@LATEST NEWS (as of August 25, 2024)
AWC Berlin is a proud founding member of FAWCO (www.fawco.org), an international network of independent volunteer clubs and associations with a total membership of around 12,000 in nearly 35 countries. FAWCO is active as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) with special consultative status to the UN Economic and Social Council. FAWCO is non-profit and non-political. As a member of AWC Berlin, you are also a member of FAWCO.
If you are interested in learning more about FAWCO or if have any questions, please contact your FAWCO Representative Kate W. (email address in membership database)
UPCOMING FAWCO EVENTS– Here are some events available to AWC Berlin members from FAWCO:
Regional Meetings (open to all AWC Berlin members!):
- October 4-6, 2024: “Cultivating Connections, Empowering Women”. FAWCO Region 3 Meeting hosted by AWG Paris. Deadline to register is September 15th.
- October 26, 2024: “Women’s Rights in Morocco“ – and the impact on women’s civil liberties concerning the recent changes to Moudawana (the Moroccan family code). FAWCO Region 7 meeting hosted by AIWA Rabat.For registration and more information, please contact Nancy Lukas-Slaoi, AIWA Rabat President at nancy.slaoui@gmail.com OR Cynthia Smith-Ayed, Regional Coordinator Region 7 at rc7@fawco.org.
- November 8-10, 2024: “Nurture Yourself, Nurture the Environment: The First Steps to Global Change”. FAWCO Region 4 meeting hosted by AWC Antwerp. Registration is now open.
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November 15-17, 2024: “Women in Democracy”. FAWCO Region 5 meeting hosted by… us, AWC Berlin! Join us for an enriching weekend, shortly after the US Presidential Election. We’ll explore the theme of Women in Democracy, including a discussion hosted by longtime NPR journalist Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson for Common Ground Berlin.
Fabulous tours, too: from Alternative Berlin to Nefertiti at the Neues Museum (with our own Dr. Fran Durocher!). Connect and collaborate with our fellow Sister Clubs in Germany and Austria.
You’re in for a treat, so mark your calendars! Registration opens early September.
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- FAWCO Biennial Conference – March 25-27, 2025 in Annapolis, MD.
FAWCO Online Events in September (open to all AWC Berlin members!)
* September 04, 2024: 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm CET
Join our US Voting Town Hall with Carolina Ardón Ayala, Special Consular Services Chief, US Embassy London; Kayla Paulson, Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) and Mary Stewart Burgher, US Voting Committee Chair. Learn about the mechanics of voting in the US from overseas in 2024, including any changes to procedures that may affect you and what to do if you encounter problems with your voting. We will conclude with a Q&A session. Please register in advance.
* September 19, 2024: 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm CET
Global Issues Book Discussion: Push by Sapphire
Author Sapphire takes the fight for literacy into the boxing ring of real life. This book challenges the concept that literacy simply means the ability to read and write. It proposes that literacy is the road to freedom. The novel Push was the basis for the 2009 feature film Precious, which was nominated for six Academy Awards. To join in on the discussion, please register here!
* September 22 at 1 pm CET
Virtual Tour of Awesome Blossoms Farms 1 & 2
With FAWCO’s Target Program “Awesome Blossoms,” it’s all about building a sustainable life in Nairobi’s slums through hydroponic farming. Join this virtual meeting to find out more about the systems and processes of Hydroponics Africa and how they are working at our Awesome Blossoms Farms.
US Presidential Election: It’s Time to Register!
Absentee ballots are mailed about 45 days prior to the election, so overseas voters need to register as quickly as possible — if you haven’t already. Check out the Federal Voting Assistance Program to request your ballot, see your state’s guidelines, election dates and deadlines, find your election office or to check the status of your voted ballot. Also, FAWCO will hold a virtual US Voting Town Hall on September 4th, 7:00 pm CET. Find further details and the registration link here.
INSPIRING WOMEN FAWCO Quarterly Magazine
We’re putting the finishing touches on our next issue, Women Entrepreneurs, out on Thursday, September 19th! Be sure to subscribe for free to have it delivered directly to your inbox.
In the meantime, who would you like to see in our November issue, The Family Connection? Tell us your “family” story — family in the broadest sense of the word: multigenerational, blended or nuclear, clubs, church or professional communities, neighborhoods. Nominations are due on Thursday, September 26th. Send a brief description (50-100 words) of why you think they are inspiring and fit the theme for the issue.
ID.me
ID.me allows US citizens/lawful permanent residents to verify their identity and access various US government agency websites, including the IRS, Social Security, the Veterans Administration and many individual state agencies. Get your verified digital ID card here.
Managing Investments: Four Tips
To help with the complexities of cross-border investing, Creative Planning International (not a FAWCO sponsor) has assembled 4 Tips for Managing US (expat) Investments.
FATCA 101: What American Investors Need to Know
Do you invest from outside the USA and are curious about how the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) affects you and your taxes? Read this article for an insightful overview.
FAWCO UN Blogs
FAWCO was present with 20 live delegates at the 2024 UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York! Read about their experiences in blog posts on the FAWCO website.