Education = Empowerment

An important tool to empower women is providing educational opportunities for women. The YWCA places a strong emphasis on education in every stage of life and in each of our programs. We understand the importance that early childhood education plays in determining the future path of a child's educational career. That's why we focus on school readiness at the YWCA Child Enrichment Center.

"Investing in early childhood development -- programs like Head Start, prekindergarten, preschools, family child care homes and child care centers -- is probably more important than any other current economic development effort," according to a 2005 study funded by the Benedum Foundation.

By providing affordable quality child care, the YWCA is supporting single mothers as they pursue educational opportunities so that they can increase their earning potential and create a more stable home environment.

Through the YWCA Sojourners Job Readiness Center, any homeless person can study to earn his or her GED; apply for college; and learn job training and computer skills. In the last fiscal year, more than 500 people participated in the educational programs at the Sojourners Job Readiness Center.

Education doesn't end once you've earned a GED or college degree. Through Sojourners, Resolve and McCormick Homes programs at the YWCA, our participants learn important life skills -- like balancing a budget; understanding lease agreements; and how to earn and maintain gainful employment.

Learning is a life-long process and that's what we support here at the YWCA, because education is the cornerstone of women's empowerment.