Young Women Leading Change
Since its beginning the World YWCA Power to Change Fund has been making a positive difference to lives of women and young women around the world. Direct grant making to YWCA Member Associations has meant that projects have benefited from a capacity building approach The Power to Change Fund provides innovative leadership programmes and empowering opportunities through dialogues, training and sharing of experiences and skills at regional, national and global advocacy platforms. Projects in 2011 included a range of YWCA initiatives from around the world on violence against women, sexual and reproductive health and rights and HIV, and economic empowerment. Three such projects were carried out in Myanmar, Colombia and Tanzania.
Training Young Women in Myanmar
27 enthusiastic young women from local YWCAs attended a “Young Women’s Leadership Training Project” organised by the YWCA of Myanmar, in collaboration with partner organisations. The training focused on leadership and governance; sexual and reproductive health and rights and HIV; how to initiate and implement community based projects; and management and communication skills. Upon completion of the training the young women became peer educators and change agents in their own communities and were equipped to understand the ways of work of the YWCA in order to ensure quality leadership and participation of young women in the movement.
Following the training, eight young women joined the internship programme at the National YWCA Headquarters, where they further developed their skills to initiate grassroots development activities. The voices of participants reflect the new skills received and confidence gained: “I feel empowered after the leadership skills training. Now I can share the information gained from the training with youth groups in my community,” said one participant.
Mobilising Young Women’s Leadership in Tanzania
HIV has had a profound impact on Tanzania’s development, demography, economy and society. The YWCA of Tanzania has been building and strengthening the leadership of young women around issues of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and HIV. As part of an on-going project, trainings have been conducted in schools for youths aged 12-22, building their capacity to understand their rights according to laws and policies that are in place in Tanzania, as well as UN resolutions and policies around SRHR. Through training, peer education, outreach activities, advocacy, consultations and workshops, the project has directly reached 1,050 girls aged 10-15 years.
A further 2,100 girls were reached through various outreach activities. 210 young women attending university (18-27 years old) were trained as advocates through Training of Trainers programmes and it is expected that 35 young women will receive training in mentorship and a further 630 will also be trained. Government leaders, religious leaders and other opinion leaders will be mobilised and sensitised to their responsibilities on issues around youth friendly SRHR services. The partnership with the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, through the Power to Change Fund is expanding opportunities for young women as champions and advocates for SRHR across the continent.
The YWCA of Colombia against Gender Based Violence
The YWCA of Colombia’s art therapy project addresses issues of violence and HIV. It has reached 500 children and mothers, increasing their self-esteem and self-acceptance, prompting harmony and teamwork and allowing them to express sensitive emotions through creative expression. The approach is personal and specific to Colombia, and focuses on gender based violence (GBV), women as teachers and parenting.
The workshop on GBV reflected the stereotypes that exist in Colombia, mainly associated with male strength and female weakness. It introduced the concept of gender equality and the children interviewed addressed issues related to their emotional lives and sexual and reproductive health. Another workshop on the role of women as teachers redefined the role of the “fragile woman,” showing that emotions and sensitivity in every day life are important. The workshop on parenting offered various development activities, teaching parents to listen to their children and identifying various dynamics present in family relationships.
As we move into the next quadrennium, equipped with the new Strategic Framework and direction of the World YWCA launched at World Council in July 2011, the World YWCA will also be working towards promoting a human rights based approach with Member Associations to ensure that their programmes promote the principles of participation, empowerment and non-discrimination. A major focus will be placed on strengthening the advocacy component of projects so that vital services for women, young women and girls are strengthened by advocacy and address the root causes of inequality and human rights violations experienced by women, young women and girls.
Download the World YWCA P2C Update-Dec 2011
