December 2006: Engaging Young Women (PDF 589.44 kB)

Developing leadership of women and girls is central to the YWCA's mission and programmes around the world. This issue of Common Concern highlights some of the ways YWCAs engage women and girls at an early age and the effect young leadership has on the movement, and the world.

"Leaders can give space to young people to take responsibility in a group,have their voices heard, and make them feel significant within the group," advices Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland, in a feature interview of this issue of Common Concern. Reflecting on Leadership, Mary Robinson shares her thoughts on key issues for women leaders of today. "They YWCA has great strengths in building leadership," the founder and executive director of Realizing Rights notes, "they inspire young women through good training, but also reach out to women who so badly need support."

Get some useful tips from the YWCA of Canada's Engaging Young Women: A toolkit featured in this issue of Common Concern. "Its is not enough to volunteer to sit on a Board of Directors [young women] want to know how they are going to contribute" the manual cautions.

"The questions that YWCAs should address in reaching out to greater numbers of young women are what is a contemporary young woman and what are her interests and needs?" comments Natash Miklash, a young Belarusian woman on the World YWCA executive committee. Tarusila Bradburgh from Fiji and also a young women on the executive committee adds, "To make the YWCA an organisation of choice for young women we need older women to pave the way for young women's active involvement and engagement." Both share their experiences as young leaders in the Young Women On The Move section of this Common Concern. Download Common Concern (PDF 589 kB)

September 2006: Planning for Succession (PDF 682 kB)

Why is succession planning an important issue for the YWCA today? What is the best way to appoint a new CEO? These questions are explored and answered in the latest issue of Common Concern which features insights on the need for careful planning to ensure the smooth transition of a leader’s departure and tips on recruiting for top managerial positions. Also in this issue, a World Executive Committee member reflects on young women’s participation on boards and YWCAs progress in integrating young women into leadership.

Mónica Zetzsche reports on her visit to Southern Africa where she witnessed the impact YWCA has had on the lives of women; Sophie Dilmitis reports on YWCA participation at the International Aids Conference in Toronto, Canada.

In preparation for World Council 2007, read about the beauty and excitement Kenya has to offer as the host country and learn about the YWCA of Kenya's initiatives that are changing lives like their Alternative Rights of Passage programme, among others. Download Common Concern PDF (682 kB)