YWCA conference for justice and peace

The Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) Biennial Delegates Conference will this year be held in historical Malacca from 22 June to 24 June 2012.

Themed ‘United for Justice, Rights, Dignity and Peace’ the three days conference will be held at Hotel Marvelux where most delegates will be staying as well.

The conference will begin on Friday afternoon with a briefing by the chairperson of the organising committee Carole Theseira of YWCA Melaka.

The conference will kick start with president of YWCA Malaysia Dr Marina David, chairing the Business Session to deal with the acceptance of the Minutes of the last conference held in Petaling Jaya in 2010.

On hand to submit their executive committee reports at this session will be Chan Yin Yin on Finance and National Budget, Margaret Vendargon on Personnel and Training, Carole Theseira on Programme Development and Resource and Sharmila Sekaran on the Audited Accounts for the last two years.

This will be followed by dinner and a befitting end to the day with a River Cruise down the Malacca River.

The conference will be officially launched on Saturday morning by the wife of the Chief Minister of Malacca Asmah Abdul Rahman.

The welcome address by Dr Marina David will be followed by the keynote address by the famed Paddy Bowie.

The delegates can look forward to several interesting sessions and workshops throughout the three days.

A Plenary Session facilitated by F R Bhupalan on ‘Together in Unity for Justice, Rights, Dignity & Peace’ will be presented by well known speakers Sharmila Sekaran, Desmond Ho, Dennis Lee, Rachel Samuel and Sheila Ramayah.

Dinner on Saturday will be hosted by the YWCA of Malacca whereat the Honorary Life Membership Award Presentation will be held and long serving and loyal members will be honoured with life memberships.

On Sunday, the new committee for the next term of two years will be elected, the date and venue for the next biennial conference decided upon and farewells bid.

The organising committee has planned a programme to bring delegates up to date on national developments, sharing of knowledge and skills and fun-filled experiences packed into the three day conference which will be beneficial, enriching and rejuvenating to enable them to carry on their selfless endeavours to assist the women of Malaysia.

The YWCA is the oldest Women’s organisation. Started by Mary Jane Kinnaird and Emma Roberts in the UK in 1855, it has now branched out into more than 120 countries worldwide with an estimated membership of 25 million.

It was first set up in Malaysia, in Penang in 1909 followed by Kuala Lumpur in 1913. Today there are many chapters in the various states. One of the greatest achievements of the Malaysian YWCA movement has been the setting up of the Vocational Training Centre in Kuala Lumpur for women from the disadvantaged sector of society.

Although it is a Christian movement, the objective has been to empower women all over the world in their quest for equality and justice irrespective of race and creed.

Today the movement’s creed is for a fully inclusive world where justice, peace, health, human dignity, freedom and care for the environment are promoted and maintained through women’s leadership.