World YWCA Visit to the Caribbean
Between March 1 –13, 2011, Marie-Claude Julsaint, Global Programme Manager Violence Against Women (formerly World YWCA Programme Director for the Americas and the Caribbean), and Doreen Boyd, World YWCA consultant, visited the YWCAs of Antigua, Montserrat and Jamaica. These visits were made in the context of the Institutional Strengthening and Advocacy Capacity Building project, supported by the UN Women Caribbean Office, formerly UNIFEM Caribbean Office.
The project aims to train YWCA leaders, including young women, in strategic planning, advocacy and the human-rights based approach, with a view of strengthening the institutional capacity, governance, partnerships and sustainability of the YWCAs to deliver effective programmes for women and girls.
Julsaint and Boyd facilitated strategic planning workshops in Antigua and Montserrat, and were joined in Jamaica by Paulette Senior, CEO of YWCA Canada and a Jamaican national, who was invited by the World YWCA as a resource person. “Words fall short in describing the elation and experience of working collaboratively with the World YWCA and the incredible women who have held together the YWCA of Jamaica. The memories of the workshop in Jamaica will remain in my heart and mind for a long time and will serve as an inspiring reminder that the work we do changes lives forever. Mine certainly has and I am deeply appreciative,” said Ms Senior.
YWCAs have been active and flourishing in the Caribbean for well over 50 years with a long tradition of providing services to the community. The YWCA of Antigua was founded in 1961, the YWCA of Montserrat in 1965 and the YWCA of Jamaica as early as 1923. The main objective of the workshops in these three countries was the development of a strategic framework that reflects the priorities of the World YWCA movement, which include advocacy on violence against women, sexual and reproductive health and rights and HIV, and young women’s leadership.
“I am confident and I look forward to seeing the YWCAs of Antigua, Montserrat and Jamaica become dynamic and viable organisations with a strong voice for women and girls”, said Julsaint.
The one-year project supported by the UN Women Caribbean Office will also include the YWCAs of Barbados, Suriname and Guyana, as well as supporting a YWCA leader from each of the six countries to participate in the World YWCA International Women’s Summit and World Council meeting in July 2011 for a final evaluation.
