Countdown to World Council 2011 begins…
With just a year to go, the countdown to World Council 2011 and the International Women's Summit (IWS) has begun. There is a buzz in the World YWCA office as well as in the offices of the host association, the YWCA-YMCA Switzerland, as the organising team frantically works at putting together the final touches to the event-filled programme, especially tailored to your needs and expectations!
The experience of World Council 2007 in Nairobi, Kenya remains engraved in the memory of all those who attended, and it is our priority to make World Council 2011 and the IWS an even more inspiring event, covering all the topics of concern to you.
The Theme:
The theme chosen for World Council 2011 ‘Women Creating a Safe World’, is one of constant concern to women across the globe. Despite the extensive work done by the YWCA movement and other women’s organisations to create safe spaces for women, freedom from violence, personal, economic and political security and full access to sexual and reproductive health services and HIV treatment and care are but a few of the basic human rights yet to be enjoyed by many women worldwide. With its over 1,000 participants, World Council 2011 and the IWS will foster the ideal environment to seriously address, reflect upon and commit to this issue.
Highlights of the Programme:
With a focus to implementing goals and strategies for change, the programme will be filled with powerful events, and myriad opportunities to discuss, socialize, network and celebrate. There will be something for everyone – from Pre Councils to business meetings, from the Young Women’s Leadership Forum to information-packed skills building workshops led by experts in each field; from regional meetings to award giving; and, on a lighter note, from the colourful Global Village to a gala dinner where delegates will sample a delicious traditional Swiss meal.
And not to be forgotten in the equation of World Council activities and highlights, after Australia and Kenya, the World Council moves to the European continent. This will be a first for many delegates who will have the opportunity of discovering the beautiful lakeside city of Zurich.
Large International conferences can be overwhelming, but participating in a World Council is like reuniting with your family – the extended family of the YWCA and its partners – where you will be warmly welcomed and from where, we trust you will leave with new friends, new knowledge, new decisions and a positive perspective for the future.
While the buzz continues in the office, we leave you to plan your trip to Zurich and look forward to greeting you there in July 2011.
