History

YWCA was introduced in the Middle East by the American missionaries in the late 19th century. It started in Turkey then in Syria and later in Lebanon.

1900-1912: Lebanon YWCA

  • Meetings in homes for Bible study and fellowship.
  • Work among students in mission schools.
  • The first local committee organized to work among women in Beirut.

1920: Post War Lebanon

  • Initiation of YWCA ‘Service Center’ at Jessie Taylor Memorial School, marking the first Center in Lebanon, the Beirut YWCA.
  • Opening of first hostel for girls.
  • Introduction of educational and recreational programs for women.

1924-1927: Move to Downtown Beirut Business Area

  • Work with children and Armenian refugees.
  • Introduction of Language and Business Classes.

1927–1935: Move to Fakhry Bey Street

  • First summer camp for girls at Araya.
  • Development of The Girl Reserves Movement.
  • Edma Bayouth, first Lebanese woman co-opted into the work of the YWCA.
  • Research on working conditions of women and girls in factories which prompted work on:
  • Problem of child labor.
  • Working conditions for women (Long hours, poor wages and malnutrition).

1936 –1940: Results of YWCA Research and Action

  • Formation of Nutrition camps in Beirut and the mountains.
  • Introduction of Night schools in different sections of Beirut
  • Inspection of factories with the help of YWCA volunteers and dismissal of underage children.
  • Team of A.U.B. student volunteers teaching in night schools.
  • Formation of a volunteer committee, including experts, to work on a labor law with special stress on child labor. This led to Legislation No.1946 stipulating:
  • 8 hours work/day
  • Maternity leave/sick leave
  • Non-employment of children under 13 years of age

1940-1943:

  • Shift from American leadership to Lebanese
  • Work with displaced persons.
  • Introduction of Business girls clubs.
  • Special attention given to Leadership training for women.
  • Introduction of day camps for children.

1944 –1948:

  • Beirut YWCA programs housed in five rented localities.
  • Decision to have a YWCA building.
  • First building campaign.
  • Work with Palestinian refugees.

1951- 1962:

  • Vocational School established with the support of Point IV, the U.S. aid program.
  • Beirut day nursery initiated.
  • Purchase of plot in Ain Mreisseh and plans set for the building.
  • First Flower Show.

1967:

  • Inauguration of YWCA-Beirut building in Ain Mraisseh.
  • Initiation of education programs for working mothers with children at the day nursery.
  • Employment office started to help graduates of the vocational school.

1978–1991: Civil War in Lebanon

  • Special emphasis on emergency relief work and rehabilitation for displaced Lebanese.
  • Maintained standard of education and services, stopping only briefly in extremely dangerous conditions.

1992–1999:

  • Emphasis on developing young women leaders.
  • Updating of vocational programs.
  • The YWCA called on by the Ministry of Education to help plan the public vocational training programs.

2000–2003:

  • Resumption of flower and Plants Show.
  • New age series added to the Technical College Programs.
  • Introduction of new image to YWCA-Beirut:
  • Face lift to the existing logo
  • Printing of new brochures
  • Launching of Website
  • Revival of the newsletter
  • Initiation of The Community Service Committee for the support of Women in the Central
    Prison of Baabda.

2004-2009:

  • Establishment of “Care for the Environment” and “Center for Women in Crisis” Committees.
  • Refurbishing of The Y Cultural Center by a donation from the People of Japan.
  • Addition of the third floor to the existing 2 floors of the YWCA Hostel.
  • The YWCA Beirut became accessible to persons with disabilities.
  • ‘Towards Inclusive Development in Lebanon’: The YWCA selected as an association suitable for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in social and economic life.
  • The priorities of CWIC revised to: The empowerment of women at all levels. Several projects implemented to serve this objective.

2010:

  • First annual celebration of the International Women’s day on March 8
  • Hobbies and Skills program initiated
  • Home Care training workshops started
  • ” Get Inspired” program introduced by the Leadership Committee
  • YWCA became a member of Women in Parliament coalition
  • YWCA-Beirut elected as coordinator of Women in Parliament coalition

We are still going on energized by the dedication and persistence of YWCA volunteers……

Reference: “The Lebanon YWCA, one hundred years of service” by Leila Shaheen Da Cruz

2014:

  • Cadmos Rotary Club donated full equipment to establish a learning kitchen  on the second floor
  • Leadership Committee initiated the first Book Club meeting 


2015:

SALTO-YOUTH EUROMED

  • YWCA-Beirut received the EUROPEAN VOLUNTARY SERVICE accreditation as a sending and receiving of volunteers. Youth mobility from and to EU.


2017:

  • ESMOD moves to USJ campus 
  • 4th floor is turned into a fully equipped hostel for girls 
  • YWCA- has now 4 floors-dedicated to accommodate up to 120 working women and students 

All programs still going on….

2020:

  • Spread of pandemic COVID 19 in Lebanon 
  • Some business closed
  • Universities turned to online teaching 
  • Hostel worked at 20% capacity number of residents 
  • Cessation of activities, and meetings in house due to continuous lockdowns 
  • YWCA-Beirut turned to zoom meetings and presentations

4th of August blast:

  • The 9 floor building of the YWCA was badly damaged
  • All floors were hit above and underground due to impact: 4 hostel residents were injured. The blast had a devastating effect on the whole building: complete damage to:  Aluminum doors and windows, glass, wooden doors and partitions. 
  • Thanks to donations from World YWCA and international friends and associations of churches 
  • The building was repaired

2021:

  • Under the Building Alliance for Local Advancement Development, and Investment – Baladi Program, funded by USAID and executed by Caritas, the project Learning Kitchen Center presented by YWCA-Beirut was approved.
  • The project aims at improving learning conditions of the YWCA students, vulnerable women and individuals with special needs by rehabilitating and equipping the YWCA Hospitality Kitchen.
  • Introduction of new Art classes: learning new techniques in drawing and perspective

2022:

  • Initiation of LKC trainings in February: 5 months training on food production, techniques and cooking, budgeting, marketing and start- up of catering business from home.
  • Hobbies and Skills program: Introduce Macrame sessions

Bold & Transformative Leaders

The YWCA-Beirut annual Christmas lunch was celebrated this year with the YWCA-Beirut employees in recognition of their work.

 

 

 

 

Reclaiming Hamra’s Image: let’s clean Beirut together: Together for a clean, civilized and livable city. Working hand in hand from Rome Street to Sadat Street to give back to Hamra some of its lost glow.

 

 

Under the Building Alliance for Local Advancement Development, and Investment – Baladi Program, funded by USAID and executed by Caritas, the project Learning Kitchen Center presented by YWCA-Beirut was approved.

The project aims at improving learning conditions of the YWCA students, vulnerable women and individuals with special needs by rehabilitating and equipping the YWCA Hospitality Kitchen.