The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) is a global network of women leading social and economic change in over 120 countries worldwide. The YWCA advocates for peace, justice, human rights and care for the environment and has been at the forefront of raising the status of women for more than a century. The World YWCA develops women’s leadership to find local solutions to the global inequalities women face. Each year, it reaches more than 25 million women and girls through work in over 20,000 communities. Through advocacy, training and development the YWCA empowers women, including young women, to lead social change. This grassroots development experience shapes the organisation’s global advocacy agenda. The YWCA's work is inspired by Christian principles and a commitment to women’s full and equal participation in society. It is a volunteer membership movement inclusive of women from many faiths, backgrounds, and cultures.