The YWCA of Palestine

Background and History:

The history of the YWCA of Palestine has been closely linked to the history of Palestine, and has been affected by the tumultuous events of the whole region. Like a solid rock, the YWCA has withstood all political storms by shaping and molding itself to comply with the needs of the people, always at the service of women and the community.

As early as 1893, informal groups of Christian women were meeting in Jaffa and Jerusalem as YWCA groups. In 1918, the YWCA of Palestine was established in Jerusalem, and from 1918 to 1928 the work was under the auspices of the World affiliated National Council of the YWCA of Egypt. From 1930 to 1948, the YWCA of Palestine took an active role as an affiliated national association in the World YWCA, with nine branches throughout the country.

1948 was a turning point in the history of Palestine, its people and the YWCA, as a result of the war between Israel and the Arab States, the creation of the State of Israel, and the sub-sequent uprooting of the Palestinians. The activities of the YWCA came to a complete halt until former members then living in Amman in Jordan and in East Jerusalem decided to resume YWCA work in order to meet the arising needs of their communities. With the support of the World YWCA, which was one of the first NGOs to provide services for the Palestinian refugees, and before UNRWA services were established, the YWCA established the Women’s Training Centre and Preschool in Aqabet Jaber Refugee Camp.

To further consolidate and extend this work, the YWCA of Jordan was formed in 1951, with branches and centers in the Refugee Camps on both the East Bank and West Bank of the River Jordan. It was affiliated to the World YWCA in 1959 as the YWCA of Jordan.

With the occupation of the West Bank in 1967, the YWCA faced new challenges. Its programs reached out to more women and children in the Refugee Camps. UNRWA then provided premises for the YWCA to establish pre-schools in the Kalandia and Jalazon Refugee Camps, which were later expanded to accommodate women’s activities.

As a women’s movement, it shared responsibility with other women’s organizations to provide services, which are normally the responsibility of a National Government. Special committees like the Human Rights Committee were formed to meet some of the new challenges, and a variety of youth clubs were established to help in the process of building a new generation that were living under occupation. The vocational training center developed its programs, and through the years became one of the most prominent and credible training centers serving the Palestinian community.

In July 1988, Jordan severed its ties with the West Bank, and the Palestine National Council in its meeting on November 15 1988, offered its historic peace initiative and proclaimed the rebirth of the State of Palestine along side the State of Israel. It became imperative for the YWCA in the West Bank to reestablish itself and apply for re-affiliation to the World YWCA as the YWCA of Palestine. Elections in the West Bank branches took place, and the first National Council of Palestine was elected in January 1991, and a delegation chosen to attend the World YWCA Council Meeting in Norway in July 1991, when the affiliation was endorsed.

Throughout the years the YWCA has developed a wide range of programs and projects aimed at empowering women and providing them with educational, cultural, and training opportunities to develop their skills and personalities, and to support them to actively participate in developing themselves, their families and their communities.

Branches:

1- Jerusalem (headquarters)
2- Ramallah
3- Jericho

In addition to two centres in Jalazon and Aqabet Jaber refugee camps


Main Activities and projects: