United Nations Women’s Guild of Geneva May - June 2015 Summer Edition

Wishing everyone a happy and restful Summer From the UNWG Executive Committee

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CONTENTS 3

President’s Welcome

14

UN Art Exhibition

4

President’s Welcome (cont.)

15

Visit & Culture

5

Coffee Morning details

16

Book Club

6

Executive Committee 2014/2015

17

Book Club (cont.)

7

Nominating Committee 2015

18

Language Courses

8

Nominating Committee 2015 (cont.)

19

List of Activities

9

Projects from around the World: Kenya

20 Notices

10 Projects from around the World: Niger

21 Notices

11

New Members list

22 Notices

12

Annual Lunch

23 Editor’s messages

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Annual Lunch (cont.)

24 Editor’s messages (cont.)

Dear Members We have unfortunately been unable to find a sponsor for printing newsletters. If you know of anyone who may be able to assist us, we would be most grateful if you could let us know. To keep our commitment to our members who do not have internet access, a Listings of Events will sent by post. Thank you for your understanding. The Executive Committee

English Newsletter Editor: Karen Rowland Photos: Celia Auroi Distribution: Budi Maher & team Website: Olga Mednikova

Members with internet access will find a copy of the UNWG newsletter at

http://www.unwg.ch/ All other members will receive a Listings of Events by post.

UNITED NATIONS WOMEN’S GUILD Villa les Feuillantines, 13 Avenue de la Paix, 1211 Genève 10 Tel: 022 917 33 86 Email: [email protected] Opening times: Monday to Friday 9.30am—12.00pm Bank Account No. 279-CA101215.0 Clearing No. 279 IBAN: CH50 0027 9279 CA10 12150

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President’s Welcome

Dear friends, A sizeable group of 35 new members attended the information meeting that was convened at the Villa, on 16th March, in order to brief them on the range of activities of the Guild. The members of the Executive Committee introduced themselves and presented their respective tasks. Zoubida Franzoni, Chairwoman of the Nominating Committee, mentioned the positions that will be opened for election at the General Assembly in May. In the absence of Awa Diop Fall, VicePresident - Projects, Bilkür Köker and Patricia Urcuyo Murith explained how to submit projects to be financed from the takings of the Bazaar and of the Kiosk and outlined the process of selection of, disbursements for and reporting on the projects. A number of attendees already declared themselves willing to dedicate some of their time to the Guild. With the help of Hannelore Zeidi, Peta Girod had set a beautiful table in the projects room, where the participants could savour some sweets with tea or coffee. Thanks and congratulations to Peta and Hannelore for having organised this after-party with perfect care and taste. The success of this event will certainly be of benefit to the Guild. The Association of Wives of African Ambassadors hosted the coffee-morning on 14th April. The wives of Heads of mission of Latin American states and members from those countries will be our hosts for the coffee-morning on 5th May. The Asian Ladies Group will organise the following one on 16th June. This will be another opportunity to get better acquainted with other cultures, to savour some delights of other culinary traditions and to admire other colourful outfits. The exhibition “Art and Crafts” will be shown at the Palais des Nations from Monday, 11th May to Wednesday, 27th May. Farida Alan and Zoubida Franzoni are organising it with the cooperation of Manila Paktian as well as of Peta Girod as welcoming officer and of the ever-ready Hospitality team lead by Bernadette Thonnart. The opening will take place on 11th May at 6 p.m. Please tell your guests to arrive at the Pregny Gate as of 5 p.m. but no later than 5.45 p.m. to make sure that they can get to the room before the official part of the opening. The talents of our creative friends deserve the homage of your visit. The 2015 Annual General Assembly is scheduled for Friday, 29th May at 1 p.m. at ILO. Please note that date. Come in numbers to elect the candidates of your choice amongst those diligently selected by the Nominating Committee for the vacant positions. You may send questions to Marit De Winter, President of AGA 2015, in writing only, in a closed envelope to be dropped off at or posted to the Villa. Your personal attendance will impart to the AGA a note of conviviality that will enhance its attractiveness and dynamism. The traditional annual lunch will take place on Thursday, 4th June at the Best Western Hotel in Chavannes-de-Bogis. For the following Thursday, 11th June, we propose an outing by CGN boat to Yvoire, as a Visits and Culture event, with lunch in the heart of this medieval village. Continued on next page 3

President’s Welcome cont.

