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- Sometimes there was a lack of balance of services between YMWC and YWCA as YMCA had more money and access to resources but both shared as much as they couldA new future: either repatriate refugees, integrate them in host country, or emigrate them to a new society. Resettlement was the best hope for most refugee famailies.
- Often YMCA/YWCA courses were only source of education
- In Germany: each field secretary had in her care over 30, 000 people and the first year since the end of war over 5 million people were moved for resettlement.Scandinavian countries were very humanitarian and accepted handicapped refugees1948, mother /child care clinic set up in Austria: YWCA donated care packages of first aid, cod liver oil, layettes, baby food, dried milk and medicine
- 1955: numbers of refugees in Austrian camps was about 40, 000YWCA Integration work: clubs for young people and summer clubs were important. Purpose was to remove children from tensions and bad physical conditions of regular camp life
- Hungarian situation: Only YMCA/YWCAs doing permanent voluntary work in the campsWC decision came at a time when financial resources were very restricted. 1951 special and reserve funds were exhausted from refugee work but NA’s in 19149 – 19500 raised over US $ 263,000 for Mutual Service work which also helped YWCA of Korea in their time of crisis during Korean war with refugee issues.
Erm 2008
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Slideshow Transcript
- Slide 1: A history of migrant women & European YWCAs Natallia Aleksandrovich, European Programme Director ERM 2008, Denmark
- Slide 2: The YWCAs mission to refugees The refugees had no rights..they had to be fought for: no papers…they had to be obtained; no voice… someone had to interpret them; they had no channels…they had to be set up; and for this work there was no precedent. It had to be created. Nan Thompson, Director of the World’s YMCA/YWCA Services in Austria,March 1952
- Slide 3: How did it start? World War 2 is over but the fallout across Europe is immense. There are refugees all over Europe in large numbers. June 1944 Executive Committee made decision to join with YMCA in a joint agreement with United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration(UNRRA) to be responsible for displaced persons ( Austria and Germany) World YWCA responded to request of World Alliance of YMCAs for help and by May 1946, 17 workers helping displaced persons of Europe The service to civilian internees during the war had been regarded responsibility of the National YWCAs, but German YWCA was under restrictions of National Socialism and was not allowed direct contact with woman internees
- Slide 4: Refugees came from everywhere YMCA/YWCA field staff set up programme designed to meet the needs of refugees: Staff distributed medical & sanitary supplies, set up educational institutions, selected leaders, opened foyers, encouraged sports and cultural activities Refugees belonged to many different and nationalities and faiths. Separation from their own land made them very homesick Service to DPs divided into two categories; that within the camps and that without. The aim was find the refugees a new future Both UNRRA and the Military authorities spoke highly of how YMCA/YWCA picked able leaders from among the DPs – giving them training, confidence and opportunities to take their place as leaders – Doris Hopkins, World YWCA
- Slide 5: Education, Education, Education Leadership training was offered to all refugees in Austria. The orientation & language programme in Austria continued to grow and from late 1949, nine Field Secretaries travelled from camp to camp, explaining emigration possibilities to the refugees In March 1951, the Language Training Programme was handed from IRO to YMCA/ YWCA Joint Service. Within 6 months, almost 70, 000 refugees underwent language classes in English, Spanish and Portuguese Education offered from kindergarten to school level Retraining in new skills was also offered to refugees; shoemaking, welding, watch- repairing, sculpture
- Slide 6: New lives begin 1948 – the first shipload of refugees left to USA, Australia, Belgium, GB, France, South America & Canada In 1951, UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR ) was set up While some refugees left for a new life, many remained in camps and the aim for YWCA staff was to pierce the lethargy that camp life induced.
- Slide 7: Faith made the mission possible Outreach to refugees was ecumenical Every refugee child was taught English prayers & helped to make a prayer booklet to take to their new country Thread of Christian fellowship ran through the community service created by YMCA/YWCA which was more than a welfare service
- Slide 8: Discrimination of women refugees “Refugee women were at the bottom of the pile. Although in camps we were able to give them educational opportunities sometimes greater than those of the indigenous women in the countries of asylum” – YWCA field staff The main criteria for accepting immigrants became based on health and the economic contribution one could make
- Slide 9: Children as refugees In 1955, Austrian refugee situation had not changed YWCA concentrated efforts on integration In YMCA/YWCA summer camps each child gained on average one and half kilos in a fortnight In 1948 – 1951, YMCA/YWCA accommodated 1, 500-2,000 children in camp
- Slide 10: The refugee problem continued 1956 Hungarian rising saw Austria swamped with more than 200, 00 refugees: collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and demolition of Berlin Wall ( 1989) also saw thousands of refugees across Europe In May 1992, YMCA/YWCA were given notice that their camps would be closed down & their services were no longer needed At Beirut World Council 1951 it was decided refugee work would be made a priority and given funding In Germany, the service to refugees led to formation of YMCA/YWCA movements. The German YWCA continued to support foreign refugee women In Austria,large number of refugees still needed support. From 1955, World YWCA did best to support NA but it created problems for the continuation of YMCA/YWCA co-operation
