POST-WAR WORK PLAN

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 202, 24 May 1944, Page 8

POST-WAR WORK PLAN

Women & China Y.W.C.A.

The world-wide Y.W.C.A. considers it should be ready-to discover and take its part in large post-war programmes of relief and rehabilitation. Government. Red Cross, national anil international, and to be ready to co-operate with other social agencies. A post-war work plan of the China Y.W.C.A. concerning rehabilitation in occupied areas has been carefully drawn up and illustrates what will be needed to cope with the migration of women, who. moving from point to point, will require certain services of the association.

Hostels are placed on the list of a report concerning these plans. At given junctions there would be special need for hostels. Existing ones would need to be enlarged or restarted and new . ones opened. At strategic coastal points they would have to be made available to receive arriving travellers. Refugees would require an information service, before and after returning to their homes, to inquire about the opening of schools, opportunities for employment and property matters. This service might be a joint one. perhaps with the Y.M.C.A. Through hostels and information bureaux “travellers’ aid’’ should be ready, by providing centres where lodging and laundry needs may be met. and direct aid. given in helping to find ways and means for travel arrangements. Employment bureaux would be necessary for flic thousands of women pouring back to home cities seeking work. This field would be closely connected with hostels and information services. In at least two cities, Shanghai and the new Government headquarters, large efficient bureaux would need to operate. Dislocation of population involves countless individual problems of adjustment. it was stated; broken families, economic stress, general morale, disillusionment on the part of those who imagined a Utopia "back home.” The Y.VV.C-A., primarily a group work organization, would be called on to help many in personal counselling, in case work, ?u legal aid. It would be challenged also to help people to understand and adjust to conditions still far from satisfactory.