Originally scheduled for 8th May, the Children’s Walk has been postponed to 2nd October 2015. The teams in charge of the preparations for this important event will convene in the coming weeks and make sure that everything is ready when we return from holiday. The date for the Bazaar 2015 has been set in agreement with UNOG: Tuesday, 24th November. With our friends making up the Bazaar Committee, the Bazaar President, Mrs Andrea Vazquez D’Alotto, wife of the Permanent Representative of Argentina, and the Vice-President, Mrs Eleonora Lucangeli Serra, wife of the Permanent Representative of Italy, will launch preparations before the summer. This process will speed up and intensify as of September, like every year, with the valued contribution of many of you. I would like to express here our gratitude to our friend Awa Diop Fall and to her Projects team. Once more, they have done a remarkable job selecting a lot of projects and taking on a number of applications for scholarship. Awa’s term in the Executive Committee will come to an end in June. We wish her all the best in the future. Our friend Bernadette Thonnart will leave the Executive Committee in June after four years. Fortunately she will remain with us in the Guild. I thank her wholeheartedly for having performed her hospitality task outstandingly. Many thanks also to Anastasya Awal, our Recording Secretary for English, as well as to Jasmina Miljkovic, our treasurer who has carefully watched over the finances of the Guild. Friendship, conviviality, solidarity, generosity and mutual attention are the essentials of the relations between us coming from more than hundred countries of the five continents. For the success of our activities and meetings as well as of our efforts for the sake of children in need, let us take advantage of the diversity of origins, cultures, professions, tastes and life experiences within our Guild. I thank each and everyone of you for the knowledge, the talents, the ideas and the creativity that you let the Guild profit from as well as for the time you devote to it, for the Bazaar, the Children’s Walk as well as for our meetings and other activities. Warm regards Christine Evéquoz

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Monthly Coffee Mornings

The coffee morning held on Tuesday 14 April was offered by Association of African Ambassadors’ Wives led by Mrs Kaltouma Bamanga Abbas, wife of the Ambassador to Chad. .

Thank you all very much!

May’s monthly coffee morning will be held on Tuesday 5 May. It will be kindly hosted by the wives of the Ambassadors of the Permanent Missions of Latin America to the UN. Time: 09h30 - 11h30am Place: UN, Building E, Door 40, Second Floor, Mezzanine June’s coffee morning will be held on Tuesday 16 June and will be kindly hosted by the Asian Ladies Group. Time: 09h30 - 11h30am Place: UN, Building E, Door 40, Second Floor, Mezzanine Bus: 8,28,F,V,Z Stop: Appia Cost: CHF3 members only Please note that only UNWG members are invited to the coffee mornings held at the UN.

Please note that coffee mornings start promptly at 9.30am and the area must be cleaned and vacated by 11.30pm.

Hospitality Welcome

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Bernadette Thonnart Carmen Falaize Peta Girod

0033 450 41 47 94 022 741 13 42/078 761 22 87 079 200 64 14

MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2014-15

Awa Fall-Diop Vice-President for Projects

Christine Evequoz President

Manila Paktian Vice-President for Activities

Jasmina Miljkovic Treasurer

osephine Mushumbo-Falavigna Public Relations

Marie-Sophie Desjobert French Newsletter Editor

Karen Rowland English Newsletter Editor

Sibyl de Peic Membership Bernadette Thonnart Hospitaltity

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Anastasya Awal English Recording Secretary

