Ywca

The Young Women Christian Association. (YWCA)
This company was the daughter of the industrial revolution, which, from the middle of the nineteenth century started the movement of women and girls outof the home and rural areas and into factories throughout the Western world.
This time inspired Christian women in several countries to begin meeting the needs of such women for housing, educationand support by starting the first YWCAs.
The World YWCA was founded through the convergence of a social activist Lady Mary Jane Kinnaird and the committed Christian Emma Robarts. Mary Jane Kinnaird,was a philanthropist committed to young women’s well being. Kinnaird was concerned about the safety of young women who moved to London city, often alone, to work or serve in the Crimean war. She raisedfunds and in 1855 set up housing for young single women in London. Equipped with a library, Bible classes and employment bureau, the housing provided a ‘warm Christian atmosphere'. Kinnaird and herassociates hoped to help young women cope with the pressures of work and believed it was important to care for the souls of young women along with their physical and mental health.
Emma Robarts, bornaround 1818, was also committed to young women. She set up a prayer circle in her hometown on the outskirts of London. In 1855, she brought together 23 women to hold intercession prayer for youngwomen; they called themselves the Young Women’s Christian Association. The group went beyond prayer and reached out to the young women they prayed for and involved them in activities to build the mind,body and spirit.
Due to the nature of Kinnaird’s interest in work abroad and the expansiveness of the British Empire, the initiative spread rapidly to western and northern Europe, India, and the UnitedStates. The pace and success of the World YWCA movement spoke of a considerable need for the services provided by the association, primarily access to educational and religious classes, hostels for...