Child care perspectives from around the world will come together in the first of a series of panel discussions presented by the Ames-ISU YWCA.

Issues affecting women from around the world will be the focus of the series, which will begin with a discussion on childcare outside the home at 12 noon Wednesday in Room 248 of the Memorial Union.

Six panelists will discuss issues ranging from childcare outside the home to what it was like growing up in their native countries, said Joyce Hwang, YWCA campus programs coordinator.

“[During the first discussion,] we will be talking about what the options are for childcare outside of the home for international students,” Hwang said. “We will also be talking about if the women are happy with these options, because with international students, they have to look at their religion and preference [in childcare].”

Hwang said in the past year feelings have changed about international women working outside the home, with it becoming more accepted even in Middle Eastern countries.

“In Russia you get a year’s paid child care leave when you have a baby,” she said. “We will be talking about how our country supports our decision to have kids and what kind of support women would like.”

This year, the Ames-Iowa State YWCA is focusing on women and globalization, Hwang said.

“We are looking at global issues that affect women differently from country to country,” she said.

In every discussion, speakers will focus on similarities and differences among countries, Hwang said. Most of the discussions will feature a panel format.

Judy Dolphin, director of the Ames-Iowa State YWCA, said she is excited about this year’s discussions.

“I’m happy women from all around the world, including the United States, will be able to come together and talk about things which affect them,” she said.

The idea for the panel series came to Dolphin last spring. She said she believed the concept would go well with the YWCA’s mission statement.

“Our mission statement is the empowerment of women and girls and the elimination of racism,” Dolphin said. “The topic just seemed natural with our mission statement.”

Every YWCA is independent from the others but they focus on the same mission, Dolphin said.

“There is so much similarity among people,” she said. “The best way to break down the barrier is to understand each other through discussion.”