A Safe World Created by Women 27th World YWCA Council

The 27th world Council was held in Zurich, Switzerland, 10-16 July 2011, under the theme“ Women Creating a Safe World". We hear the news from Lee Yeon Bae, a Seoul YWCA Chairwoman, Won Young Hee, who was selected as a world director, Jo Hee Seon and Han Ji lee who participated in Young Women's Leadership Forum.

Unified World YWCA

Lee Yeon Bae

Seoul YWCA Chairwoman

World YWCA Council is the international one and decision-making body. It is held once every four years to set priorities, elect its governing board. This time, 1000 delegations from 120 countries convene at 2011 World Council. 18 delegations from YWCA of Korea participated in this international council. Delegations from international organizations including UN and women's leaders from all over the world participated in International Women's Summit. Under the theme "a safe world for women", they focus on the rights to participate in social activities in safe places, to be free from violence and problems which people  face in Africa such as AIDS, an international fundraising, developments of women's leaderships. I will not forget the moment we prayed and worshiped together to start every day, we have got one belief in God's arms. I would like to say thank God for getting me to feel this dynamic World YWCA and all participants!

Korea YWCA leading the World

World YWCA learning Korea

Won Young Hee

World YWCA director, Executive of World Fellowship Department

With International Women's Summit and World YWCA Council, we talked about its mission and the present condition of the future of YWCA based on a variety of perspectives from women from all over the world. The most important thing was to build a strategic framework of a safe world and women leaders, make a vision to 2035. The movement touched our heart because we have tried our best to make an effort to set up women’s leadership. It was enough to put me in their shoes. For making young women become leaders, YWCA of Korea focuses on making strategies through a conversation between generations, mothers and daughters' health campaigns, an innovative partnership for women leaderships, media development against violence, women fundraising activities for change. YWCA of Korea submitted a resolution calling for women's and children's human rights in North Korea with YWCA of Japan. It was adopted as a movement of cooperation. We held a workshop about migrant women, reported a result and was paid attention by participates from all over the world. At the closing ceremony, the president announced "spiritually born again with sustainable growth for you by Call of God and with a promise.”

World Council as Stepping Stones between YWCAs

Jo Hee Seon

Ewha YWCA President

World Council is such a new experience of meeting delegates from all over the world, talking and understanding each other. Women Leadership Forum caught my eyes out of a variety of programs. Women under 30 years old are entitled to take part in this interesting program. That focuses on improving women's right and leaderships of young generations, taking and sharing experiences. With such successful YWCAs and new YWCAs which have got the first step and difficulties running programs, based on their experiences, we advised, discussed, and found answers. I could see a bright future of World YWCA. This council plays important roles by inspiring young women who have the same belief and will from across the world.

"Young Women's Night", World YWCA Jumping to the World

Han Ji Lee

Ewha YWCA Vice President

The most impressive event is "Young Women's Night". It was the time we could know each other and understand diversity. There was an event, the diversity catwalk, 3 people including me wore Korean national costumes and made a pose like models. I could not forget cameras were on us with all the cheering from here and over there. I participated in Young Women's Leadership Forum talking about problems we face, sharing them and creating solutions. When it comes to strengthening women's capacities and improving women's right, for being a world leader, with a slogan: dreaming of 2035, this is such a great time thinking about what we have done locally, nationally, and internationally, why World YWCA exits, by improving women's and girl’s leaderships from all over the world. As a result, all people think about peace, health, and human dignity for all human beings.