In Canberra, Y women gather, as they have for many years to support the YWCA movement. Coming from all sectors of the community, public servants, private workers and business owners. These women have spent much of their lives connected to the YWCA, and include past YWCA board members, Presidents of the Board, volunteers and even the current Treasurer of the World YWCA Board.
These women, who have given so much of their time over the years to progress our movement, have once again come together in their capacity as one of YWCA Australia’s Feminist Local Action Groups (FLAGS), this time to support a young woman from a marginalised community join other movement leaders at YWCA’s World Council in South Africa.
This week, we spoke with Cathi Moore, a member of the Canberra FLAG who has herself been engaged with the YWCA movement for over 35 years. As a former National Board member, and a former President of YWCA Canberra, Cathi is the epitome of what service and engagement with the YWCA movement looks like.
Check out our Q & A with Cathi below (which maybe made us feel a little bit guilty about occasionally skipping our volunteer engagements to watch Netflix in the evenings!)
How did you choose this cause as something you wanted to fundraise for?
FLAG members have always been very committed both personally, and through their engagement with the YWCA to the development of young leaders, both in Australia and at the world level. Many of them have mentored young women so fundraising for a young woman to go to World Council was really a continuation of that work and area of passion.
We see the World Council as the key activity of the global movement. World Council brings women from diverse backgrounds, countries and income levels together.
We want to increase the participation of diverse and low-income women in events such a these, as it’s great opportunity to use their leadership skills. It also gives young women the opportunity to build global connections that can enhance their contributions when they go back home.
Why did you choose to fundraise for a woman from the Pacific?
We know that those YWCAs in the Pacific region can experience challenges in their resources. Much of their efforts and resources go directly to their local communities, so we want to do anything we can to support women from these YWCAs so they can contribute to World Council too.
Have you been to World Council yourself?
I participated in the World Council that was hosted in Australia and was involved in volunteering for the event. It was a great opportunity to connect and establish networks with so many women within the movement.
Attending World Council also gave me the opportunity to learn about the diverse range of views and governance models that Y’s all around the world have.
