YWCA of Zambia
Profile of Young Women’s Christian Association of Zambia (YWCA)
YWCA is a non-profit Christian organisation dedicated to the promotion of human rights for the development of the community especially women and children.
AREA OF FOCUS
The area of interest of the organisation is the women’s human rights and advocacy programme. This programme addresses the widespread problem of violence against women through public awareness on issues such as wife battery, property grabbing, HIV/AIDS awareness, youth reproductive health issues and sexual abuse.
These programmes are aimed at enhancing the quality of life by empowering women emotionally and economically by promoting self-reliance, leadership and self confidence. The ‘drop-in’ centre, shelter for battered women and a ‘child in crisis’ centre are some of the services offered to survivors of violence.
The organisation has 8 Regional offices, Chipata, Kabwe, Kasama, Kitwe, Livingstone, Lusaka, Mongu and Solwezi.
NETWORKING
YWCA continues to collaborate with non-governmental and governmental institutions dealing with similar issues. Some of these organisations include Women in Law in Southern Africa (WLSA), Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF), Society for Women and AIDS in Zambia (SWAAZ), NGOCC, Children in Need (CHIN), Justice for Widows and Orphans Project (JWOP), Zambia Civic Education Association (ZCEA), National Legal Aid Clinic for Women, Social Welfare Department, Victim Support Unit, Health institutions and the Judiciary.
VISION
A peaceful and gender sensitive Zambia with opportunities for a better quality of life for all
MISSION
The YWCA Zambia is a Christian, non-partisan, non-governmental membership organisation dedicated to the empowerment of the community especially women and children to realise their potential as human beings with a view to contribute to a just society.
MOTTO
By Love Serve One Another
PUBLICATIONS
Incest - Confronting the Hidden Crime in Zambia (A study by the YWCA)
First published 1999
Local Courts’ Guide to Interstate Succession – written by Schaumburg-Muller (Masters and PhD in law)
First edition printed, June 1999
Second Edition printed, January 2000
Violence against Women: Zambia Perspective
-By YWCA, 1994
Femicide Register (Documentation of cases of women who have died at the hands of men)
-By YWCA, July 1995
Situation Analysis on Child Sexual Abuse in Zambia
-By Priscilla Chileshe (Consultant)
(Publications available on request)
ACHIEVEMENTS
o The only organisation that has a shelter for abused women
o YWCA in conjunction with other NGOs organised a protest match to State House over the rape incidents in 1993 that led to policy changes
o YWCA was among the lead NGOs that led to the formation of Victim Support Unit
o Human Rights referral centre opened for people discriminated due to their HIV/AIDS status in 2003
o In 2001 the Child Domestic Labour Launch in Chongwe and Rufunsa
o Lead organisation in facilitating gender equality especially violence against women and child abuse
o Representation on the formulation of the gender policy at National and SADC level
o Instrumental in the formation of NGOCC, Women’s Lobby Group, Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia and other organisations dealing in women and Children’s human rights
The YWCA provides the following services:
Drop-in-Centre
The YWCA drop in centre was born as a response to address the wide spread problem of violence against women and children.
The role of the centre is to:
o Provide free non judgemental and confidential counselling to victims of abuse
o Offer referral services for cases to the other agencies for specialized advise or assistance, e.g. Police Victim Support Unit, Legal Aid Clinic for women etc
o Offer free legal advise
Cases handled by the drop-in-centre include:
o Inheritance and property grabbing
o Maintenance
o Mental and physical abuse
o Sexual abuse
Although our services are predominantly targeted at women and children, our doors are open to everyone.
The main drop-in-centre runs side by side with the youth drop in centre. The centre provides a service to the youth on HIV/AIDS and reproductive health awareness through peer education and provides non judgemental psychosocial counselling to the youths.
SHELTER FOR ABUSED WOMEN
In 1993 YWCA opened a shelter to provide a safe haven for abused women and their children who are in violent situations. The shelter has created an environment where abused women can seek non judgemental counselling and get the necessary support to develop self-confidence and rebuild their lives.
The shelter also offers food and basic personal needs for women and their children who sometimes leave their homes with only the clothes on their back.
Although the shelter is able to raise some funds through fundraising activities, it survives mainly through donations from well-wishers.
Currently the YWCA is the only organisation in Zambia that provides this service.
CHILD IN CRISIS CENTRE
The YWCA C.I.C.C. was opened in 1998 to address the increase in the number of cases of child abuse that were being reported at the main drop in centre. The centre specifically deals with children aged from birth to 16 years who are victims of abuse.
The most common form of abuse reported at the centre is that of defilement, physical and mental abuse and child labour.
The centre is also a transit home for the children and it provides food and basic necessities for them.
The objective of the centre is to:
o Provide psychosocial counselling to abused children and their families
o Support victims to report cases to the police; organise medical help and seek legal redress
o Conduct community awareness campaigns on child rights and abuse
o Collect statistics about incidents of child abuse and respond to the unmet needs of children in crisis
YOUTH DROP IN CENTRE
The Monica Makulu, Youth Drop in Centre was opened in 1996 to contribute to an increased awareness on issues of adolescent reproductive health and equip young people with skills that will help them address issues of life leading to a reduction in the prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), HIV/AIDS and teenage pregnancy.
The Youth Drop in Centre offers the following services:
Counselling
Information disseminations on Reproductive health and HIV/AIDS etc
Peer education
Y-teen Club
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT YWCA OR ACCESS OUR SERVICES, PLEASE CONTACT:
YWCA National Office
Nationalist Road
P.O. Box 50115, Lusaka
Zambia
Telephone: +260 1 254751/257250
Fax: +260 1 254751
Email: ywca@zamnet.zm ; ywcalsk@zamnet.zm ; ywcazambia@yahoo.co.za
