Together We Make a Difference

Tomobola Tickets on sale in the Rotunda from 11.00-14.00, Monday to Friday, 25-29 November, and at the Bazaar on 30 November.
Tomobola Tickets on sale in the Rotunda from 11.00-14.00, Monday to Friday, 25-29 November, and at the Bazaar on 30 November.

Membership in the UNWG is open to any woman who is a staff member or the spouse of a staff member of the United Nations Organizations or Permanent Missions to these organizations in Vienna. A monthly newsletter and weekly Friday updates are available to all members. The Guild has monthly General Meetings as well as a Welcoming Coffee to introduce new members. Very often this includes a cultural program hosted by the representative of a country. The UNWG has many regular activities for our members to pursue special interests and to meet other members in smaller groups. These activities include language classes, walk-run, crafts, cooking classes, book and poetry reading, and visits to Austrian cultural highlights and to other countries. In addition, we have on-going fundraising through our Kiosk, Charity Shop and Book Shop. Once a year we offer an International Luncheon in the VIC, where our members present their country’s specialties as part of our fundraising efforts. The Family Support Committee aims to promote Guild members' emotional well-being and is available to find support and guidance in crisis situations.

To apply for UNWG membership, please come by the UNWG office in VIC, Room F-1036. Or contact us at infounwgvienna@gmail.com.

Program for November-December 2024
Please click for program of events.

HELP IN CRISIS: The Family Support Committee (FSC) of the UNWG provides appropriate information to support spouses and families in crisis situations. The aim is to promote members’ emotional well-being. Confidentiality and anonymity are an integral part of the process. The FSC offers support in multiple languages.

For emergency support, contact the Frauenhäuser 24-hour number: 05 77 22
https://www.frauenhaeuser-wien.at/en_help.htm Call 01/512 38 39 for advice & assistance in German, English & Turkish.

Each year at the Annual General Meeting 11 members are elect to be on the Board to plan and implement programs of the following year. The composition of the UNWG Board reflects the diversity of the general members, coming from different parts of the world. For a list of the Board members from 1999 to 2024, please click here.


The Elected Board for 2024:

Cathy Kieffer (Canada) President; Rui Qing Zhou (China) 1st VP; Karissa Laughter (USA) 2nd VP; Naeem Akhtar (Pakistan) Treasurer; Makaltouma Diakité (Niger) Secretary; Kalpana Scholtes Dash (Belgium/India) Newsletter Editor; Marina Balasanyan (Armenia) Publicity Chairwoman; Rana Hawash Al-Masri (Palestine/Austria) Activities Chairwoman; Maya Subki (Indonesia) Welcoming Chairwoman; Burghild Mank (Germany) Membership Chairwoman; Kavita Verma (India) Bazaar Chairwoman

2024 Board Contact Information and Photos

Office Managers: At the UNWG, our Office Managers play a vital role in ensuring that the office runs smoothly and efficiently, enabling the UNWG to achieve its goals and objectives. The Office Managers at the Guild are responsible for assisting members, the Board Secretary, and Board Members, as well as managing the daily operation of the office during office hours. Office Managers are there to help members with any questions or concerns they may have.

Top row left to right: Weyning Li, Barbara Bao, Anna Fenopetova, Nora Aubert, Tara Desai, Rana Hawash Al Masri, Cathy Kieffer, Marina Koloskova

Bottom row left to right: Tsige Zerfu, Ruiquing Zhou, Ouma Makaltouma Diakité, Oana Jacobs

Absent from photo: Aleksandra Jackowska, Choghik (Shosho) Baghdoyan, Tamara Babayan-Bohdjalian, Yamina (Amina) Laïb-Maksoudi, Nadia Chabane, Marie Bromley Handy, Isabelle Ekwelle, Maya Subki

Ongoing fundraising for charity

The UNWG's major fundraiser is the Annual International Festival Bazaar. In addition, member volunteers work throughout the year at our ongoing fundraisers inside the VIC: Kiosk, Charity Shop and Book Sale.

Charity Shop

<p><span class="TextRun SCXW53568757 BCX4"><span class="TextRun SCXW159970791 BCX4">The Charity Shop sells gently used donated clothing and household items on Tuesday and Thursday from 12:00-14:00 in room G0E76, just past the VIC café. During the annual bazaar it is one of the most popular sales points.</span><span class="EOP SCXW159970791 BCX4"> <br /></span></span></p>

The Charity Shop sells gently used donated clothing and household items on Tuesday and Thursday from 12:00-14:00 in room G0E76, just past the VIC café. During the annual bazaar it is one of the most popular sales points.

