By Percy D'Cruz
MELAKA : The Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) of Melaka founded in 1921 has been, till recently, described as a ‘floating entity’. Despite its longstanding tenure, the use of borrowed or shared premises and even homes of members for meetings and fellowship was the norm as the organisation went about its mission of empowering women of society and community in their quest for equality and justice.

June 9 spelt a red letter day and a momentous occasion when Susan Brennen, the World YWCA President, on a tour of duty of Asia including Malaysia, took time off her busy schedule to officiate at the opening of the YWCA of Melaka’s own centre at Taman Aman in Ujong Pasir.

Located on the first floor of a commercial lot, the spanking new centre comprise a computer training unit, guest and meeting rooms, a kitchenette and wash rooms.

YWCA of Melaka President Carole Theseira and also parishioner of Banda Kaba's St. Francis Xavier said, “At long last we have our own centre to call home. From here we can more meaningfully make a greater impact while putting our community activities, projects and programmes on a much broader awareness footing and perspective.”

With a computer training class for single mothers and senior citizens already in full swing, the centre is also on the verge of initiating networking with local non-governmental organisations and relevant agencies to generate more assistance, aid and counselling to single mothers, marginalised women and senior citizens irrespective of religious beliefs.

Currently, the local YWCA is largely involved in giving practical aid and counselling to single mothers while helping them through critical times. Support is also being developed for women who have previously given their babies up for adoption and who still experience unresolved grief and emotional trauma.

National YWCA President Melaka’s Joy Chua stressed that with its own centre, members can now be more focussed to be involved directly or from the sidelines to impact a wider cross section of marginalised women and senior citizens in community and society by delivering a broader range of ministries and more effective social service and project implementations.

She said, “The networking with state level NGOs, relevant organisations and agencies which the local YWCA is embarking upon is a bold step in serving society with much more love, care and compassion particularly in traumatic, sensitive and confidential areas.”