Young People Championing Post-Pandemic Futures

This paper offers key policy recommendations to support youth development and alleviate the long-term societal consequences of the pandemic.

Strategic Plan 2020-23

A two-page outline and description of the World YWCA’s strategic framework, which identifies conditions for success, overarching strategic priorities, and key actions for achieving Goal 2035.

Adopted in 2019, the strategic framework identifies three main priorities towards 2035: management and governance, strategic partnerships and communication, and engagement and mobilization of girls, young women, and women. 

Download the Strategic Framework in:

English

Goal 2035: Theory of Change

A comprehensive one-page resource that illustrates the underlying connections and guiding principles related to Goal 2035, including foundational beliefs, focus, and methods to achieve the goal, as well as the purpose and vision of the World YWCA.

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Envisioning Goal 2035

The full proposal for Goal 2035 , including the contextual analysis, specific strategies to achieving the goal, monitoring and evaluation process, and more. Approved and adopted in 2015 following a multi-year consultative process with YWCA members, volunteers, staff, and external partners, Goal 2035 is the collective goal that guides the global YWCA movement.

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Glossary and Definitions

Why do we need a glossary?

Many leaders and activists in the broader women’s movement agree that words that once imparted visions of social change have become devoid of their original meaning. For example, words like safe spaces, empowerment, and engagement are being used differently by different members of the broader women’s movement. To remedy this, and provide leaders and on the ground activists with a common language, a glossary of definitions can be highly useful.

This glossary tries to account for the most commonly used words – whether they are “technical terms”, “operational words” or “specialized jargons”. It tries to provide definitions that can be easily understood by everyone, whether they are members of the movement, aspiring members, allies, partners or stakeholders who work with us.

Explore our digital Glossary

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Logo

The artwork, description, and philosophy behind the World YWCA’s updated logo, including information about the symbolism behind the logo’s different design elements. 

Read the Branding Manual

Resources for YWCAs to Work on COVID-19 in Communities

During the COVID-19 outbreak, many women and young women remain on the frontlines of home, family and community care. These women also face important barriers when it comes to seeking and accessing help. We’ve created this content with advocacy specialist Tina Bouffet to help them access the information and the support that they need, whether it relates directly to the virus, or to the pandemic’s broader impacts on society. YWCA leaders can download and use these resources for COVID awareness and work in communities. If you need open files to translate these materials in different languages, please write to worldoffice@worldywca.org.

COVID-19 Infographics:

Explaining COVID4KIDS – Comic Strip

Virtual Safe Space

A two-page resource about World YWCA virtual safe spaces, including a description, information explaining their importance and efficacy for women and young women, and instructions for how to create and conduct a virtual safe spaces. The document also includes ideas for discussion topics and questions around a range of pressing issues. 

Download the World YWCA Virtual Safe Spaces :

Annual Report 2019

A digital annual report detailing key developments and achievements from the World YWCA in 2019, including information about events, campaigns, and resources.

World YWCA Day 2021: A Celebration of YWCA Leaders.

Every year on April 24, YWCAs around the world celebrate World YWCA Day. For 160 years, YWCA leaders and pioneers have taken action in communities to make human rights a reality. For World YWCA Day 2021, we will celebrate the individual leaders that make up our powerful and longstanding global movement, the theme for this year is: “A Celebration of YWCA Leaders.”

Take this opportunity to celebrate leaders who inspired you, supported and empowered you to be a leader in your community and beyond, to be the change you want to see.

Read the tool to find more information on the theme, ideas on how to celebrate the day, and how to engage in social media with visuals and social media covers in the tool.

Dont forget to engage on social media using the hashtag #YWCALeaders #WYD2021. 

Download the toolkit in:

World YWCA Podcast : Solidarity, Womanhood, Peace.

Listen to World YWCA and the Norwegian Church Aid Podcast for the Geneva Peace Week 2020 with young women leaders Vera Syrakvash from Belarus, Amany Abuawad from Palestine, Mary Fatiya from South Sudan & Maria Osula from Kenya discussing on Organising & Acting for Peace & Justice: Young Women Leading Change against Gender Based Violence.

This podcast was produced by Sonologue.

Listen to our Podcasts

World YWCA – YMCA Week of Prayer & World Fellowship 2020

Since 1904, the World YWCA and World YMCA have traditionally collaborated together for the World Week of Prayer and World Fellowship. Celebrated each year on the second week of November, both organisations join efforts to produce a booklet with a theme, a set of bible studies for each day, and an annual bible reading plan so that communities around the world can come together in prayer for a specific cause linked to current realities.

This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed our world immeasurably. It has exposed unjust structural systems and demonstrated how a global emergency affects lives disproportionally, especially those who are more vulnerable to inequalities. We are therefore called upon to reflect on all the good things in our lives, and challenged to take action to rebuild a world that promotes justice, love and peace in our communities and beyond.

