From left: Elizabeth Bohler-Goodship, administrative adviser of Grand Saconnex; Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro, general secretary World YWCA; Monica Zetzsche (wearing the Grand Saconnex merit), president, World YWCA; and, Arthur Plee, Mayor of Grand Saconnex. The World YWCA was collecting the Grand Saconnet Merit award in Geneva, Switzerland, on September 14. - photo by Nashauna Drummond
The World YWCA in Geneva, Switzerland, received the 'Merit Saconnésiens (Merit of Grand Saconnex) 2006' award on September 14.
The Mayor of Grand Saconnex presents the award annually to an individual, group or organisation in the community in recognition of its outstanding contribution.
Grand Saconnex is a commune of Geneva located a few miles west of Geneva city and is home to several United Nations agencies as well as other prominent organisations.
The World Y was awarded for its contribution towards social justice and economic empowerment of young women and girls around the world.
It was with great honour and pride that President of the World Y Monica Zetzsche (Argentinean), and Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro (Kenyan), general secretary, World YWCA, with executive committee members (Tarusila Bradburgh of Fiji, Nashauna Drummond of Jamaica, Reem Najjar of Jordan, Doris Pagelkopfr of the U.S.A. and Eun-Kyung Park of Korea), received the award from Arthur Plee, Mayor of Grand Saconnex and Elizabeth Bohler-Goodship, administrative adviser of Grand Saconnex.
Role
Presenting the award, Ms. Bohler-Goodship recognised the role the YWCA has played in the lives of women and girls in its 150- year history.
The YWCA is a non-govern-mental organisation (NGO) that unites over 25 million women and girls in over 122 countries through 100 affiliated, autonomous national YWCAs. In Jamaica there are five YWCA branches: Montego Bay, St. James; Christiana Manchester; Kingston; Spanish Town, St. Catherine; and, Darliston, Westmoreland. The national office is located on South Camp Road, Kingston.
President of the Jamaican YWCA, Ouida Ridgard, noted: "It's something to be proud of. We can only continue to do the work we are doing in the field of humanitarianism."
The World YWCA office relocated to Grand Saconnex in 1995 to a quaint house donated to the state of Geneva and specifically reserved for charitable use.
