Our History

1855

Lady Mary Jane Kinnaird and Emma Robarts founded World YWCA in the United Kingdom in 1855.
Starting with Bible lectures and chats, the YWCA soon spread across the world.

1970-1979

In 1971 at the YWCA World Council in Ghana the European Liaison Group was founded.

The EYWCA has since influenced events especially for young people -Young Adult Conferences, Leadership Training (first time in 1971), Youth Seminars (first time in 1974), Youth Study Sessions (since 1993) and several meetings, seminars and conferences
with various topics for European delegates of various ages.

The first European Regional Meeting brought together 100 delegates from 16 countries in the year 1977.
Annual General Meeting, as it is called nowadays, still hold the same role as the most valued way to bring members together
from all around the Europe.

European Newsletter has been used as the most important means of communication since 1977.
Periodical newsletter has been featuring information on European events, Council of Europe Youth Forums and policy making regarding women and young people. Nowadays the Newsletter is accompanied with various social media platforms and this website.

The European YWCA was granted a Consultative Status at the Council of Europe in 1979.

1980-1999

The first Constitution was amended in 1987. With it the board consisting of representatives from different member associations
and the annual levy were established.

The EYWCA is a full member of the European Youth Forum since 1991.

The European Liaison Group changed its name to European Committee (nowadays the Board) 1992.

The European YWCA’s registered as an International Association, a legal entity, in Belgium 1996.

2000 –

The European YWCA joined as Associate Partner of the Conference of the European Churches (CEC) in 2003.

Since 2014, the European YWCA is an international, non-governmental organization that possesses civil personality in accordance with the laws of Sweden. Its seat is in Stockholm, c/o KFUM Sverige, Rosengatan 1, 111 40 Stockholm, Sweden.

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Over its many years of actively working in Europe, the EYWCA has raised awareness of various important issues:
role of voluntary organizations in modern European society, peace, youth participation, christian female identity,
migrant women in Europe, trafficking young women and inter-religious dialogue.

European YWCA has been breaking down walls, building bridges and making the difference
believing that together we can make the difference.

And we continue to do that with each new generation of women.
For example in 2020 the European YWCA is applying to the Council of Europe for participatory status.