Breakfast, commemoration, and celebration across the globe 2010
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.
3 YWCAs, amongst many on each continent, celebrated this day each in their own personalised way, but all with the same committed spirit:
In Belize , on the eve of World YWCA Day, close to 200 women and men gathered at the Best Western Biltmore Plaza. The President of the YWCA of Belize, Carla Barnett, welcomed the crowd and recalled the historical context of the event. The participants then had the privilege of hearing the event's guest speaker, Kim Osborne, Representative to Belize of the Organisation of American States. For over five years this special event has contributed to the local association's fundraising efforts. World YWCA Day was also an opportunity to say thank you by distributing several awards to organisations and individuals who tirelessly gave their time and effort to help develop the YWCA of Belize.
In Finland, YWCAs in Helsinki, Kuopio, Oulu, Tampere and Vääksy organised Round-the-World Breakfasts on April 24. 2010. In Helsinki, some 50 guests celebrated World YWCA Day at the Hotel Helka.
The highlight of the event was the distribution of a prize of 10,500 Euros by the YWCA of Finland. This amount was shared between 3 applicants: Jussi-work – a service maintained by the Federation of Mother and Child Homes and Shelters, whose work is aimed at helping men who need support in resolving their violent behaviour in a close relationship; The Single Parents' Association – A Finnish child welfare organisation providing activities and services to single parent families; and Liekku ry – a support group for families with babies and young children.
The President of the YWCA of Finland, Pia Öhman, the Vice-President, Tuuli Raamat, and the General Secretary, Pirjo-Liisa Penttinen, distributed the prizes.
In Thailand , despite the conflict in the country, the YWCA hosted a ”Thanksgiving Worship” on April 24, 2010 to commemorate World YWCA Day, for the Board of Directors, advisors, YWCA staff, representatives of Christian women organisations and honorary guests.
The guest speaker, Rev. Dr. Tanaporn Tanarojpradit, gave a speech focused on violence against women, and the Y-Women Club gave a dancing performance. Some 100 participants joined solidarity prayers for YWCA ministries around the world and for peace in Thailand.
Links:
World YWCA Day 2010 Video Message
To view pictures of World YWCA Day Celebrations around the world, Click here
