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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
