AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL

WOMEN'S CLUB OF COLOGNE
Local in Cologne • Global at Heart

Charitable Giving • 2019-2022

Promoting Well-Being and Healthy Lives for Women and Children*

Local Commitment

The AIWCC is proud to support Bunter Kreis Rheinland (BKR) as its local charity.

Bunter Kreis Rheinland works with families of chronically ill, critically ill and handicapped children. Their main focus is the medical care of young patients at home by nurses and social workers. Additionally, they offer programs to support the families in their everyday lives including travel and leisure activities for children and young people with disabilities, activities for children suffering from diabetes as well as activities for the healthy brothers and sisters of sick or handicapped children.

All of their programs are donor-financed as health insurance in Germany does not cover these kinds of costs. The Bunter Kreis Rheinland is represented at several hospitals including the University Hospital of Cologne. Their office is located in Bonn.

The organization was proposed by member, Monika Becker, who volunteers in their siblings program. The fact that BKR is exclusively financed through donations makes them a good fit for our fundraising efforts. In addition, we look forward to participating in hands-on volunteer efforts as our relationship grows.

Their Vision

Jedes Kind hat ein Recht auf das erreichbare Höchstmaß an Gesundheit …
Wir sind Sprachrohr für Familien mit kranken und beeinträchtigten Kindern und Jugendlichen. Dabei haben wir die gesamte Familie mit ihrem besonderen Bedarf im Blick, halten Türen auf und machen Wege frei,

Every child has a right to the highest attainable standard of health.
We are a voice for families with sick and handicapped children and young people. We keep an eye on the whole family with its special needs, open doors and clear paths,

Global Commitment

The AIWCC is proud to support the FAWCO Target Project, S.A.F.E. (Safe Alternatives for Female Genital Mutilation Elimination), as its international charity.

Hope for Girls & Women Tanzania (HGWT) is an organization that advocates to end female genital mutilation (FGM) and other harmful practices affecting women and children in Tanzania including but not limited to intimate partner violence, child marriage and other forms of violence. HGWT works to promote and protect the rights of girls and women by providing education to girls and the community at large, strengthening social cohesion, promoting positive social change and increasing the capacity of women and girls to live free of violence through increased access to protection facilities and skills development. HGWT's mission is to promote human dignity and respect for girls and women by:

Campaigning for the elimination of female genital mutilation (FGM) and other harmful practices that affect children and women in their community;
Promoting respect, human dignity and equality of all human beings;
Empowering communities to break the cycle of poverty and inequality;
Supporting survivors of gender-based violence.

S.A.F.E. will work towards achieving these goals by supporting the following programs (among others):

Safe haven for 500 at-risk girls coupled with family counseling services to ensure their safe return home, free from the threat of female genital mutilation (FGM).
Provide healthcare and psychosocial counseling to 200 women and 300 girl survivors of FGM.
Community sensitization through outreach programs and introduction of Alternative Rites of Passage as an alternative to FGM, with a potential reach of 25,000 individuals.
Income-generating opportunities for 50 women and 50 girls and access to the National Health Insurance Fund plan.

To learn more visit the Target Program for Health website.

Club fundraising is done throughout the year. In recent years, our main Charity events have been the Sustainable Fashion Bash and Trivia Night. In past years, the club held formal galas, benefit concerts, a Christmas bazaar, wine tastings and auctions (handbags anyone?). Not all fundraising is a major event. We also have smaller initiatives such as book sales, raffles and much more. Follow our major fundraiser successes here:

February 2020 • 6th Annual Sustainable Fashion Bash raised 3100€
March 2020 • 6th Annual Trivia Night raised 1000€
April 2020 • Call to Action ... Members are making masks. Here is how! (member access only)

Additional funds were raised throughout the year and the club was able to disburse 4600€ in July 2020. Our two charities each received 2000€ and the remaining 600€ was donated to A Mother's Love Initiative in support of Black Lives Matter.

Want to join our Charities Team? Contact vicepresident@aiwccologne.org

If you would like to donate to one of our featured charities through the AIWCC or provide matching funds to encourage further fundraising, we will be glad to recognize you here on our website. For information, please contact president@aiwccologne.org

Whatever we do - we have fun and do good!

*In 2006, the Club received its article of incorporation as a nonprofit organization (e.V. status) and stipulated, through its constitution, a commitment to help the local and international community at large, with a specific focus on women and children. The AIWCC aligns its charitable efforts with the FAWCO Target Program’s three year cycle, with the overarching goal to improve the lives of women and children in the areas of Education, Environment, Health and Human Rights on a rotating basis. The Target Program for Health launched in March 2019 and runs through March 2022.

By supporting one local organization for a three-year period, we build close relationships in our community and make a meaningful difference through our financial support. Our charity partner keeps us abreast of their good works, future projects and how donated funds are being utilized.