On Monday, 4th March, the World YWCA joined ecumenical partners and friends to observe the World Day of Prayer, which this year, focused on Palestine. The hybrid event, themed “I Beg You… Bear With One Another In Love,” transcended borders to underscore the critical need for unity amidst the ongoing violence and oppression in Gaza.
The programme for 2024, crafted by a group of ecumenical Christian Palestinian women, draws its inspiration from Ephesians 4:1-7, echoes the profound experiences and challenges of living under occupation. Rooted in their shared stories, the reflection within this passage urges us to convey a message of strength and resilience to women worldwide.
Throughout the prayer session, diverse voices resonated in multiple languages, amplifying the global call for compassion and understanding. Particularly noteworthy was the heartfelt message from World YWCA President Mira Rizeq and the scripture reading by Board member Selina Salameh, embodying the spirit of Palestine.
In our collective journey, we strive to foster compassion and understanding, encouraging women everywhere to stand steadfast in support of one another, embracing love as a beacon of hope amidst turbulent times.
We’re organising a special training session with the support of YGlobal and Norwegian Church Aid specifically for women and young women to help you understand feminist funding and learn how to apply for grants like a pro. Grassroots gender practitioners worldwide face a funding challenge. According to research by Frida The Young Feminist Fund, and AWID in 2021, 91% of young women activists say the lack of financial resources is their main hurdle. Only 1% of funding in the development sector goes to gender/feminist movements. Join us in advocating for better funding and equip yourself with the skills to secure grants. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity!
What to Expect from the Training:
Our upcoming Feminist Funding training, rooted in the World YWCA 16 Days toolkit, offers a unique opportunity for young feminists to overcome funding challenges and secure the resources necessary for effective programs. Through practical examples and insights, participants will:
Gain Comprehensive Knowledge: Navigate the funding landscape with confidence, understanding, and insight into available opportunities.
Secure Sustainable Support: Learn strategies to secure sustained funding for vital initiatives, ensuring long-term impact and growth.
Access Valuable Resources: Find resources on grant-making organisations, tips for crafting winning proposals, and a roadmap to navigate the grant application process effectively.
Secure your spot today and embark on a transformative journey towards funding success. Whether seeking support for grassroots initiatives, advocacy campaigns, or community projects, this training will help participants develop the tools and knowledge needed to turn their projects into reality.
On November 29th each year, the World Young Women’s Christian Association (World YWCA) and its member association, the YWCA of Palestine, unite in urging individuals worldwide to observe the annual International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people. Since 1947, this date has also marked our commemoration of UN General Assembly Resolution 181, which advocates for the partition of Palestine into two states: one for the Jewish people and one for the Arab Palestinians.
The International Day of Solidarity highlights that the issue of Palestine remains unresolved. Palestinians are still yearning to attain their inalienable rights as defined by the General Assembly, namely, the right to self-determination without external interference, the right to national independence and sovereignty, and the right to return to their homes and property, from which they have been displaced. This day urges global attention to these ongoing challenges.
Despite countless UN calls and resolutions, the escalating crisis in Palestine demands urgent attention as the situation worsens with each passing year. As an occupying power, Israel succeeded in dividing Palestine into non-contiguous cantons and creating irreversible facts on the ground that would make the establishment of a Palestinian state impossible. These Israeli discriminatory policies have systematically undermined the prospects for justice and equality, resulting in harrowing accounts of displacement and dispossession of Palestinian refugees. Since 1947, Israeli directives have persistently demolished homes and confiscated land and resources to make way for further illegal settlement expansions.
Since October 7, 2023, the indiscriminate rise in the death toll in Gaza demands immediate and urgent global action. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and wounded. In addition to the destruction of homes, residential buildings, property, and infrastructure, around 1.5 million people were forcibly displaced due to fear, protection concerns, and the destruction of their homes. A total siege was imposed on the Gaza Strip to stop all deliveries of food, water, electricity, and fuel.
This reality in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, urges the international community, including not only States but also non-state actors such as businesses, to do everything they can to end the Israeli apartheid and occupation of the Palestinian territory.
As one of the world’s largest women’s movements, we, the World YWCA and the YWCA of Palestine, emphatically call for the affirmation and protection of human rights and international law for all. We are committed to engaging young people, particularly young women, in pursuing positive transformation by educating them about their human rights as outlined in international resolutions such as UNSCR 2250, UNSCR 1325, and other global accords. Above all, we are devoted to instilling hope in their hearts and cultivating in them the core values essential to achieving freedom, justice, and peace for themselves, their communities, and the world at large.
It is time for the younger generations in Palestine to live in freedom, security, and peace.
The YWCA of Palestine and the World YWCA want to unequivocally emphasize that despite all these daunting realities and challenges, we uphold our hope and belief in the unwavering potential of youth and their active participation on local, national, and international levels to promote a just peace.
On this day, we call on the international community and policymakers to:
Take immediate and effective actions to put significant pressure to end the war in Gaza, protecting the lives of civilians and allowing unimpeded delivery of desperately needed humanitarian aid to them.
