For over 150 years, the YMCA has believed in and promoted peace building efforts both at home and abroad.  As a values-based charity, we are dedicated to teaching children and youth about the many dimensions of peace while also instilling values such as tolerance, inclusiveness, caring, respect, and responsibility for others.  By incorporating peace into our daily lives, people become aware of how they can change their own community and also others.  Some people may say they are overwhelmed by the scale or complexity of achieving peace.  But…if we keep our sights on keeping it simple, together we can get there. 

 

YWCA Week Without Violence: October 12-18, 2008. The YMCA-YWCA of the Central Okanagan will be participating in the YWCA Week Without Violence.  The Y dedicates this week to exploring ways to build safer communities and a chance to consider ways to eliminate violence: at work, at home, at play and at school.   There are so many simple changes we can make to our daily lives to do this, here are just a few:  take bullying seriously, be a role model, instead of giving time outs, take one yourself.

 

In support of the Week Without Violence, the Kelowna Family Y will be featuring the third annual “The Power of Being a Girl” Conference.  This event will build self esteem amongst teenage girls, feature motivational speakers and include health and wellness components.