Young Women Christian Association, YWCA Malawi

"The Yong Woman's Christian Association (YWCA) is a Christian Organisation dedicated to the empowerment of women and girls in order to achieve and maintain a progressive community. YWCA is committed to raising awareness among women and the public on social injustices against women; right to education for the girl child, respect for women’s rights and access to health services and promote women’s participation in politics and society as a whole. The Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) of Malawi works to improve the lives of women and girls in all aspects of their lives. YWCA was founded by the mother of the present Executive Director Nettie Dzabala. As refugees during the Banda regime, they returned to Malawi from Zambia with the idea of establishing a YWCA in Malawi. YWCA Malawi is a member of the World YWCA, but presently they have no funding through other international YWCAs. Since 1998, YWCA Malawi has primarily been working on projects focusing on adolescent mothers. The projects have so far focused on various issues including empowerment, awareness of Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH), and access to SRH and HIV/AIDS-related services. Presently the YWCA is implementing a Y+ global project under Her Voice Fund for Adolescent girls and Young women "