COMMUNITY RESOURCES     PUBLIC EDUCATION     INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

For over 80 years, YWCA Kitchener-Waterloo has been actively involved in international development, reaching beyond our home community to contribute financial and other resources to assist women in developing countries to improve their physical and economic independence and security.  We are currently involved in three global initiatives.

The Power to Change Fund was launched at the 1999 YWCA World Conference in Cairo, with the goal of raising $25 million, or $1 for each woman or girl served by a YWCA.  The funds will be invested in a permanent endowment fund, the interest from which will be used to support projects that provide leadership training and development to women.  To June 2007, the fund had reached over $7 million.  YWCA Kitchener-Waterloo has contributed over $6,000 to the Power to Change Fund, and we have pledged a further $1,000 in 2008.

In partnership with YWCA Toronto, YWCA Hamilton, YMCA-YWCA Guelph, and YWCA Lethbridge, YWCA Kitchener-Waterloo is funding the YWCA of Zimbabwe's HIV/AIDS Caregivers Project.  This project trains women providing palliative care to family members with HIV/AIDS to use natural herbal remedies to manage patients' pain and other symptoms.  YWCA Kitchener-Waterloo has contributed $1,500 to the project in 2008.

And in partnership with YWCA Cambridge, YWCA Kitchener-Waterloo is funding the YWCA of Naucalpan Mexico's HIV/AIDS Prevention Project.  This project provides HIV/AIDS education to young women and trains them to raise HIV/AIDS awareness among children, youth, and adults.  YWCA Kitchener-Waterloo has pledged $2,500 to the project in 2008.

We welcome donations to our international development initiatives.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES
PUBLIC EDUCATION
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT