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

2023:

  • YWCA Goes Green: installation of solar panels powering the YWCA building in commitment to our mission for sustainability.
  • YWCA and American Language and Training Center (ALTC) join forces to deliver hospitality management classes, including cooking courses.

Bold & Transformative Leaders