It has been more than 50 years since we started our activities in Kumamoto.

We have been engaged in many different activities such as supporting international students and disaster support.

Currently focusing on the community cafe "Prefab Café", we are working every day with the aim of making a society in which women can play an active role more freely.

YWCA (Young Women's Christian Association) is an international christian NGO where women from all over the world join forces across language and cultural barriers to promote women's social participation, human rights and health; they work towards the realization of a peaceful world where people and the environment are protected.

It started in the United Kingdom in 1855 and it is now active in more than 100 countries and regions, including Japan. In Japan, 24 regional YWCA and 37 secondary and high school YWCA are active.

It is an NGO that gives back power to vulnerable people such as women, children and the elderly. Making use of its network around the world, YWCA is comprehensively tackling various issues such as peace, nonviolence, gender, and poverty from a global and women's perspective.

Click here for the YWCA of Japan website.

① Promote peace and international understanding.

② Deepen the understanding of the Constitution and protect the current Constitution.

③ Work on gender issues.

④ Work on children's problems.

⑤ Realize an independent and active youth.

⑥ Deepen the understanding of Christianity and follow it in our membership activities.

Moved by an interest for making a YWCA in Kumamoto a YWCA's student activity was carried out in Tokyo and YWCA Kumamoto was launched after a year of preparations, with 14 members led by Yuki Eto.

On November 8th, 1964, YWCA Kumamoto was founded with 47 attendees and it was the 21st founding in Japan. After it foundation it have been working on the issues of human rights and peace, tackling problems such as: refugee support (1981-1982), the Minamata disease problem (1984), the "Atomic bomb map" cooperation (1985), "Gathering to think about peace from Hiroshima and Okinawa" (1985), among others. Also, in view of the situation of international students from various countries, the "留学生問題を考える会" (Meeting to Think about International Students Problems) was established in 1988. The name was changed to "留学生と共に歩む会" (Meeting to Walk with International Students) in 1989 and after April several activities were started by the International Department "International Student Association" such as: Japanese language classes, Japanese family introductions (Host Family), louge, Hinamatsuri, English conversation, English literature classes, etc.

1991 - Construction of a recycling center for international students.

            Started Japanese volunteer training course (50 participants every month).

1992 - Japanese volunteer dispatch (Kurokami Elementary School, Sakurayama Junior High School).

1993 - Screening of the recitation drama "Summer of these Children".

1994 - Started the International Neighbors Association.

            Started working on the resident's card entry problem in solidarity with the Foreign Wife's Association.

1995 - Great Hanshin Earthquake: relief supplies, sending donations and dispatching volunteers.

2001 - Established PDYYY (Partnership Development by the Youth, to the Youth and for the Youth) with 19 young members.

2003 - Workshop against child prostitution.

2004 - YWCA Kumamoto 40th Anniversary.

            The 1st "Travel of the Atomic Bomb Remains". A tour of the Nagasaki atomic bombing machine in Dayton, Ohio, USA to learn and interact with American citizens.

2011 - Great Tohoku Earthquake reconstruction support activities, disaster victim support and second house provision activities.

2013 - YWCA Kumamoto 50th Anniversary.

            Mayako Ishii, Chairman of Japan Y. Lectures by Mr. Kang Sang Jung: "Minamata", "Fukushima" and life.

2015 - First Great Tohoku Earthquake reconstruction support activity "Fukushima & Kumamoto Kids Spring Waku Waku Camp" start.

2017 - The Cosmopolitan Committee was established.

October, 2018 - Decided to start the Vision training camp, YWCA Kumamoto Future planning "Our slump rally 2035 vision" and community cafe activities.

2019 - October - Prefab Café start.

2020 - January - NPO corporation approval "NPO corporation YWCA Kumamoto".

            April - Nakayoshi Club start.

            July - Started support activities for victims of heavy rain disaster in southern Kumamoto.