YWCA creates safe and inclusive spaces where women, young women, and girls can connect, mobilize, and inspire one another. Together, they take action to claim their rights, challenge inequalities, and promote justice on critical issues such as gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and economic security.

YWCA works not only for ensuring women’s practical needs but also works for reshaping the unequal and dominant power relationships between all genders in public and private spheres, to increase women’s dignity, freedom, and prosperity. YWCA creates opportunities for women, young women, and girls to connect, mobilize, and inspire each other to take action to protect their rights, address inequalities, and promote justice around important issues like gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and economic security. Therefore, YWCA invests in and builds gender equality, transforms power structures, and changes the world for the better.

As a women-led organization, YWCA has been engaged in diverse activities with women members/volunteers as well as with diverse women from the communities. It has programmatic efforts to promote women’s/girls’ primary and reproductive health, provide education and provide inputs to livelihood activities. Simultaneously, the organization has the initiative to build awareness among the communities against the discrimination associated with a dowry, child marriage, violence against women, etc. Through these efforts eventually, women and issues related to women’s rights become the center of its development programs, but YWCA adopts a systematic process of mainstreaming gender across the organization. This attempt is not only to include an equality approach in the program but also to enhance management leadership capacity, install systems and measure the outcome and impact of the program in line with gender equality. YWCA takes an intersectional approach to minimize inequality based on gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, class, and other forms of discrimination that intersect and create unique dynamics and obstacles that are often not understood among conventional ways of thinking. This is essential to achieve equal outcomes for all to fulfill the global pledge to leave no one behind.

Objectives

• To educate, aware, and promote gender equality among women, young women, girls, and the communities by using information, education, and communication approaches.
• To develop the leadership capacity of the members, staff management, and stakeholders to reshape the unequal and dominant power relationships between all genders.

Outcomes

• Women, young women, girls, and the community especially men and women are sensitized and organized to claim women’s equal rights and dignity
• Members, management, and stakeholders are sensitized and equipped with concepts, systems, tools, and techniques to mainstream GESI in the organization and to act in public and private spheres.

Actions

• Sensitize men, women, and youths of the communities about gender equality and social inclusion, and discrimination through training, campaign, and social mobilization.
• Mandatory Gender and Social Inclusion training for all staff, board, and members of the organization.
• Integrate Gender Lens in all program management components (from program design to monitoring and impact assessment).
• Participate in the process of national-level advocacy to enact/reinforce policy for anti-discrimination, gender equality, and protection of women from discrimination.

Achievements

The YWCA of Bangladesh has remained dedicated to advancing gender equality, human rights, and social inclusion through a wide range of grassroots initiatives, community outreach, and advocacy efforts. Each year, approximately 5,000 community members benefit directly from this initiative, which focuses on strengthening knowledge, building leadership, and creating safe, inclusive spaces where women, young women, and marginalized groups can thrive.

• Capacity Development on Gender and Human Rights:
  YWCA organizes nearly 80 training opportunities annually, reaching close to 500 members of the Gender Activist Team (GAT). These trainings equip participants with the skills and confidence to challenge inequality, promote human rights, and take an active role as community leaders who inspire others and advocate for justice.
• Community Outreach and Awareness:
  With over 120 courtyard discussions and local-level initiatives conducted each year, YWCA extends vital messages of justice, equality, and dignity to more than 2,000 individuals. These community-based dialogues help break taboos, address harmful practices, and promote inclusive values across neighborhoods.
• Issue-Based Campaigns:
  Through around 50 targeted campaigns on issues such as gender-based violence, child marriage, and social inclusion, YWCA creates platforms for dialogue and mobilizes nearly 1500 community members These campaigns encourage active participation and inspire local action for positive change.
• Gender Awareness Sessions:
  YWCA facilitates orientations, meetings, and training events each year, enabling about 500 participants from different sectors—youth, community leaders, parents, and local stakeholders—to gain deeper insights into gender perspectives. These sessions encourage reflection and help promote gender-sensitive practices at multiple levels.
• Collaborations with Partner Organizations:
  Recognizing the importance of collective action, YWCA engages in exchange visits, joint initiatives, and partnership programs with diverse organizations. Around 700 participants take part annually, creating opportunities for shared learning, collaboration, and stronger advocacy networks.
• Issue-Based Advocacy:
  YWCA regularly hosts seminars, meetings, and discussions at its premises to amplify voices on gender and human rights issues. Over 500 participants join these events every year, contributing to dialogue that shapes policies and strengthens advocacy efforts at local and national levels.

Together, these initiatives embody YWCA’s vision of building a society where every individual enjoys equal rights, dignity, and opportunities, free from discrimination and violence. By empowering women, young women, and communities with knowledge and platforms for action, YWCA continues to play a vital role in shaping a more inclusive and just Bangladesh.