Honouring Women of the YWCA Movement on International Women's Day
Women from all around the world have been honoured through the World YWCA Honouring Women Leaders programme since it was launched in 2007. Women who are young, and young at heart; women who are from big cities and small villages. Honoured women come from all walks of life: teachers, mothers, accountants, politicians, volunteers, peace makers, doctors, advocates for women's rights, and above all, leaders. On International Women's Day, March 8, consider Honouring a Woman Leader, including young women leaders, in your community by submitting their name to the Honouring Women Leaders programme.
Four women from the YWCA of Canada Lethbridge and District are the most recent honourees to be placed on the Honour Roll and have been nominated by Kristine Cassie, CEO of the YWCA Canada Lethbridge and District. The four women will receive their certificates on World YWCA Day, April 24, 2010. Of the women, Cassie says that each is a true leader in her own way:
"Beverley Hranac began her involvement with the YWCA in 1983. She moved from being a participant in programming to becoming a volunteer instructor in the Health and Wellness Department. Some participants have been in Bev’s classes for 20 years. Bev is dedicated, hard-working and a true inspiration to the people that she serves. Bev has inspired her daughter to be a YWCA volunteer."
"Kelly Areshenko has been a volunteer Health and Wellness instructor at the YWCA since 1983. Kelly is knowledgeable, dependable and friendly and values her personal growth opportunities as much as the privilege to teach others. She has a real sense of community. Her passion for fitness and community shows in her classes. Kelly is committed to the YWCA.”
"Marquise Bourdon-Harris began her involvement with the YWCA in 1979. As a young mom, she began volunteering and has grown to recognise how the YWCA is a part of who she is. She believes that the YWCA has something for everyone. Marquise was given permission to learn, dream, reach goals, explore and she invests her time in leading other women to believe in themselves and helps them realise that they can live with the philosophy of “yes I can!”
"Natalie Primeau is a school teacher in our community as well as an active volunteer. She has been involved with the YWCA since 1988. Natalie takes time to move out of her regular routine to assist people where they need it. She is dedicated to meeting new challenges, and she encourages the people around her to be the best they can be."
Mildred Persinger 's long-standing dedication to the YWCA movement was honoured in 2007 and again at the March 2010 Commission on the Status of Women. Former World YWCA General Secretary Musimbi Kanyoro says of Persinger: "Perhaps she is best known for chairing the very first United Nations Women's World Non Government Organisation Conference held in 1975. It takes talking to Mildred to know what a great leader she is, and has been, for women. Mildred served the global women's movement as a YWCA woman. She always affirms people and her willingness to share her experience and mentor younger leaders is still evident in her work. I was a beneficiary of her mentorship and will forever remain grateful to her. During the 10 years I served as the General Secretary for the World YWCA, I knew I could lean on Mildred. One telephone call and I got a meeting set up in New York or an article for Common Concern. I join the world in honouring a great sister, a woman of faith and action."
Today, it’s your turn to Honour a Woman Leader as part of International Women’s Day celebrations. For every woman you recognise, we ask that you donate to the Power to Change Fund in her honour or memory.
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