At the World Council Meeting in Zurich Switzerland, the YWCA of the US Virgin Islands was inducted during an affiliation ceremony as a fully recognized YWCA.
A delegation of eleven, which included four members of the YWCA USVI’s signatureY-TEENSVIprogram were present on July 14, as six voting delegates were invited to the stage, receiving a standing ovation as they represented the United States Virgin Islands as a new YWCA Association. The delegation was voted to be accepted and received World YWCA badges and voting cards. Following the official ceremony, a vibrant Calypso song from the YWCA of Grenada was played, which brought every person in the room to their feet to dance.
The World YWCA, for over 100 years, through its affiliates around the globe, provides human development services in some 120 countries, boasting a membership of some 25 million women. The YWCA of the U.S.V.I. has joined these ranks and participated in this dynamic women’s movement with the theme:“Women Creating a Safe World.”Delegation members Dr. Anita Davis-DeFoe (YWCA general secretary), Vivian St. Juste, executive director of the Family Resource Center, and Board of Directors PresidentDonnalie Edwards-Cabey conducted skill-building workshops, assisted by youth members of the delegation, that were well received.
Special thanks go to the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism,International Capital and Management Company (ICMC), Wyndham Sugar Bay and Resorts, Windward Capital LLC, The West Indian Company Ltd., Rev. Dr. Wesley Williams and the Lockhart Foundation, Windward Capital Summer Scholarship, Boyson Inc., Eta Phi Beta Sorority, VI Lottery, FirstBank VI, first lady Cecile de Jongh, VI Delegate to Congress Dr. Donna M. Christiansen, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI) and all other partner organizations, businesses and individuals who supported YWCA various fund raisers over the past year.