European YWCA logo History of creation History The

European YWCA logo History of creation

History • The European YWCAs started in 1971 in Accra, Ghana at the World YWCA Council Meeting with the idea of a European Liaison Group to be coordinated by representatives of national associations.

Logo • After that the European YWCAs began to use the following logo based on the traditional logo of the World YWCA:

Reasons to have a new logo • During the last ERM 2014 in Stuttgart, it was decided to change the name of European YWCAs to the European YWCA. And a name change directly implies a logo change. • The old version of the logo needed to be updated and redesigned by evolutionary way – keeping the “best” and adding “new” in order to revitalise it. • By creating a new logo we’ve aimed to increase the visibility of the organisation and differentiate it from other European organisations.

Concept • It was decided to take the old logo as the basis and make it more modern but in compliance with the whole YWCA movement symbols. We’ve hired a professional designer and got 3 draft versions. • After discussions and voting, the European YWCA Board has chosen a final version.

Concept So we’re happy to present you a new logo of the European YWCA!

New logo

New logo symbolism • Form – upside-down triangle • Colours – shades of blue and yellow • The triangle that points downward is one of the oldest symbols of the divine power of the female. • If the point is directed downwards, it will represent the sexual nature of the female, water, and religions connected to goddesses.

New logo symbolism • Also the triangle is connected to the number 3 that mean: vthe body-mind-spirit connection; vthe trinity of the Father-Son-Holy Ghost; v. Past-Present-Future; v. Emotion, Feeling, and Thought. • In such a context it’s not by coincidence that all triangle sides in our logo are equal. The triangle also symbolizes how working together can unite people.

New logo symbolism • Blue is the colour of the sky and the universe. Blue is also traditionally the colour of the European continent. • Lastly, blue is the colour of the Virgin. Mary’s stone is the blue sapphire which, again in the Book of Revelation (21: 19), adorns the foundation of the walls of the New Jerusalem; blue is the colour of Mary’s mantle.

New logo symbolism • Yellow is a color which is associated with higher ideals, wisdom, understanding and enlightenment. It inspires knowledge, spirituality and a deep understanding of the self and the soul. So for us as the movement it symbolizes the purpose to develop the leadership, and collective power of women and girls to achieve justice, peace, health, human dignity, freedom and a sustainable environment for all people. • The logo therefore satisfies all the requirements of an ideal emblem: its good symbolism is simple and easy to interpret and is easily recognisable; it is harmonious and original. It is therefore a perfect logo from a geometric, symbolic and organizational point of view.

European YWCA • The European YWCAs started in 1971 in Accra, Ghana at the World YWCA Council, and it was promptly 45 years ago

So happy anniversary to all of us!

Thank you for attention!