" Our objective was to deepen our knowledge on sexual and reproductive health and rights, HIV and violence against women, to share our experiences and to commit to collaborative approach in building safe and secure communities, “ said World YWCA Programme Director for Asia and the Pacific Juli Dugdale who was pleased with the week long training. “ We identified collective opportunities and challenges and committed to deepen our work through personal action, through our local and national YWCAs, through regional and global collaborations and through partnership with others."

Amongst the commitments to action was the promise to ‘educate ourselves and empower others on VAW, SRHR, HIV and on economic empowerment.’ Participants individually committed to taking on leadership roles to reduce stigma in communities, enhance literacy, economic opportunities and young women’s leadership development in families and communities.

Asia and Pacific YWCA member associations committed to providing safe, inclusive and welcoming YWCAs with quality services for women and girls such as counseling, referrals, legal aid, health support, access to SRHR information and building capacity and skills on reproductive health information and services, including condom programming; economic literacy and empowerment.

“As YWCAs in the Asia and Pacific region, we committed to collaborate to create, develop and sustain resource sharing opportunities through an information hub (including on line) with skills database and shared materials, exchange programmes, regional research on priority issues, study tours, sub-regional meetings, building on our best practices and lessons learnt with an emphasis on young women’s leadership development and input from the World YWCA as appropriate, " said Dugdale.

As the RTI came to a close, World YWCA General Secretary Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda took the opportunity to affirm the work of YWCAs in the Asia and Pacific region. “Together we are making a difference now. Together we will make much greater difference in our work and our personal lives because of the experience we shared this week. We have made a commitment to shared leadership – across the organisation, with respect, knowledge and the expertise as us as individuals and in institutions.”

Hosts, YWCA of Indonesia expressed their happiness in holding the RTI. “Seven days ago we gathered. We have spread our love and spread our wings at the RTI. You are the leaders, our role models and our strength and without you all we would not have been able to make this happen. As a host, we want to apologise that our team is small but we have had big love and now I’m part of an international organisation with the power to change, “ said YWCA of Indonesia President, Theresia Helena Rooroh.

World YWCA President Susan Brennan gave heartfelt gratitude to the hosts. " The Asia Pacific region has some of the oldest and youngest YWCAs in our global movement of YWCAs in 125 countries. Over 100 years ago, the YWCA had work in Singapore, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Malaya. Today, this RTI was hosted by the youngest YWCA, the YWCA of Indonesia who were affiliated to our world movement only two years ago. This gathering is a testimony to what courageous dreamers can achieve, what a true partnership of volunteers and staff can achieve and what great things can be achieved by a small and dedicated band of women."

The RTI programme included a Young Women Leaders Dialogue and sessions on

• Increasing knowledge and skills on VAW and SRHR and HIV programme development
• Information sharing on the World YWCA Global Strategy on SRHR and HIV
• Comprehensive condom programming, including advocacy around the female condom
• Advocacy, partnership and networking
• Effective participation in international conferences especially the 2010 International AIDS Conference in Vienna
• Disaster Preparedness
• Fundraising and Standards of Good Management and Accountability
• The intersection of SRHR and HIV in migration, economic empowerment and peace with justice programs.

The Asia and Pacific YWCAs RTI was the last RTI to be held this year. World YWCA will roll out RTI’s in Latin America, Middle East and Europe in 2010.

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