Agnes Heusel Membership

Nora Magistris French Recording Secretary

Peta Girod Welcoming

Xiaojin Zhang Co-Treasurer

Ghazzala Syeddah Nayyar Education

UNWG Annual General Assembly will be held on Friday 29 May 2015 at 13h00 at ILO, Room V. This meeting will presided by M. Marit De Winter THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE 2015 Zoubida Franzoni (Chairwoman) Beverley Antille Gertrud Attar Elisabeth Kandem The Nominating Committee welcome applications for the following forthcoming posts. We remind you that only regular members who have paid their membership fees are entitled to vote at the AGA. The vacancies for positions on the UNWG Executive Committee will commence in 2015. 1. Vice President - Projects (2 years: 2015-2017)  Elected for two years renewable, but one year after the election of the President and the Vice President Activities. Acts in place of the President and Vice President Activities in the absence thereof however, is not entitled to replace either of the positions in case of resignation.  Collecting the project proposals submitted by members.  To ensure projects meet fairly balanced requirements "to help disadvantaged children around the world” before submitting them for consideration by the Executive Committee for approval / rejection.  To ensure with the Executive Committee the monitoring of their implementation.  Fluency in French and English is a requirement. 2. Treasurer (2 years: 2015-2017) Collects annual fees and all funds of UNWG, pays the bills according to the instructions of the Executive Committee.  Transfers the amounts destined for projects.  Ensures the book keeping of revenues and expenditures and prepares an annual financial report for the GA.  Knowledge of accounting and / or finance desirable.  Excellent IT skills especially Microsoft Excel. 

3. Co-Membership Secretary (2 years: 2015-2017) Keeps up to date the membership list, including associated members list up to date. Prepares labels for different mailings to members. Prepares statistics for the Executive Committee. Prepares membership cards. Cooperates with the Treasurers for the compilation of the telephone directory which is distributed to members. Must have good computer literacy.

     

4. Recording Secretary -English (2 years: 2015-2017) Attends meetings of the EC and takes minutes. Sets the agenda for meetings of the EC. Ensures the preparation of the annual report and the AGM.

  

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5. Newsletter Editor - French (2 years: 2015-2017)  Gathers information from group leaders regarding any changes.  Prepares and ensures the printing of the newsletter every 2 months.  Coordinates the team responsible for uploading the newsletter on the UNWG’s website and its mailing.  French must be mother tongue with good knowledge of English.  Must have excellent computer skills. 6. Visits and Culture (2 years: 2015-2017) Prepares every month a meeting or a cultural visit of interest to members. Must obtain the approval of the President or the EC before launching a project.

 

7. Monthly meeting (2 years: 2015-2017)  Prepares a monthly meeting by arranging for a speaker to address the meeting (or delegates another person).  Ensures that the theme of the presentation is approved by the Executive Committee. 8. Public Relations (1 year: 2015-2016) Develops the UNWG’s image through the creation and distribution of general information. Coordinates activities of the Guild with international organizations in Geneva. Maintains contacts with the media. Provides new activities to publicize the CFNU. Coordinates the management of the kiosk.

    

9. Hospitality (2 years: 2015-2017) Ensures with his team - the service and enough drinks to coffee mornings. Cleaning after service The transportation of goods Collects the money paid by members at the entrance and affixes with her collaborator the signature on the receipt  Ensures monthly search of a host country contact and buys a token of thanks or flowers for the ambassador or the speaker.  Participates in the monthly meeting of the Executive Committee and submits a report at the request of the President.  Writes in French and English an annual report to the Recording Secretary in February.    

Kindly submit your CV and letter of motivation before 18th of February 2015 to the Nominating Committee. Do not hesitate to contact us: Zoubida Franzoni (Chairwoman): [email protected]/00 33 4 50 95 68 30 Beverley Antille: 022 758 22 72 Gertrud Attar: [email protected]/022 788 32 74 Elisabeth Kandem: 00 41 76 207 14 22

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Our Projects Throughout the World "Computer training" in KENYA Report by Vice President-Projects, Awa Diop Fall

Keri Computer project started in 2006 when its members received a donation of second hand computers. The tables and chairs were also a donation. The computer project aims at equipping girls from financially under privileged families with computer skills to assist them in job-seeking or in starting their own business, thus this course attempts to break the cycle of poverty. The teacher used Kiswahili to explain some of the concepts. Words had to be found to replace the technical terms, which sometimes made the content delivery difficult and ambiguous. Most of the students are on average between 17 – 20 years old and have just cleared school and need to do a course to find a job. But some are casual workers who live in Kibera and who want to learn how to use computers for purposes of applying for better jobs or being able to use computers in the work place to access important information. The donation of the United Nations Women’s GUILD (UNWG) allowed Keri project to purchase nine new computers together with 9 licenses for Microsoft Windows 8 and the latest version of Microsoft Office for all the nine machines. This enables the girls to understand faster; otherwise it becomes cumbersome to teach without teaching aids. All the beneficiaries join Keri in thanking the UNWG for the precious opportunities given to the deprived children. Many of them continue to draw the benefits of being able to go online and to learn new skills or to find new ideas or even to apply for jobs and be supported by NOMA.

