The YWCA has been set up in 81 countries worldwide. Over a million women of different races shoulder the same belief and target, devoting themselves to our societies. We are especially concerned about the cultivation of women’s potentials. The Association has particularly established the Women’s Affairs Department, which is dedicated to facilitating an all-round development of women, making noise and striving for rights and interests for women.

• 1940s
  The Women Affairs Department was first set up in 1938 (initially named as “Housewives’ Department”). All members at that time were housewives. The nature of activities of the department focused on fellowship at the outset, followed by the establishment of “Women in the Light Fellowship” which provided members with different groups for devotion, academic development, socialization, drama, recreational activities, etc. The department launched continuous courses to enhance women’s learning and organized regular meetings and activities which included visits, discussion groups of current news, cultural exchange and home knowledge delivery. All these encouraged women’s self-development and enriched their family lives.
• 1950s
  In order to help the unemployed women and drop-out children so that the family income of these low-income families could be raised, in the spring of 1953, our department established the “North Point Workhouse” that offered free sewing and word-learning classes, commencing the provision of women’s welfare services. Later,“Bright Women Fellowships” were organized and a total of five were set up that year.
• 1960s
  The Association received the subsidies from the Social Welfare Department and set up a “Women’s Association” in Tsuen Wan Princess Alexandra Community Centre in the spring of 1963. The number of members of “Fu Kwong Club” and “Women in the Brightness Fellowship” also increased gradually. Since women in 1960s were keen to learn and promote their awareness in living, we had cooperated with the Department of Extramural Studies of the Chinese University of Hong Kong to launch diversified courses for them. Then cooking classes of Chinese and Western dishes were co-organized by the Association, Shell Hong Kong Limited and Towngas, beginning a new stage of the HKYWCA’s cooperation with other organizations.
• The 70s
  The flowering of our ministry is a result of the focus on the development of interest groups and academic classes, organization of various community activities, and also strengthening of network development. “Fu Kwong Club” and “Women in the Brightness Fellowship” have rapidly increased to 25 in number and collectively called “Women in the Light Fellowship”. To enhance women's interest in cookery learning, our association expanded the headquarters into a laboratory. The year later, diversified cooking equipment was implemented in the Kowloon clubhouse. In a short time, cookery members bloomed. Our cooking classes were known as the pioneer of cookery classes in Hong Kong. Our other academic interest groups also flourished and popularized among women in the society.
• The 80s
  Our association has further strengthened community services and organized various community activities, such as Hong Kong Cooking Competition, Fundraising Marathon for the Community Chest, Drama Night etc, so as to motivate women to care for their community and serve humanity. Their care has also been shown in the fundraising of building the headquarters of our association. The unity and enthusiasm they demonstrated have boosted success of the fundraising event which enabled an addition of an activity room, Millennium Room, on the fourth floor at the headquarters.

• The 90s
  Upon the founding of the headquarters building, our association has evolved with the changes in society and the development of our ministry. In January 1992, the board of directors renamed the department as “Women Department” with the aim of signifying the role of women beyond the scope of family. As a means to enhance women’s awareness of the society, our department has put emphasis on developing their leadership skills and awarding those who have made significant contributions to the society in the “Hong Kong Outstanding Young Women Volunteers Election” — a programme launched in collaboration with the RTHK. In order to meet the needs of working women, our department has collaborated with the Professional and Career Youth Department to organize “Retraining Programmes for Women” to help the unemployed and transitional women workforce to join the labour market again. Since 1997, our association has developed a programmed called “Work for Grass-root Women” so as to strategically provide supports to the special needs community. In the same year, the branded self-help programme “Path after Marriage” was launched. It has since then helped many divorced women to rebuild their self-esteem and has catered their daily needs. Our department has also been extended since 1998 to providing “free legal advice services to women” in order to enhance their understanding of laws and women’s rights such as alimony in particular.

• After 2000
  With the coming of the millennium, social service policy approaches towards integrative development. To enhance the involvement of our department in the women’s movement, and enlarge the work scope of women service, the Women Department has been renamed as the “Women Affairs Department”, which carries the duties of motivating all service units in our department to provide and develop “women-oriented” service. To further reinforce the realization of “women-oriented” works, our department will officially set up the “Women’s Work Federation” in which women service workers from each service unit collaboratively organize women service targeted at different age groups. Although federation workers are aware that each unit can promote and develop women’s work in a diversified manner, they prefer the reinforcement of the leading role of the Women Affairs Department which provides working directions for all departments and units. The demand for writing the “Women’s Work Guidelines” arises as a result.

  In addition, the development and commitment of the “3 key movements” (Women’s Movement, Christianity Movement and Membership Movement) of our department is reaffirmed during the reform of our organization management. In 2001, the Women Affairs Department, for the consultation paper "Promotion of Freedom and Equality of Women Movement”, invited representatives of different departments to participate in focus groups to collect views. The "Women’s Work Guidelines" was finally published in 2002. Our department adheres to providing "women-oriented" services. In order to enhance women's ability and respond appropriately to their needs, we have in particular strengthens the training for women volunteers and leaders. Through promoting social policies that advance women's rights, our association enables self-fulfillment of women and choices in life. It is hoped that positive value system and gender equality can be achieved.
  
  Women’s work is a heavy and important responsibility which requires the united collaboration, dedication, aspiration and prayer of all departments and units towards a common goal: “Everyonebringing his or her strengths into full play based on the principle of gender equality and respect, hoping to create a more harmonious and better world.”

1. a social service group committed to helping women overcome obstacles and barriers, promoting liberty and equality, achieving the ultimate goal that both  genders could live in harmony;
2. a central base which nurtures and provides training to female leaders;
3. a pioneer which serves the needs of women;
4. a role model which dedicates to promoting "women-oriented" services.

1. provide and develop women-oriented services;
2. provide the opportunity for women to realize their full potential;
3. nurture and provide training to female leaders;
4. help women develop a harmonious relationship with others;
5. encourage women to express their views and to proactively participate in social affairs;
6. promote social policies which protect the rights of women.

1. God values the life of all mankind, and He sees all of us the same irrespective of gender;
2. we have to respect the experience and the views of women from different backgrounds;
3. women have the right to be independent and to act on their own, they can have their own direction of development, and the right to choose their own living style;
4. women have the right and the ability to participate in social affairs;
5. a social system which honours equality and justice helps promote women’s development and protect their benefits and rights;
6. with the prerequisite of paying respect to the difference between the two genders and treating both genders equal, everybody can give full play of their skills and create a harmonious world.

1. Biblical Truth and Christian Ethics
2. Professionalism
3. Pioneering
4. Democracy
5. Team Spirit
6. Continuous Improvement for Excellence