Book Shop

<p><span class="TextRun SCXW83062241 BCX4">The Second-Hand Book Shop sells donated books in many languages and genres, including children’s books. In addition, DVDs and CDs are also sold. The shop is open on Wednesday and Friday from 12:00-14:00 in room G0E76 </span><span class="TextRun SCXW83062241 BCX4">just past the VIC café.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW83062241 BCX4"> <br /></span></p>

The Second-Hand Book Shop sells donated books in many languages and genres, including children’s books. In addition, DVDs and CDs are also sold. The shop is open on Wednesday and Friday from 12:00-14:00 in room G0E76 just past the VIC café.

Kiosk

<p><span class="TextRun SCXW53568757 BCX4">The Kiosk is the UNWG’s face to the public, located inside Gate 1 of the VIC.  They sell a variety of products and are the second highest fundraiser for the Guild after the Bazaar. As volunteers we learn jewelry and craft, as well as sales. To learn more, </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW53568757 BCX4" href="https://unwg.unvienna.org/unwg/en/kiosk.html"><span class="TextRun SCXW53568757 BCX4"><span class="TextRun SCXW53568757 BCX4">click here</span></span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW53568757 BCX4">.</span></p>

The Kiosk is the UNWG’s face to the public, located inside Gate 1 of the VIC. They sell a variety of products and are the second highest fundraiser for the Guild after the Bazaar. As volunteers we learn jewelry and craft, as well as sales. To learn more, click here.

Friendship, learning & fun

Are you interested in making new friends, learning something new, sharing a laugh? UNWG supports our members as we organize activities in many aspects of life in Vienna. Some of our activities include, but are not limited to: cooking demonstrations, language classes, craft groups, poetry reading, book discussions, walk-run in the Prater, city & woods walks, excursions to places near and far, cultural programs, sorting donated stamps and coins for the bazaar, etc. Whatever your interests are, you can usually find it, or start something new.

Bazaar
The Bazaar attracts thousands of visitors every year. It requires an enormous amount of planning and preparation all year long and on the day of the bazaar. For more on the bazaar, click <a href="https://unwg.unvienna.org/unwg/en/bazaar.html">here.</a>
The Bazaar attracts thousands of visitors every year. It requires an enormous amount of planning and preparation all year long and on the day of the bazaar. For more on the bazaar, click here.
Fashion & culture
<span class="TextRun SCXW97837789 BCX4"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW97837789 BCX4">National costumes are presented at the UNWG meetings with</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW97837789 BCX4"> members from other countries sharing their experience.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW97837789 BCX4"> Video presentations by countries </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW97837789 BCX4">give an introduction to unique aspects of their country.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW97837789 BCX4"> </span>
National costumes are presented at the UNWG meetings with members from other countries sharing their experience. Video presentations by countries give an introduction to unique aspects of their country.
Handicrafts
Join the ribbon embroidery group, quilting group, jewelry making or an origami folding class. Or take part in one of the workshops organized by the Kiosk. Share your talents and skill or start a new craft group.
Join the ribbon embroidery group, quilting group, jewelry making or an origami folding class. Or take part in one of the workshops organized by the Kiosk. Share your talents and skill or start a new craft group.
Books & Poetry
The book and poetry groups meet up monthly to discuss a chosen book and poetry theme. If you enjoy reading books from all over the world or examining poetry in more depth, either of these groups might be for you.
The book and poetry groups meet up monthly to discuss a chosen book and poetry theme. If you enjoy reading books from all over the world or examining poetry in more depth, either of these groups might be for you.
Bridge
<p>The group welcomes new and accomplished players. No one in the group is a bridge expert, nor are we a competitive group. But we can help others learn to play and enjoy the game.</p>

The group welcomes new and accomplished players. No one in the group is a bridge expert, nor are we a competitive group. But we can help others learn to play and enjoy the game.

Austria & beyond
<span class="TextRun SCXW246757753 BCX4">Join with members on our different types of excursions, from city tours, walks in the woods, a day trip to a place nearby, or longer trips to another country.</span><span class="EOP SCXW246757753 BCX4"> </span>
Join with members on our different types of excursions, from city tours, walks in the woods, a day trip to a place nearby, or longer trips to another country.
cuisine & more
<span class="TextRun SCXW251308771 BCX4">Do you have a favorite dish from your country that you would like to show members how to prepare and share? Members are always coming up with new ideas for things to do together.</span><span class="EOP SCXW251308771 BCX4"> </span>
Do you have a favorite dish from your country that you would like to show members how to prepare and share? Members are always coming up with new ideas for things to do together.
Walk & run
<span class="TextRun SCXW188634220 BCX4"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW188634220 BCX4">Members meet in the Donau Park or the Prater for a walk or run or combination of both, whatever your speed is. We also </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW188634220 BCX4">take part</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW188634220 BCX4"> in the yearly Austrian Frauenlauf held in the Prater.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW188634220 BCX4"> </span>
Members meet in the Donau Park or the Prater for a walk or run or combination of both, whatever your speed is. We also take part in the yearly Austrian Frauenlauf held in the Prater.