Now that is becoming increasingly apparent that this abnormal' period is likely to continue for some time, ihe Y.W.C.A. leaders feel that some constructive plans must be devised, not only for alleviating present distress but for helping people adjust themselves io changed conditions. The Y.W.C.A. working philosophy is based on the idea that its programme should' be constructive, up-building, and not merely palliative. Relief of acute distress is necessary, of course, when conditions demand it, But means must be found also to "help people to help themselves" insofar as it is possible within present limitations, The plight of thousands of workers in Shanghai is more and more forcing itself upon public attention. The Bureau of Social Affairs reports that oit of 5418 factories in the city before August 13, only about 10 per cent. are in operation at present. With the populous factory districts in Pootung and Yangtzepoo and Chapei made untenable, the hardships of the Chinese workers from these areas are indeed acute. Of the many thousands of unemployed women workers, some have evacuated to their homes in the country, it is true. But many thousands are still here, in refugee camps, in the homes of equally poor friends; some are being gradually absorbed into the newly opening factories in the Western District.
Scattered among refugee camps a also hundreds of "contract lobo girls, with their overseers. A regi iration scheme for unemployed women is already under way, so that actual conditions and needs among this group are becoming increasingly known.
Working Women's Service Centre By virtue of its long experience, and particularly its ten years' contact. with industrial women, through its evening schools, its girls' clubs, its social centres, the Y.W.C.A. is particularly well qualified and equipped to do something construc-live about this problem. It is proposed, therefore, that a project be undertaken, to be known as a "Working Women's Service Centre" This would combine into one large unit a refugee camp for unemployed Chi-mese women, a Hostel for factory girls already at work but lacking a place to live, and @ vocational train-dug centre.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.