CAROL S .
Carol H . ( L ), Carol S . ( C ), and Ulrike H . ( R ) showing the certificate of award for the DG for the Kindergarten for Tribal Children in Rural India , 2019 .
I joined AWCH , my first club with American women , almost 10 years ago when I moved to Hamburg from Frankfurt am Main , my home for four decades . All the diverse groups within AWCH offered a wealth of different activities and a means to meet many members while having fun . It didn ’ t take me long to realize that becoming a member of AWCH was an excellent
idea and that I had been missing a connection with like-minded women for many years . I learned the value of being a member of AWCH and our umbrella organization , FAWCO . To quote Hellen Keller , “ Alone you can do so little , together you can do so much .” I believe in the power of the collective to make a difference .
Events to promote cultural understanding , to inform of US issues , to raise awareness of the rights of women and girls , and to help people in need are an integral part of AWCH . In recent years , there has also been a focus on the awareness of global issues , including the UN Sustainable Development Goals . our club , and we have successfully nominated the trust for four FAWCO Development Grants in the category Environment , totaling almost US $ 20,000 . Our fundraising and awarenessraising for the FAWCO Target Project give members another opportunity to participate in a global philanthropic project together with all FAWCO overseas American women ’ s clubs in order to have a greater impact . In addition , AWCH also proudly supports the From the Heart project , which donates heart pillows and drainage bags to breast cancer patients in Hamburg . For the last few Thanksgivings , AWCH members shared their good fortune and donated to the local food bank , Hamburger Tafel . AWCH does make a difference when its members come together .
AWCH has renewed relationships with organizations in our community in the last few years . We have collaborated with the Amerikanzentrum Hamburg e . V . and the US Consulate General to celebrate Women ’ s History Month . Maintaining collaborations with other organizations whose members are ex-pats and with the greatest women ’ s lobby in Hamburg , the Landesfrauenrat , helps keep our club strong .
AWCH has changed in the last 10 years , but it remains an open and welcoming club that creates a home away from home and brings women of all nationalities together . For the last 65 years , dedicated volunteers have devoted themselves to keeping AWCH the community where we want to be .
Presentation of check to Hamburger Tafel 2019
One of the changes I have seen in our club over the last 10 years is a strengthening of philanthropic activities and the rewards that come with it . Since 2017 , our charity guidelines have encouraged the two-year support of one local nonprofit organization with fundraising and awareness-raising rather than to support many different organizations . This year , in addition to club fundraising , we successfully nominated the local charity Hanseatic Help for a US $ 4,000 FAWCO Development Grant for “ Empowering Refugee Women in Hamburg .” Since 2017 , we have revived our support of the Nandanvan Trust ( Integrated Tribal and Watershed Development Programme ) in Maharashtra , India , with fundraising and awareness-raising within
34 Special Theme : Our Club Through the Years