Group celebrates national day

YOUNG Women’ Christian Association (YWCA) celebrated its national day with members and guests at 2-Mile in Port Moresby on Monday.
“We have more than 400 members in Port Moresby alone, general-secretary for YWCA Dame Kila Amini said.
She told The National how she had volunteered at the YWCA since its inception in 1962 and seen the changes over the years on women’s issues and women being involved in leadership roles.
“I am happy and proud to say that all our members are Papua New Guineans and the leadership is in the hands of locals at local and national level,” she said.
“I became involved in the leadership skills among the missionaries, which was started by women missionaries. Some of us came in not knowing how white men did things but we learnt as we went along and I am thankful we did and now it has been over 50 years and still going.”
YWCA is the oldest Women’s organisation in this part of the world and promotes basic life skills and advises on a wide range of issues, including sexual reproductive health rights.
It is part of a movement for girls and young women in 125 countries and has a membership of 26 million.