Power to Change Fund Empowers Young Women in Sri Lanka
Thanks to funds acquired through the Power to Change (P2C) Fund, the YWCA of Sri Lanka provides guidelines and basic knowledge for young women to deal with social issues.
Programmes organised by the YWCA of Sri Lanka include:
- Constitution and ways of work of the YWCA of Sri Lanka
- Financial Management /Good Governance and Fundraising
- Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and HIV and AIDS
Training modules for young women were provided in three languages, based on the World YWCA Standards of Good Management and Accountability. The goal was to ensure young women leaders’ participation at all levels so as to enable them to become effective decision makers. The association believes that this opportunity has helped them function well and at the highest level of organisational accountability, effectiveness and efficiency.
Capacity building for women and young women on financial management and fundraising is also one of the highlights of this training programme. It creates great assets for accurate accounting systems and good financial performance. The training on how to introduce new ideas and methodology for local fundraising point to a successful, well managed fundraising event. Evaluation carried out shows that this programme was a great success, with local branches meeting their target annual budget and membership being increased.
More than 145 young women who participated in the session on creating awareness on SRHR and HIV and AIDS said that “the training helped them to speak boldly regardless of cultural barriers.” They also felt that, as a result of the training, they are now better equipped to combat social stigma and impact society positively. In the words of one young woman “the training motivated me to be an agent of change in society to address violence against women and children.”
Two young women even had the opportunity of attending and making a presentation at the International Women's Summit and World Council in July 2011 in Zurich.
The P2C fund focuses on building the capacity of vulnerable young women to tackle the different socioeconomic challenges they face in their communities and to become successful citizens. Thanks to these trainings, young women in Sri Lanka shared their needs and concerns and learnt the required skills to lead positive change in their lives and communities.
- Download World YWCA P2C Update June 2011
