THE GIRL AS A NATION BUILDER

Ladies' Mirror, Volume I, Issue 3, 1 September 1922, Page 6

THE GIRL AS A NATION BUILDER

What Is Being Done for Our Girls "Sh The Auckland Y.W.C.A

the right hand side, and about '“■'half, way as you go along Upper Queen Street, stands a handsome brick building. It is imposing and dignified, solid yet alert, with its inviting entrance, and generous swing-doors—-a centre of activities of which few people seem to know anything very definite. It is an open club-house for girls and women. For them are all sorts of privileges. Are they very tired with shopping or business? In the rest-room they may relax at their ease. Do they require lunch or tea? There is the - cafeteria with its appetising wellcooked food," its white tables, its glorious harbour view. Is a girl lonely? She will find friends, sympathy, help and advice here. <All ■, are hers for the asking. Is she a stranger requiring direction? She need go no further. No matter what she wishes to know, the '■ smiling secretary in the - enquiry bureau is ready to answer any question. She is there for that purpose, and many hundreds of questions are answered by her bet ween the working hours of 9 a.m. and 9.30 p.m. each. day. The moment one steps into the spacious lounge with its : quietly tasteful, settees grouped around a table covered with piles of magazines, one realises that here is a pleasant, home —nothing less. It is a home away from home. From Mrs. G. H. Wilson, the largehearted president, Miss Griffin, the

general secretary, and her large staff of assistant secretaries, radiate sunshine, brightness, alertness and courtesy. They are reflected in every department, and almost without realising it, one instantly feels at home. Everybody feels it. All day visitors stream in, sure of sympathy. They come early, and their requests are varied. One wishes to leave a parcel ; another a baby, while she goes shopping; another seeks lodgings; another wishes to borrow a needle and cotton. Someone telephones to ask

the time. And so it goes on all day. , In the well-appointed kitchen the domestic staff is busy preparing for the luncheon hour, when between two and three hundred business girls are every day supplied with a well-pre-pared mid-day meal, which may vary from a full-course dinner to a cup of tea and scones, the charge for which is most moderate. It is certainly interesting to be told that the number of meals served during last year was 80,530! Then there are invitingly sunny corners ♦n which to do fancy work or to read. The magazine table has a call of its own, and the restroom awaits the tired girl with its atmosphere of quiet and beauty. But it is at five o’clock that the building

hums with activity. It then becomes a perfect beehive. A new stream of girls comes in for tea, chiefly of those who are remaining in town to attend the evening classes. That these are popular is evident from the numbers that are enrolled. In the big gymnasium on the ground floor, splendidly equipped with dressing rooms, lockers, and shower baths, three classes are held every evening by Miss Fisher, the physical director, and in each class the attendance varies from twenty to fifty or sixty. Every type of girl may be found in every class. The United Hockey Clubs have their classes, with strenuous exercises for endurance. There are workroom groups, industrial groups, and business girl groups. Domestic helpers—those angels of the house, are there, too —of every age from fourteen years upwards. Nor are older women neglected. There are morning classes where matrons learn how to keep themselves young, fit, and lissome at fifty. There are afternoon classes for the girl of leisure, also Saturday morning classes for tiny tots from six to twelve years, and for older ones from twelve to sixteen years of age.

TN the intervals between the classes -*■ there is practice for basket-ball and tennis on the fine roof court; in summer there is swimming at the tepid baths, besides. Last year this community gymnasium passed no fewer than 1219 girls through its various activities. Perhaps more interesting still is what is known as the Girls’ Departmerit. This js formed of groups of girls from fourteen to twenty years

of age, who meet under a leader, and carry out a self-governing programme along the lines of physical, mental, social, and spiritual development. The idea at the back of all these clubs is the girls’ own all-round development so that they may better serve the community. Before she joins a club every girl makes a pledge to be loyal to this ideal. To this end, each group of girls chooses some line of study that will lead to a realisation of the ideal. Thus most of them spend some time each evening in the gymnasium. Another period is spent on some kind of study course —mental, as well as physical, gymnastics. One circle may decide to read and discuss literature dealing with the lives of notable women, or the women of different countries. Another circle may engage itself in a debate. Some will be making baskets or hats, knitting jumpers, modelling in clay, or studying elocution and even cooking. The fee for joining any of these classes is as low as it can be made, and half-a-crown secures membership in the Y.W.C.A. for twelve months. Nor are the social amenities neglected. Once in a while each little group holds a party, to which the girls can invite their friends.' Each group votes whether girls only shall be invited, or boys and girls. The object of these parties, besides giving pleasure to the girls, is the application of principles of right relationships with boys. The girls learn how to play the hostess, and to care for the enjoyment of their guests. The whole programme of the evening and the preparation of the supper is carried out by the girls themselves, under the supervision of their leader. On the floor above there may be recreation going on in the large hall, a concert given by one of the clubs, a party, a lecture, or a community sing-song, of which the girls are specially fond. The senior clubs meet on the next

floor. These work similarly to the Girls’ Department, but they are more completely self-governing, and take more difficult courses of study, These club groups, both in the Girls’ Department and in the Senior, have for their basis Friendship, and girls are grouped together from that motive. There are twenty Girls’ Department groups and seven Senior groups, the latest of which is formed up by the Overseas girls who have

been under twelve months in this country. Self-reliance, self-government, loyalty, co-operation and service—these basic principles of citizenship are all the time being taught in a practical way. Co-operation between all the different groups is provided for in the Girls’ Councils, which make recommendations to the Board of Directors through their delegate, who is elected by them annually. IVTORE advanced studies are provided in classes with paid professional teachersthe best procurable in the city and these teach dressmaking. millinery, cooking, French, singing, dramatics and art. The Y.W.C.A. co-operates with the Workers’ Educational Association in lecture's on Sex Hygiene and on Literature. It is interesting to learn that the girls, who naturally comprise members of all religious denominations, themselves voted to have a short assembly and vespers each evening

before going home at nine o’clock, and this is now attended by all the club members. One would imagine that the activities of the Association would end here, but there are others outside. Of these, perhaps the most remarkable is running a Thrift Club, which enables groups of girls to bank weekly sums as small as sixpence and upwards. This Savings Club is properly run, and bank interest is given. Then, at Christmas, each depositor receives her savings for the year, plus interest. She may decide to make use of it, or, as often happens, she simply hands it back to the secretary in charge as a new deposit. That such a Savings Club is much appreciated by the girls is very evident from the fact that over £IOOO was paid in through this bank last year, and one member was able to draw out the large sum of £27, which she had saved by this means. No one can visit the Y.W.C.A. without being struck by the atmosphere

of brightness that surrounds the girls. Smiling faces, full of helpful friendliness, greet one everywhere. All are busy, and all proud to take their share of responsibility to each other, and to this big Club of theirs. 'X'HE ideal of those at the head of this really wonderful Association —which, by the way—is only one of hundreds of similar ones established all over Europe and America—the development of a healthy, selfgoverning, and self-reliant girlhood on right lines, in order that the woman of the future may be a better citizen, a better mother, and so better fitted to take her share in controlling the destinies of the nation. Under the wise and genial guidance of the President and her Board of Directors and staff—a band of cultured. large-hearted, motherly women, this important centre of young life is doing a quiet and unostentatious, but none the less noble workone of which every Auckland citizen may well feel intensely proud.