YWCA of Finland Supporting Women and Girls in Crisis Situations

Through the fund the YWCA of Finland created the ITU project and launched support groups for women and young women in crisis pregnant or post abortion situations and also for single mothers. Operating in three different locations across the country the YWCA of Finland set up local helplines to provide guidance, support and counselling to these women and young women. The project has proven to be a great success with various peer groups and support groups springing up helping women and young women with unplanned or unwanted pregnancy, post abortion concerns and helping single mothers. The YWCA of Finland identified the need to provide a service for women and young women, as there is a gap in the number of healthcare clinics addressing these issues. As a result the ITU project has been well received with networking taking place at all levels from non-governmental organisations such as Save the Children, local hospitals, local clinics, student bodies and national government.

In response to the ITU project the government of Finland has accepted the goal to decrease the number of abortions. The local authority of Tampere and YWCA of Tampere have started discussions about incorporating the ITU project into the public healthcare model. Furthermore, as of early 2012 the YWCA of Finland will launch a national helpline for women and young women in crisis pregnant or post abortions situations. The ITU project is well known in the country with national media coverage raising the profile of the project through TV, radio and newspaper articles. By adopting a flexible approach the YWCA of Finland was able to target young women in crisis pregnancy situations via facebook, leaflets and visits to schools, public healthcare centres and prenatal clinics. So far the project has met the needs of over 100 women and young women across the three cities of Tampere, Kuopio and Mikkeli. Riding on the magnificent impact that the ITU project has had, the YWCA of Finland now has plans to extend the project to other regions in the country. One major success of the ITU project has been the empowerment of women and young women to develop a new YWCA centre in Etela-Pohjanmaa.

All too often women and young women are left with nowhere to turn to and no support, unaware of their sexual and reproductive health rights and fearful of what the future may hold. However, through projects such as the ITU project of the YWCA of Finland, women and young women in these situations have a listening ear and a support network. Therefore, they are empowered to realise their full sexual and reproductive health rights and lead a life free from violence. Single mothers who have participated in the ITU project described that getting help and support has improved the quality of their lives and been put it in perspective. As a result these single mothers have engaged in other activities at the YWCA and have become active members.

The YWCA of Finland plans the ITU project to be on-going with further local YWCA’s and regions adopting the project. The YWCA of Finland is a model example of women empowering women and being agents of meaningful change echoing the core values of the World YWCA movement.

Since its launch in 2007, the Power to Change Fund has been supporting locally led initiatives that empower women and girls in communities and global programmes which bring together the skills and voices of women and girls from across the YWCA movement. It has leveraged resources from a variety of partners to support YWCAs in delivering projects on sexual and reproductive health and HIV, vio­lence against women, economic empowerment and other areas central to women’s empowerment. Over 2010-2011, the Power to Change Fund approved 40 innovative projects for funding. A total of USD 770,357 was distributed to Member Associations to support these grassroots initiatives that empower women and girls.

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