AWC Berlin has a three-part philanthropic approach:

1. Globally, we contribute to the FAWCO Target Program, which supports women and children in the areas of education, environment, health, and human rights.
2. Locally, we’ve had a long-standing partnership with the Ronald McDonald House Berlin, which we’ve supported since 2004.
3. Every two years, our members nominate and vote on a Berlin-based charity focused on improving the lives of women and girls. This selected charity becomes the main beneficiary of our fundraising, volunteering, and in-kind donation efforts for that cycle.

Here are the main criteria we consider when selecting a Berlin charity:

• Location: Must be a registered non-profit based in Berlin
• Focus: Should support women and/or girls in the Berlin metro area
• Sustainability: Needs to be financially stable (so our contributions go toward impact, not organizational survival)
• Project Scope: Ideally, funds support a specific project or need with a clear timeline and tangible outcome
• Impact: The broader the reach, the better—projects that help more women and girls are prioritized
• Volunteering: Opportunities for AWC member involvement are strongly preferred

In addition to our structured giving, we are also actively looking into community volunteering opportunities, where our members can offer real hands-on support to local organizations – this is a growing area of focus for us. Currently we work with the Ronald McDonald House Berlin-Wedding and Berliner Tafel e.V. on a regular basis.

Local Charity – DonyA/Wildwasser

For our 2025–2026 charity cycle, AWC Berlin is proud to support DonyA, a 24/7 supervised residential program operated by Wildwasser. DonyA offers a safe and stabilizing home for girls and young women aged 12–21, many of whom arrive after fleeing unsafe home environments or from emergency services. Grounded in feminist and intersectional principles, Wildwasser offers trauma-informed counselling, advocacy, and long-term support, while working to challenge structural inequality and promote self-determination

Our fundraising focus is on closing a critical funding gap: foreign-language therapy and interpretation services that are essential for many residents. These services are vital to ensuring access to trauma-informed care for non-German-speaking girls and young women.

The Ronald McDonald House

Since 2004, our Club is an active supporter of the Ronald McDonald House Berlin-Wedding (RMDH). Located just a few blocks from the Charite Campus Virchow-Klinikum, RMDH is designed to be a temporary residence for families whose child is receiving prolonged medical treatment at the clinic for serious illnesses. Families normally spend the day at the clinic and come home to the RMDH physically and emotionally exhausted, still worried about their child, and in need of nutritious, comforting food. AWC Berlin sponsors 1 of the 33 apartments and every quarter, we cook for the resident families.

The AWC RMDH team designs a menu following a particular theme for the evening, shops for the necessary groceries, and organizes a team of AWC members who have volunteered to cook. Everyone comes together to collectively cook the recipes on the premises of the RMDH and serves the families.

FAWCO Target Project

For 2022-2025, FAWCO members selected the Awesome Blossoms project, which developed water-efficient urban farms to support education programs for children as well as the empowerment of 75 women entrepreneurs in the Mathare slum of Nairobi.

With the enthusiasm and support of the FAWCO family, we were able to install three farms, with 500 hydroponic gardens each, in two schools, purchase a vehicle to transport vegetables to the market for sale, as well as purchase land for the creation of a center of excellence and training for the long-term sustainability of the project.AWC Berlin was an Orchid Donor for the FAWCO Target Project 2022-2025. We thank members and friends who donated over 6,000 Euro.

Originally from California with roots in Boston, Kendra Valentine has called Berlin home for the past ten years. She holds a BA in Film Studies and Philosophy from Boston College and a master’s degree from Stockholm University with a focus in entrepreneurship. As a story strategist and published author (How to Pitch (Almost) Anything, Pearson Business, 2025), she helps businesses, creative projects, and institutions communicate their value clearly across cultures and industries.

Living abroad 15+ years has taught Kendra how vital community is for those far from home, deepening her connection to AWC’s mission. A dedicated volunteer since youth, she’s passionate about service work and is especially honored to support this year’s philanthropic cause, which holds particular significance for her.