YWCA of India

We Work

Along side our volunteers, staff and networking partners and engage with Young Women Leaders for women empowerment and inspiring transformational leadership.

We Believe

In engaging with men and young men to achieve gender justice, that the mechanism to change and dignity for all begins with united efforts.

We Fight

For equal opportunities and advocating for equal rights to change the attitudes and deep-rooted stigmas of the society against gender.

We Empower

Women and young women especially from marginalized background to be have economic equity and financial independence through livelihood trainings, resources and disseminate information and tools to better lives.

Give Donations

Contribute to a bigger cause and make your steps count. Every ‘step’ makes a big difference.

Become Volunteer

Become a part of the movement, empower yourself to empower women and young women.

APPLY

Yknots India

Lets Empower our local women artisans! Have a look at the handicrafts at Yknots.India online store and grab yours today!

Know Your Y!

Be a Patron! Join the movement with a wide range of programmes in your local YWCA and plan your path for change.

Associations

Transforming lives since 1896

YWCA is an International movement working for the empowerment, leadership and rights of women, young women and girls in more than 100 countries.

YWCA of India is a pioneer Women’s Rights movement dedicated towards empowerment of women, young women and girls in the country. Through the 125 years of its inception, through our 87 local associations,we strive to eliminate gender based inequality in India through our intervention in programmes and projects that specifically address the needs of the marginalized communities, women, young women and girls regardless of age, caste, religion or financial backgrounds.

We are talking about equal job opportunities, equal rights, sexual and reproductive health rights and elimination of all forms of violence towards women and young children by combating many different forms of human rights exploitation, including forced labour, sex trafficking, forced marriage, child labour and female genital mutilation. We believe that it is unacceptable in the 21st century that millions of women and children are devoid of equal rights to live a dignified life and that no matter what form it takes, gender based violence can be defeated if we empower those who understand it best: survivors, grassroots organisations, and frontline leaders.

Since its inception in 1896, the YWCA of India has supported, conducted and funded over numerous projects and has had a direct impact on more than a million people!

The YWCA of India supports work at the community level, and also seeks to change broader systems, including weak government policy and enforcement, providing vocational skills training for women for economic empowerment, educational opportunities for children and eradicating harmful social norms. We seek to build civil society coalitions and foster social movements to help drive change from the bottom up. Through our campaigns and advocacy we are being accountable for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals-2030.

Areas of Work

Community Development Projects

Interventions and funding to disadvantaged communities to improve the socio economic status and quality of living and promoting women leadership.

Livelihood and Skill Development

Financial independence and quality of living for women by providing livelihood opportunities and skill development training for enabling households to earn more and alleviate poverty.

Young Women Catalysts for Change

Engaging and supporting young women leaders in advocacy and policy making to eradicate violence and discrimination against women.

Advocacy and Civic Engagement

Enabling voices and providing spaces and channels to amplify them. Building up equitable civic participation for problem solving.

Education

Providing and promoting education for the holistic development of a child to nurture them as responsible citizens of tomorrow.

Women Against Violence

Empowering women to be change agents to champion efforts for combating gender based violence.

Creating Safe Spaces

Creating physical and online spaces based on safety and security and to open conversations without being judged.

Social Justice and Inclusion

Identifying social issues and developing sustainable solutions for intersectional development of the discriminated communities.

Women Leadership Development

Providing training and ingraining values to empower women to take up leadership roles and create a more balanced and resilient way of building social structures.

Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights

Advocate and take collective actions to change narratives and overcome the resistance of social stigma related to SRHR.

Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation

Re-building and rehabilitation and allied support functions to support the affected population.

Trainings and Capacity Building

Provide issue based awareness and capacity building training for groups on request.

Impact over 125 Years

125 years of social transformation

Impacted over 12 million women in India.

Through 125 years of impact oriented activities, YWCA has contributed to the fundamental shift of accelerating societal change and strengthening the agenda for a radical change in the lives of women and girls in India. With the collaborative efforts of partner organizations and supporters we are constantly evolving as a Movement to encourage young women leadership and with continued community engagements eliminate the inequalities in multiple areas of women’s life and build a more resilient nation.

OUTREACH

Through 88 local YWCA’s in 22 states of India.

Through 10,000 + volunteers and supporters

To community Development Projects in 150 + minority communities

SUPPORTED

200+ Civil Bodies and NGOs

350+ voluntary initiatives

90+ Youth led Projects

PROMOTED

1000+ Young Women Leaders

220+ Livelihood Opportunities for Women

150+ Safe Space Projects for Women

ENGAGED WITH

300 + schools and colleges

Socio- economic/ community leaders

40+ international NGOs and World Leaders

YWCA of India - A Footprint Mapping

YWCA Local Associations

Volunteers

Working Women’s Hostel

Senior Citizen Home

Crisis/Shelter Homes

Orphanages

Pre-School and Creche

Day Care Centre for Senior Citizen

Counseling Centres

Legal Aid Clinics

Vocational Training Centres

Rise Up! Phase IV

Rise Up! Phase IV is funded by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DEFAT). The programme is being implemented by World YWCA with YWCA member associations in each implementing country, led by Rise up leads in each county.

The programme is being implemented in 9 countries (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand).

The goal of the programme is that Young women are confident leaders who create safe spaces and networks and inspire other young women to build an inclusive society, imparting inter-generational leadership within the YWCA movement. We plan to impact over 6000 young women aged between 18-30 years through the Rise Up! Programme.

YWCA of India is a part of the Project and in its Phase IV plans to support over 6,000 women aged 18 to 30 years to know and claim their human rights, build, and exercise their leadership capabilities and to work collectively to mobilise for change. During this nationwide programme implementation, participants learn leadership skills, and discuss social issues affecting young women in their communities and how to deal with those issues including capacity building.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

The agenda for Sustainable Development which includes a set of 17 goals was developed as a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart, are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests. – https://sdgs.un.org/goals

YWCA has been an active and ambitious promoter of the SDG goals by working hand in hand with communities, volunteers and civil bodies against violence and discrimination of women and children, ensuring education and livelihood trainings for socio-economic empowerment.

Economic growth must be inclusive to provide sustainable jobs and promote equality.

The food and agriculture sector offers key solutions for development, and is central for hunger and poverty eradication.

Ensuring healthy lives and promoting the well-being for all at all ages is essential to sustainable development.

Obtaining a quality education is the foundation to improving people’s lives and sustainable development.

Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.

Clean, accessible water for all is an essential part of the world we want to live in.

Energy is central to nearly every major challenge and opportunity.

Sustainable economic growth will require societies to create the conditions that allow people to have quality jobs.

Investments in infrastructure are crucial to achieving sustainable development.

To reduce inequalities, policies should be universal in principle, paying attention to the needs of disadvantaged and marginalized populations.

There needs to be a future in which cities provide opportunities for all, with access to basic services, energy, housing, transportation and more.

Responsible Production and Consumption

Climate change is a global challenge that affects everyone, everywhere.

Careful management of this essential global resource is a key feature of a sustainable future.

Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss

Access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable institutions at all levels.

Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.