YWCA Pacific Regional Training Institute

Rotorua, New Zealand - May 2005

YWCA’s Empowering Women and Communities in the Pacific

Seventy Pacific women from American Samoa, Australia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste and Aotearoa/New Zealand gathered at Tangatarua Marae in Rotorua for the second Pacific Regional Training Institute (RTI). The previous RTI was held in Auckland 1993.

The RTI theme was to celebrate our past, imagine of future, and empower YWCA women and the communities of the Pacific. The Pacific meeting addressed the commonalities and diversities of the Pacific region and our role as YWCA members to respond to these challenges.

Thank you to our sponsors for providing funding and services which made the World YWCA Pacific Regional Training Institute possible. Thank you to everyone who attended the RTI; thanks for all your participation and contributions, they all helped to make the RTI successful.

World http://www.worldywca.org/ has promised to put a Pacific RTI link on their website to keep us up to day with issues and our national website http://www.ywca.org.nz/ link will be updated and maintained too.

There were so many stories but here is a couple:

Honouring those who have paved the way:
Rev. Dr. Penelope Alailima-Utu was honoured in a special ceremony where she was presented with a commemorative plaque by World YWCA President Monica Zetzsche and World YWCA Executive members Tarusila Bradburgh and Lisa Hayes. She is mother, grandmother, aunty of the Samoa YWCAs’ and a recognisable presence at regional gatherings and world council meetings for the last two decades. Penelope has been instrumental in the establishment of the work of the YWCA in the “two” Samoa’s for the benefit of all women in her community since she was first introduced to the work of the YWCA in 1950s while attending a Methodist Women’s Federation meeting in America.

Former World General Secretary, Elaine Hesse Steele, reminded the RTI of the value of nurturing the relationship of older women who have been involved in the YWCA. Elaine reminded us to document the stories of our women leaders and their contribution to the advancement of the status of women. It is those stories which will mobilise the “Y Women” in their efforts to organise resources such as the YWCA Global Campaign Power to Change as well as other local, national and regional activities.

The YWCA Global Campaign Power to Change is a collective effort to establish a US$25 million permanent fund that will empower women to advance social change around the world. The YWCA believes that women have the power to change and make the world a better place for everyone.

RTI participants and friends, raised $1050NZD for the Global Campaign through a “koha” at their cultural evening and dinner May 13. A series of farewell messages and presentations were given to the World President. With sisters from NZ, Australia, Samoa and Argentina in the room, Fiji sisters couldn’t resist reminding everyone that “they” were the Rugby 7s World Champs! The evening wrapped up with a series of cultural (contemporary and traditional) performances… Y style!

Start funding raising and planning for the next events:

• Next Pacific Regional Training Institute
• World Council Nairobi 2007