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Otago Daily Times, Issue 21909, 22 March 1933, Page 5

SCOPE OF US ACTIVITIES | ' CARE OF UNEMPLOYED GIRLS The Y.W.'C.A., which is now estaby lished in •55 countries and has over 1,000,000 members, derives its inspira- | tion from the work of two groups of Englishwomen who, nearly 80 years ago, interested themselves in the welfare of girls at a time when altered conditions brought about new difficulties. One group in London was specially interested in the housing problem and the inadequate accommodation available for girls, who were then being attracted to the cities in increasing numbers.. The other, in Bristol, was specially concerned with the moral and spiritual welfare of girls who were facing the difficulties created by a new mode of life. Bventu--1 ally the two groups joined forces, and from this union has grown' the Young Women’s Christian Association. ' The symbol of the organisation, the Blue Triangle, conveys to women throughout the world the promise of safety, protection, friendship', and understanding. When opening up a new sphere of activity the association stipulates that the invitation to begin the work must come from the people of the city or locality, and that it must be under the direction of a group of women actuated by the ideals' of the movement, which are to create unity and Christian fellowship. In Australia the Government saw' the need growing up in Canberra, the new capital of the Commonwealth, for adequate care of the girls employed as clerical workers and sought the aid of the Y.W.C.A. At Kyabram, in Victoria, a fruit canning company asked for the assistance of the association in establishing a hostel for its workers employed there during the season. In New Zealand the management of the Kaiapoi Woollen Mills. asked the association to run a hostel for workers who had been brought from overseas, and more recently the New Zealand Sheepowners’ Trust asked for help in

running the Flock House for girls, where the daughters of Britisli seamen who lost their lives in the war were trained in domestic and farm work. With the passage of the years the heed for the Y.W.C.A. has steadily grown, and it has ignored no appeal that has been made to it for assistance. Now youth, with time on its hands or with greater responsibilities than it can bear, is apt to lose its grip on life, and the need-for helpful advice and properly organised recreation has increased. THE HOSTEL In accordance with one of its major aims the Y.W.C.A. in Dunedin provides a hostel where accommodation is available at reasonable rates for business and professional women, for students, for girls and women on holiday or spending time between positions, or for those who are temporarily embarrassed through lack of employment. Fifty girls can be accommodated in the Dunedin hostel, which has recently been a great asset to the association in its work among unemployed girls. Whenever a girl has been found without home or employment the association has cared for her until' work could be found. Last year 80 girls were kept without payment in

this way for periods varying from a few days to several weeks, and special rates were arranged for others whose circumstances warranted it, while others undertook to pay later the board that was owing. Altogether 460 girls, apart from permanent boarders, spent some time in the hostel during the past year. CAFETERIA AND LOUNGE The association regards as an extremely important branch of its work the maintenance of a cafeteria and lounge. In the cafeteria schoolgirls and young women, many of them out of work, can obtain a very cheap lunch in the most cheery and comfortable surroundings. The existence of this department is becoming widely known, and the fact that the facilities that are provided

are appreciated is shown by the numbers who make use of them. During the last year an average of 50 girls attended at each lunch hour. The lounge is a cheery room' open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day, and is open to all women and girls. UNEMPLOYMENT The largo amount of unemployment among young women has created for the Y.W.C.A. a very •heavy task, and what it has done for the largo numbers who have sought its aid lias evoked the widest admiration. During the past 12 months no fewer than 1405 girls have been registered and interviewed, and 850 have been placed in positions, most of which are permanent. For those who cannot be placed practical training classes have been formed, and the membership of this department is now 200. “ This matter of securing employment for girls,” a recent report of the association stated, “ has, of necessity, become mainly a question of finding some work for the majority to tide them over these difficult times rather than selecting a vocation for which they may be peculiarly fitted. Fortunately women and girls arc adaptable, and if circumstances will not readily permit a girl

