrate ‘Women Creating a Safe World’. Around the world, YWCAs are honouring women leaders in their member associations and communities as they bring awareness to issues that affect women and girls globally.

Each year, we come together to celebrate this important day to honour the leadership within our communities. The World YWCA was formed over 150 years ago and is present today in 125 countries and reaches over 22,000 communities—that is where the leadership of this movement stands as we celebrate women’s giving today.

Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, World YWCA General Secretary has prepared a video message for World YWCA Day and calls on the movement to help create a safe world.“YWCA as a movement affirms that every day women are creating a safe world around them. Every day, women are finding creative and innovative programmes, projects and activities that ensure safety. But also, women around the world are asking for accountability,” says Gumbonzvanda to the movement. “ Women of the world want to live a life free of violence, free of HIV, free of disease and free of poverty.”