THE Y.W.C.A.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21579, 26 February 1932, Page 5

THE Y.W.C.A.

AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION Few people who are not actually members of the Y.W.C.A. realise to -what au extent it is an international movement. Canon Raven says; “ You are international, inter-racial, interdenominational. You should be able to transcend sectionalism; you should be able to show the world what Christian fellowship can be; you should be able to discover that unity to which all of us in our several denominations are beginning to aspire; that unity which, please God, we may some of us live to see, and more nearly realise; that unity which is one of the few things on earth which it is worth a man’s while to give his life for.” . . This is the aim of the association in the many big countries where it is at work. One only hag to be present at a big world conference to understand the literal sisterhood between members of different races, nations and creeds, and when it is considered that this relationship ig largely maintained by means of correspondence and visiting members between different countries, an idea can be formed of the tremendous influence such a movement has on the peace relations of the world. When the women of the world want peace, and are determined to ensue it, a great step is taken in the enforcing of its fulfilment. But women have to be _ educated and made to think, especially in those countries where for centuries they have had very little place or power in national life. In the countries of the East — India, China, Japan and in the Latinised countries of South America—the Y.W.C.A. is doing wonderful work in this direction. In China, for instance, it is recognised as one of the most potent of •women’s organisations, and as such is consulted by the Government. At present, flood relief work has been undertaken there on a huge scale by the Y.W.C.A. In Canada, Australia, the United States and in our own country it is helping to tackle the difficulties of the unemployed women and girls. In South America it is proving of great 'service socially in co-ordinating and unifying different women’s societies, and in enabling girls and women to lead fuller and freer lives than before. In the war countries, especially in Europe, much valuable work is being done in various youth and student movements, the formation of training camps, rural work, and the building up of Christian centres. Throughout the world it is being increasingly recognised that Y.W.C.A. leaders highly educated, broad-minded, clear thinking women, with common sense, courage and vision, and their help and advice is being sought in the solving of many of the world-wide problems concerned with industrial and social questions. There are national associations in over 30 countries, with a membership of well over a million. The world headquarters are now in Geneva, and it seems as if, for the moment, there are three special classes of co-operative work which are claimant on the World’s Council—-co-operation with other women’s organisations; co-operation with the group of men’s and women’s societies of a definitely Christian character; and such friendly aid as a voluntary society, with world-wide connections, can give at times on special points to the two great bodies, the League of Nations Secretariat and the International Labour Office. Early last year the Liaison Committee of the Women’s International Organisations decided to make work for the success of the Disarmament Conference. its main objective for the coming year, and a special committee -was appointed—the Disarmament Committee of the Women’s International Organisations, of which the world’s Y.W.C.A. social and industrial secretary (Miss Mary Dingman) has now been made permanent chairman. One of the big aims of international work is to promote understanding and friendship between the women of the whole world, and to inspire the girlhood of the country with the highest ideals of service to their neighbours and to God, so that they may develop into the type of citizen which is so vitally needed at the present time. This aim is kept before even the youngest members of the Y.W.C.A., and various, adequate means of fulfilling it are made available; for if we are to work towards world peace every individual must feel herself a •world-citizen. “The whole world is our neighbour—only the stars are foreign lands.” An organisation with such a vision and with such an opportunity for helping to mould public opinion amongst women should command the respect of all thoughtful citizens.