Advocate for the end of Israeli occupation and stand with the Palestinians in establishing their independent, sovereign state. There can be no peace, security, or justice under occupation.
Implore governments to act on all the UN resolutions related to Palestine and enforce the full realisation of economic, political, and cultural rights for Palestinians.
We implore the United Nations to enforce its own resolutions on Palestine, and we call on all of you to summon the courage to stand up for the Palestinian rights of equality, freedom, dignity, and security. This is what solidarity looks like.
Join us from November 25th to December 10th for the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, an annual international civil society-led campaign. Starting on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and concluding on Human Rights Day, it highlights violence against women as a pervasive breach of human rights worldwide. Originating in 1991 at the Women’s Global Leadership Institute, it serves as an organising strategy for individuals and organisations globally, advocating for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls (VAWG).
World YWCA is committed to addressing gender-based violence and advocating for prevention investments. Despite being crucial leaders in prevention, women’s rights organisations receive only 1% of gender-focused state aid. This underfunding places 89% of these peace and security-focused organizations at moderate to very high risk of closure due to insufficient long-term funding.
Our new toolkit, aligned with this year’s 16 Days for Activism theme, “UNiTE! Invest to Prevent Violence against Women & Girls,” serves as a comprehensive resource for advocates and change-makers. It aims to spotlight the challenges women and girls encounter in securing funding, underscore the critical importance of preventive investments, confront funding obstacles, and concludes with a call to action urging stakeholders to channel resources and efforts into preventing violence against women and girls.
Let’s amplify our collective voice for change! Join the movement for women’s rights by actively participating on social media and encouraging your fellow citizens to call on government policymakers to allocate essential funding to support women’s rights organisations and movements.
Toolkit Highlights:
💡 Fact Information and Data: Gain insights into the challenges faced by women and girls in securing funding, and understand the critical need for preventive investments.
🌟 How to Engage in the Campaign: Discover actionable steps to actively participate in the 16 Days for Activism campaign, advocating for the prevention of violence against women and girls.
📱 Social Media Templates: Utilize pre-designed templates to streamline your social media advocacy. Share impactful messages and visuals to raise awareness and mobilise support.
Stand with us in the battle against violence targeting women by sharing a powerful image holding a sign that includes data on gender-based violence in your country. Let’s utilise visuals and factual information to raise awareness and inspire tangible change. Your contribution is pivotal—assist us in breaking the silence and working towards a safer world for everyone!
Join us in the fight for a safer, more inclusive world during the 16 Days for Activism. Don’t forget to engage on social media using the hashtags #YWCALeaders #16DaysForActivism #UNiTEtoEndGBV
Download our toolkit and contribute to the fight against GBV by sharing content in social media, planning engaging activities and/or advocating with other tools shared in this document!
We are excited to announce the World YWCA’s new documentary, ‘Voices of Hope, Actions for Peace, Women Driving Peace and Justice.’ Premiered earlier this month at Geneva Peace Week 2023, this documentary is about the strength and hope of young women in conflict zones. This powerful film is an integral part of our #BulletAndDove campaign, which aims to raise awareness and support for the critical roles played by women and young women in building peace and promoting justice.
The documentary is a testament to the resilience, leadership, and indomitable spirit of women and young women in conflict-torn and post-conflict zones. It offers a platform for their stories to be heard, going beyond numbers and names to reveal the profound impact of their actions in the pursuit of peace and justice.
From the streets of Afghanistan to the communities in South Sudan, from the struggles in Myanmar to the ongoing conflict in Iraq, Ukraine, and Palestine, ‘Voices of Hope, Actions for Peace’ captures the heart and soul of women’s leadership in these critical areas. Through insightful interviews and compelling narratives, the documentary shines a light on the unique challenges these women face, including emerging threats in the digital realm that impact mental health and community well-being. Their stories are a beacon of hope and a call to action, reminding us of the power and necessity of women’s leadership in the quest for global peace and justice.
Thanks to our collaboration with Norwegian Church Aid and YGlobal, we were able to create this documentary and share these important stories with a wider audience. As part of the #BulletAndDove campaign, our documentary highlights our commitment to amplifying the voices of those who are often marginalised or underrepresented.
As we launch our year-end fundraising campaign, “Voices for Peace,” we invite you to join us in this journey of solidarity and support. Your contributions will provide flexible funding that enables immediate and impactful support for our ongoing efforts in peacebuilding and equality. Every donation brings us closer to a world where peace and justice are not just ideals but realities for women and young women everywhere. DONATE NOW >>
Join us in this crucial endeavour. Together, we can amplify the voices of hope and courage that are driving change in the world’s most challenging environments.
Join us from 12 to 18 November
As we approach the Week of Prayer and World Fellowship in 2023, we invite communities worldwide to come together from November 12 to 18 to reflect on the theme, ‘Seeds to Blossoms: Cultivating Hope and Love in Solidarity.’ This theme celebrates our unity within the global and intergenerational YWCA-YMCA movement and reminds us of the profound connections that bind us.
Picture our movements as a diverse garden where each individual represents a unique seed. Just like different plants needing specific care to blossom, we can learn and grow with our diverse backgrounds and perspectives and contribute to a global garden of peace, justice, and equity.
During this Week of Prayer, join us to embark on a journey where, like a gardener, we care for a plant to prepare the soil, sow the seeds, nurture with care, be guardians of growth, foster resilience through pruning, and harvest the fruits of our labor.
In our diverse and interconnected global YWCA-YMCA movement, we invite you to take part in this reflection, prayer, and action journey to cultivate hope and love, strengthening the bonds that unite us for positive change.
Remember to tag World YWCA on social media channels so we can share your local activities with the larger Y movement.
In a heartwarming revival of a tradition that spans over two decades, the World YWCA recently welcomed the Nagasaki and Hiroshima Peace Messengers back to its premises. After an absence of three years due to the challenges posed by the global pandemic, this visit marked a significant moment of reconnection, reflection, and a renewed commitment toward peace and a world free of violence and nuclear harm.
Since 2000, the bond between the young Peace Messengers and the World YWCA has blossomed into an annual tradition that aligns with the over 160 years of efforts and initiatives of the YWCA movement toward peace and justice. It has fostered cross-cultural and intergenerational exchanges centered around peace, human rights, and the shared aspiration of a world where we can learn from the past to inform our actions in the present to prevent tragedies like the ones that unfolded in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
World YWCA team members and peace messengers shared a safe space to identify commonalities through open conversations, stories, and experiences during the visit. This space also provided an opportunity to echo YWCA’s ongoing commitment to developing and mobilising women and young women’s leadership and meaningful participation and representation to advance peace and justice globally.
The Twenty-three young women Peace Messengers brought diverse perspectives to the conversation while amplifying the voices of Hibakushas(a term referring to survivors of the bomb and its aftermath) and stories of those who endured the pain related to the long-lasting effects associated with the bombing. Their stories are powerful reminders of our ongoing duty to continue working together as a movement for peace and justice across generations in communities, countries, regions, and the world. They also remind us to use the lessons from the past to guide our actions today and shape a better and more peaceful future ahead.
Click here to learn more about World YWCA peace and justice initiatives under #BulletAndDove.
The World YWCA deeply thanks Toshiko Blum-Ito and Ana Villanueva for being the initiators of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Peace messengers’ connection with the World YWCA. As we continue this annual tradition, we thank you for your vision to cultivate common values toward a more peaceful and equal world.
Published 25 August, 2023
RiseUp! Is an eight-episode podcast series providing you with resources for advocacy and training, because we believe that growing feminist leadership is one of the most powerful ways to effect change for this planet. Each episode features thought-provoking interviews with feminist activists and leaders from around the world, and focuses on a feminist theme relevant to the social issues that young women face today – including safe spaces, faith, conflict, decolonisation, diversity, values and intergenerational leadership.
Are you a young woman in the YWCA movement (30 and under) ready to make a lasting impact on gender equality? This is your chance! Applications for the World YWCA Young Women Leadership Cohort 2023 are now open! Gain practical experience, expand your network, and contribute directly to the global community of the World YWCA.
In 2023, as a Cohort Leader, you’ll play a vital role in modernising governance, sustainable decision-making, and coordinating the groundbreaking 30th World Council.
This hybrid programme will combine virtual mentoring and assignments with the possible opportunity to travel to Geneva, Switzerland. Work alongside the World YWCA team and shape the future of our intergenerational movement dedicated to advancing gender equality and championing women’s leadership worldwide.
The deadline for applications is Sunday, June 25, 2023. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity! Make sure you click below to read the programme’s general information, download the form, and apply NOW!
Every year on April 24, YWCAs worldwide celebrate World YWCA Day. This year, for #WorldYWCADay2023, we highlight the power of YWCA safe spaces to build community and advance human rights. We invite all #YWCALeaders to join the global celebration under the theme: “Every Safe Space Has a Story.”
As one of the oldest and largest feminist, faith-based organizations. it was in 1855 when YWCA first provided safe housing to young women in London seeking employment. This marked the earliest concept of YWCA Safe Spaces. Today, YWCAs in local communities in over 100 countries from every region continue to provide safe spaces, serving over 25 million women, young women, and girls of all ages. While the idea behind YWCA Safe Spaces first came to life as an actual physical space, the practice has evolved into any space where women, young women, and girls can come together, share, listen, and actively engage with each other in a safe manner.
Mark this special occasion and share your stories around safe spaces. What comes to your mind when you think of “safe spaces”? What incident, experience, or anecdote can you recall regarding your first safe space, your best safe space, a space you felt yourself for the first time, or even a space where you explored the idea of safety beyond yourself? Because every safe space has a story, we invite you to engage with the YWCA movement this World YWCA Day 2023 by bringing to light YOUR safe space story.
Readthe tool to find more information on the theme, ideas on celebrating the day, and engaging in social media with visuals and social media covers inthe tool.
Don’t forget to engage on social media using the hashtag#YWCALeaders #WorldYWCADay2023.
