Group of men and women standing outdoors on dirt ground with trees in the background, some holding shovels and dressed in professional attire.

Strength through
community & faith.

YWCA Bahamas
Body, Mind, and Soul
Creating Programs to Meet Community Needs

Our YWCA Story.

For over ninety years, The Bahamas YWCA has had a steady stream of women and men in the community who have given of themselves in both great and small undertakings in order to create programs to meet community needs.

The idea of a YWCA in The Bahamas was birthed by a woman who had every excuse not to involve herself in community service. You see, she was a widow and when her husband died, he left her with eight children to raise. To find employment, she left the country to work as a housekeeper in the United States. In spite of adversity, it was still her desire to do a good work in the community. Upon her return to The Bahamas, she gathered together a group of men and women and simply gave them the name YWCA.

Mother Frances Butler’s story is among the fascinating stories of civic minded persons who, through the decades, came together to render deeds of charity and goodwill. Eighty-five years later, we continue to explore the need for supports and services to assist persons in the community. Our commitment to better life opportunities for people in the country has enabled the work of the YWCA to continue throughout the ages.

We are grateful for the efforts of our members and friends to secure property, construct buildings, generate revenue streams, cultivate lush gardens and create Y programs and all of this for the benefit of present and future generations. We remember also the many women who sold cakes, suppers and tickets in an effort to pay the bills and keep the “Y” alive through both sunshine and stormy weather.

We give thanks for the women and men of today who have stepped up to the plate to continue in the grand tradition of this international organization that is at work in over 100 countries throughout the world. We thank God that the Christian heritage of this local body in The Bahamas is still thriving.

A group of women standing on a grassy area in front of trees and a blue sky, dressed in colorful and black clothing, some wearing sashes and posing for a photo.

Audience seated in rows in a large room with light green walls and a colorful mural depicting a tropical scene with flamingos, palm trees, and water. Some audience members are holding papers or taking notes.

Our Purpose.

The AIM of the YWCA shall be:

to promote Christian ideals of personal conduct and social responsibility;
to unite women and girls in a Christian fellowship which seeks fullness of life through physical, mental and spiritual growth;
to foster ideals of international friendship and service in cooperation with the World YWCA;
to empower women and girls by enhancing their educational and emotional growth;
to provide affordable housing for those in need.

The History of the YWCA

Group of women, some in wheelchairs, standing and sitting outdoors in front of a ribbon-cutting ceremony with a sign that reads 'Elcock and Wells,' dedicated to volunteers of The Bahamas YWCA, with trees and grass in the background.

Group of smiling young girls with brown skin posing outdoors, with green bushes in the background.

Black and white photograph of a large group of women, some seated in the front row and others standing behind them, posing for a group photo indoors.

“REMEMBERING THOSE WHO SERVED”
YWCA members and friends gather at the Activity Center in 1964 for the dedication of the Headquarters. Seated second from right is Mrs. Dora Sands, National President and 4th from the right is Lady Jacqueline Fawkes, President of the Adult Group.