The Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) of Rwanda is an award-winning non-governmental, non-profit organization that works at the grassroots level. It is a volunteer membership organization for women and vulnerable Rwandan youth. The YWCA of Rwanda was established in February of 1995, following the Rwandan Genocide and in response to the dismal situation of the many widows and children left in its wake. Currently, the YWCA has more than 1500 members – volunteers, women, and girls grouped into 77 working groups. Its programs directly reach nearly 20,000 beneficiaries, focusing on the most vulnerable Rwandans. This includes:
- Women, specifically young women (30 and below)
- Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC)
- Historically Marginalized People (HMP)
- Widows and rural vulnerable women
These 20,000 direct beneficiaries in turn support tens of thousands of family and community members.
For further information please see the YWCA website.