The pandemic has also come with new opportunities for personal and spiritual growth. It has shed light and helped us see what is truly essential in our lives, how can we rediscover ourselves and how can we best invest our time spreading kindness and supporting those in need, including investing in our own mental and physical health.

This year, the World YWCA and World YMCA- Week of Prayer and World Fellowship is an invitation to journey together under the theme: Rays of hope: creating resilient communities through practical spirituality

Download the Booklet :

For additional information, kindly contact daniela.zelaya@worldywca.org 

Week Without Violence 2020

Every year in the third week of October, YWCAs around the world participate in the Week Without Violence Campaign– a week long series of community events promoting diverse approaches to creating a world free of violence. 

This year, in the shadow of the global pandemic COVID-19 our activities the campaign was majorly virtual- recognising and naming YWCA as an invaluable global movement of leaders and their contributions towards ensuring safety of women during this global pandemic.

Download this powerful toolkit which highlights violence during 2020 and provides powerful tips for engaging youth and communities.

Download the Week Without Violence 2020 Toolkit

World YWCA Day 2020 Toolkit

A comprehensive resource detailing the background, history, and current context for World YWCA Day, which is observed on April 24th each year and encourages connection, community, and shared knowledge and support among YWCA leaders, supporters, and friends.

The 2020 toolkit includes information about the theme, instructions and advice for hosting an online event, and social media tips, graphics, and sample language.

The 2020 theme was “We think. We Share. We Speak.”

Week Without Violence Toolkit 2019

The 2019 toolkit for Week Without Violence, YWCA’s annual global campaign to end violence against women, young women, and girls. The toolkit includes boilerplate language, key messages, social media information and sample language, digital assets, advocacy and media resources, and information for engaging with stakeholders. The campaign takes place during the third week in October. 

World YWCA Day 2019 Toolkit

Every year on April 24, YWCAs around the world celebrate World YWCA Day. It’s a day to observe our common membership and achievements in a movement that advances the human rights and leadership of women, young women and girls. It’s also a time to recognize our movement’s efforts in creating positive change for all women around the world.

Aligned with the theme of the coming World Council 2019 in South Africa, we will focus on how young women can transform and change the power structures that often dominate our societies, preventing us from achieving our human right of equality

World YWCA Day 2019 theme: “Young Women Transforming Power Structures”

Toolkit

Valentine’s Day 2019 Campaign

A four-page document explaining the concept, activities of engagement, and social media information for World YWCA’s Valentine’s Day initiative in 2019, “Sisterhood beyond borders.” The campaign is aimed at promoting collectiveness and connection among women, young women, and girls globally. 

Week Without Violence 2018 Toolkit

The 2018 toolkit for Week Without Violence, YWCA’s annual global campaign to end violence against women, young women, and girls. The toolkit includes boilerplate language, key messages, social media information and sample language, digital assets, advocacy and media resources, and information for engaging with stakeholders. The campaign takes place during the third week in October. 

World YWCA Day 2018 Toolkit

Every year on April 24, YWCAs around the world celebrate World YWCA Day. It’s a day to observe our common membership and achievements in a movement that advances the human rights and leadership of women, young women and girls. It’s also a time to recognize our movement’s efforts in creating positive change for all women around the world.

World YWCA 2018 theme is: Find Your Voice, Share Your Story!

The Toolkit

A Young Woman’s Toolkit For Advocacy on SRHR & Mental Health

This toolkit, in line with the World YWCA strategy, is anchored on a program to support Young Women’s advocacy in SRHR and build their confidence to stand up and speak out at national, regional, and global levels, and to take collective action to change narratives, policies, and to demand high-quality services. The central pillar is for young women to design evidence-based advocacy initiatives through aspirational storytelling, emphasising their rights and to bodily autonomy. The World YWCA aspires to contribute to the growing young women’s movement and body of knowledge on SRHR and mental health around the world. It aims to accelerate a collective action where young women are at the centre as drivers of change

Download the Toolkit in English Here.

Téléchargez le manuel en Français ici.

Rise Up! Guide for Young Women’s Transformative Leadership

A comprehensive guide for establishing and engaging in a #leadership training programme. Aimed to learn and build transformative leadership skills among young women, Rise Up! empowers young women to be decision-makers with ownership of their own rights and future. The guide was co-created by and for #youngwomen, and the model was designed to intentionally be adaptable and scaleable to local realities.

The guide includes powerful examples, critical information about leadership, global context, helpful notes for facilitators, information about relevant social issues, and more. 

YWCA Safe Spaces for Women and Girls Guidelines

A summary and full training guide for creating a successful YWCA Safe Space programme.

YWCA has provided Safe Spaces to women and girls since its founding in 1855, and the programme is an impactful model for creating lasting, positive change in the lives of women, young women, and girls. The guides includes important background, guiding questions, reflections, and more.

The guide will be updated in 2021.