Mokokchung: The Mokokchung unit of Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) celebrated its silver jubilee on Friday with its patron, LH Thangi Manen, as the main speaker.
Speaking on the occasion, Manen informed that the unit would focus on three interlink areas namely community mobilisation, building young people and nurturing nature for four years in line with UN global goals.
She said that individuals, when engaged collectively, could be the engines of community transformation and social change. She, therefore, stated that communities must be seen as co-implementers and not just beneficiaries.
She also challenged the YWCA members to do away with the mindset of complete dependence on the government and other external factors but to focus on community mobilisation to recognise and depend on their own strength for community building through participatory approaches.
Asserting that youth constituted major force for sustainable development and key agents for social change, economic growth and technological innovation, she urged the YWCA members to support and strengthen youth-led organisations and contribute to the development and progress of the society.
She also urged the youth to create awareness on the value of biodiversity and take corrective action at the local level. Besides, she challenged the YWCA members to adapt to the changing times and be in sync with the national and global aspirations and programmes of the YWCA in order to progress.
She further acknowledged the YWCA (M), which began with a group of 20 ladies as a prayer group has steadily rose both in terms of its membership and activities.
“With humble efforts, it has become a part of a global and national YWCA movement that has been working for the welfare of women, children and young women and creating gender equitable awareness and women empowerment by advocating for right based policies, creating employability and financial stability through vocational training and community intervention by implementing grass root level projects,” she said.
It may be mentioned here that apart from creating efforts on plastic pollution awareness, active contribution during COVID-19 and other social services activities, YWCA (M) is running the first crèche/ pre-school in Mokokchung and a vocational training unit.