to follow immediately the vocation of her choice she can invariably turn to another occupation in which the experience gained* will add to her efficiency and knowledge of other spheres.” In many cases faros are provided to enable girls to travel to their positions, and in the cafeteria free meals have been provided when necessary. In the practical training classes dressmaking, renovating, handicrafts, mothcrcraft, and speed shorthand are taught, and the physical welfare of those who attend is not neglected, sports and games being arranged. In order to ensure that the living conditions of girls waiting for positions are suitable, the association keeps a record of furnished rooms that are available. This entails a great deal of

personal investigation, but the results of tl.ds work have proved most satisfactory. The association, after making exhaustive inquiries as to possible avenues of employment, has inaugurated a scheme of subsidising the wages of girls who are placed in positions in country homes where help is required but the means of securing it are limited. The Womeax’s Division of the Farmers’ Union assists, by selecting homes, and wages are subsidised for varying periods. In addition, clothing is provided in many cases, and, in general, everything possible is done to ensure that those in need of help are adequately provided for. The f organisation encourages those in employment to provide for difficult times

by controlling a thrift club, and as the result of Sts efforts during the past 12 months fitOOO was banked by girls in shops and factories. HEALTH AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT A feature of Y.W.C.A. work has always been its attention to physical training ami recreation. Oho of its aims is to JirovJ.de “abundant life for every girl,” and it carries on its work with the conviction that good health is essential to the complete life. Altogether 300 girls take part in the sports that are arranged. The conduct of physical culture classes forms an important branch of its activities, a special class having been arranged for unemployed girls. Folk dancing is also taught. The association endea\’>ours to arrange a game for everyone, and an interhouse sports club is entrusted with the task of carrying' out tliis object. Every week the members of each team receive'physical training and team games which will promote their efficiency in ‘basket ball, and the aim is not the development of a few teams but the general improvement of all. “We feel,?’ one of the association’s re-

ports states, “that besides weekly out-of-doors basket ball played on Saturdays organised sports are a necessity for girls who-'aro employed all day at sedentary work. If through this department we can enable girls eVen to glimpse sport in its true relationship to the rest of life, first, as a help in building up physical fitness, secondly, in helping to give a clear brain which should result in increased mental effort, thirdly, to act as a stimulus and complement to the day’s work, then it can claim to be a power in the building of worthwhile citizens.” Lawn tennis, swimming, Badminton and other games are encouraged. GIRL CITIZEN MOVEMENT In the Y.W.C.A. there is a special department for the adolescent girl. The

work of this department is to make opportunities for the expansion of life which is a great need in the lives of the girls of to-day, owing to the enforced leisure of so many. The department is known as the Girl Citizen Movement.. The special feature of the movement is that it fires the imagination of a girl, challenges her to an ideal worthy of her heritage, and provides through various activities a practical application of her code and slogan. By this the members are pledged to the task of building the spirit of their country. The Girl Citizen Movement, as part of the largest women’s organisation throughout the world, fosters and develops an interest in things international through definite study of conditions governing the lives of girls in

other lands, their work, their home life, recreation, as well as correspondence with them. This gives a world-wide sense of unity and strength to even the youngest club member. The legislation of this movement is done by the girls themselves, thus ensuring the loyalty of all and giving

scope for initiative and adventure. The meaning of the official insignia—four square life—is expressed in a very practical way in the weekly programme which includes physical culture and folk dancing, giving exercise, rhythm, selfexpression, dramatics, giving knowledge of great characters, imagination, poise, handwork, to achieve in the making of pretty and useful things; discussions, stimulating thought and overcoming self-consciousness, singing, ceremonials, and services inducing love of beauty, reverence, challenge to an ideal; outdoor life, tramp picnics, camps, every type of sport, giviKg health, exercise, team spirit. Through such a programme the Y.W.C.A. shows its belief in every girl’s inborn capacity, and, acting as a co-

operator in the quest for truth, gives a desire for knowledge, respect for skill, and a love of beauty, thus helping to build the spirit of the country.