It has been serving the women of Belize for half a century, but at its golden anniversary, the Young Women's Christian Association is at a crossroad. The organization is struggling to keep its head above water. Today some help came in the form of $5,000 from Scotia Bank. The gesture is timed to coincide with Women's Week and just in time for the YWCA"s 50th anniversary celebration next week. This morning Scotia Bank's Cecil Arnold handed over the check to YWCA's President Dame Elaine Middleton and General Secretary Sonia Linares. Linares told us the money couldn't have come at a better time.
Sonia Linares, YWCA General Secretary
"It came at a time when the Y really needs funding for us to support some of our programs and it also comes at a time when it is a time whereby women are important and as a woman's organization we are thriving hard to empower them. It's also at a time when the Y is celebrating 50 years. This funding is very very handy to the work of the YWCA and we do appreciate it. We have been having quite a problem meeting our debts so this will really come in handy to help us to continue the work, especially for the Helping Early Leavers Program (HELP) this check will go to."
The YWCA operates a pre-school, a day care, a high school alternative program, and adult classes. All told, about 300 people, mainly women and young girls benefit from the YWCA.
