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Education, to provide the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve social and economic stability and development for women and girls;
- Health, to promote wellness among women and girls psychologically, physically, and spiritually;
- Institution/Organization: to build the capacity of the institution to provide quality service; and
- Justice: to promote human rights (equality) for women and girls.
Currently the Belize YWCA has programs that serve 2000 people directly – from infants to seniors. Some of these programmes are: Child Development, Community Development, Sustainable Skills Training, and Educational Classes. The Belize YWCA organization is committed to being a significant contributor to addressing the needs of Belizeans.
About YWCA
The Belize YWCA was founded in 1956. Its members are committed, by faith, to provide opportunities for the mental, physical, social and spiritual development of all, with a special emphasis on the empowerment of women and youth.The Purposeof YWCA Belize is to build a fellowship of women and girls devoted to the task of realizing in our common lives these ideals of personal and social living to which we are committed by our faith as Christians.
The Belize YWCA delivers programmes designed in response to the needs identified by the community, such as: literacy, education, sports, HIV/AIDS prevention, and skills training for employment or self-employment. These programmes focus on the following major goals:
History
In 1956 the YWCA idea was born under the leadership of Mrs. Winnie Ward, wife of then Chief Justice and former member of the YWCA Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad. She saw the need for a YWCA in Belize so that skills and leadership could be developed among the young women of the country. She called a meeting with representatives from all religious denominations, explaining the purpose of the YWCA and describing what it could do for the country.
- The YWCA was born, with initial meetings being held in the lower flat of the Chief Justice's quarters. After Lady Ward's departure from Belize, Lady Thornley, wife of the Governor took over as President. Meetings were held in the lower flat of the Fuller's residence on North Park Street. The need for a special building for the work of the Y was discussed. Lady Thornley spearheaded all fundraising efforts towards acquiring a building of our own. She was instrumental in acquiring the land on which our headquarters now stands.
- The members, all ladies were actively involved in making the bricks for the building under the supervision of the Late Mr. Wilhem Arnold and can be proud of the fact that they helped build the YWCA which is being fully utilized today. The building at the corner of St. Thomas Street and Freetown Road was opened 1960.
92
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OF RECENT GRADUATES STARTED NEW JOB
156
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PROGRAMS AVAILABLE FOR THE STUDENTS
31
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YEARS OF GLORIOUS HISTORY
50
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CAMPUS ALL OVER THE WORLD