The YWCA of Myanmar Celebrates Young Women’s Leadership
The YWCA of Myanmar celebrated young women’s leadership at the 35th Council Meeting and the 28th Biennial Conference on October 23-24, 2010. Approximately 70 participants, both from local YWCAs and the National YWCA, celebrated this remarkable day. This year the Conference highlighted the importance of investing in the leadership of young women and including them in the decision-making process. 2010 has been an exciting year for the YWCA of Myanmar, as they have achieved in having 25% of young women on their Board acting as policy makers and bringing with them new ideas, new challenges and new ambitions.
At the Conference, which carried the theme - “Women Creating a Safe World,” the participants brainstormed and discussed the theme and what it means to them. The answers varied and touched upon the importance of valuing oneself, listening to the voiceless, protecting oneself from HIV and AIDS, building ones capacity, and sharing the experiences of one’s journey and faith. Self-esteem was considered to be of great importance and a major component to creating a safe world. The participants also talked about the necessity of providing sexual education and safe spaces for women and girls. Much discussion was generated around young women’s leadership and what still needed to be done in order to reach this goal
Rebecca Tapa, the newly elected President of the YWCA of Myanmar was one the speakers at the Biennial Conference. She began her message by quoting a passage from 1 Timothy 4:12:
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”
On behalf of the Board Members of the National YWCA of Myanmar, Rebecca Tapa expressed her gratitude to the sisters who established the YWCA in Yangon in 1900, “and to all of our sisters who have tirelessly contributed their skills, knowledge, money and time to always guide the work of the YWCA. Our sisters have continuously found ways to show God’s grace, hope and love to all, especially to women and children irrespective of their creed, race or economic status.”
The YWCA of Myanmar has been investing in young women under the age of 30, particularly in policy-making which places an emphasis on young women’s leadership. The strategic framework of the National YWCA of Myanmar is to have effective Board members and staff that will welcome and build upon the participation of young women in the decision-making process, and that will also encourage them to develop their leadership skills, their interests and their commitment to the YWCA culture and to the work that it does.