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Our Projects Throughout the World " Rescuing children with the NOMA disease " in NIGER Report by Vice President-Projects, Awa Diop Fall

The “Fondation Sentinelles” wants to rescue the most bruised children. The NOMA programme in Niger has for mission to research, care, nurture, support children with NOMA. This devastating gangrenous disease, or cancrum oris, develops in the mouth and ravage the facial tissues. Its causes are mainly the lack of hygiene and malnutrition. Found on time and with a simple antibiotic, in very young children, NOMA could be cured in its first week. Without treatment, NOMA is fatal in 80% of cases, leaving the survivors in a state of mutilation unsustainable. In caring for the children with NOMA, the Sentinelles programme in Niger provide daily care and give medications (antibiotics) needed for stopping the development of the disease. The comprehensive care can last for days, weeks, months and sometimes even years. On the medical side, all expenses related to the children and supported by NOMA include the purchase of monthly medicines, the medical tests, the other dentists treatments such as the extraction of death bone due to NOMA or dental care necessary for the healing process. In its action against NOMA in Niger, Sentinelles has been generously supported by the UNWG. Thanks to this donation, it was possible to cover part of expenses related to medical side, thus to the treatments, and food provision during four months at the welcoming Centre of Zinder.

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Welcome to all newcomers to the UN Women’s Guild in Geneva AGUIRRE Maria Aparecida AHERN Mary ALKHAYYAT Aroub AL-SAADI Lamiya AMINE SAINT-ROCH Latifa BARRY Fatou Degole Diop CASTRILLON PILO-PAIS Connie CERI Hilal DEATS Nicola DEMIROZ-MODESTOVA Alexandra EL BEDOUR Taroub EMUZE Martina ERSKINE Emily FALCON Judith FRANZONI Nadia GARCIA-DIAZ Francisca GAYYUSI Maysa GONSALVES Juliana Chacko GU Libei GUEYE Mame Narou GUTNICK Reva HAMISH Heba HLA MORVAN Khin Khin ISHII Monica KAMAL Fatma Eizahraa

Paraguay Great Britain Jordan Oman France Senegal Ecuador Turkey Great Britain Russia Jordan Nigeria Liberia Cuba Switzerland Spain Egypt USA China Senegal Canada Egypt Myanmar Japan Egypt

Above and Top Right: A Welcome Reception was held for new members to the UNWG on Monday 16 March.

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KHATTAB-SADEK Nesma KOZAN TOPCU Ayse LIANG Chu -Yi, Cygnet MAJALI Saja S. MALHERBE Evita Mary MASON Elizabeth MEIER Gihane MOLDOVAN Ecaterina NIYONKURU Appoline OZTURK Aynur PYTHON AKBAL Gülsen SAKUGAWA Maiko SENE Banel Thiello SHARK Lidian SLAVINSKAIA Lilia SOKONA Khanata SULTANA Kazi Nahida SULTANA Mahmuda UDOMWICHAIWAT Chutharat VORAPIPATANA Kanewaree WARREN Barbara WELATA Zeinebou XIAO Ping ZHOU Zhengjia

Egypt Turkey Taiwan Jordan Switzerland Great Britain Switzerland Moldova Burundi Turkey Turkey Japan Senegal USA Russia Mali Bangladesh Bangladesh Thailand Thailand Canada Mauritania China China

United Nations Women’s Guild – Geneva

ANNUAL LUNCHEON with a fashion show Thursday 4 June 2015 at 12.15pm Best Western Hotel Chavannes-de-Bogis Price / Prix: 65.-- CHF Apéritif Starter Main Course Dessert Coffee To make a reservation, please contact: Xiaojin Zhang in person at the Villa or at May’s Coffee Morning For participation in the fashion show: Manila Paktian: 079/275.17.85 Free parking

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In order to entertain the ladies and to make this year’s luncheon different, we plan to organize a national dress show during the course of the lunch. Participation is voluntary and those who are attending the luncheon and are interested in participating in the fashion show, should contact Manila Paktian at [email protected]

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Visits & Culture Dear friends, We propose for Thursday, June 11 a CGN boat trip from Geneva to Yvoire via Nyon and return to Geneva via Nyon (boarding and landing possible at Nyon), with lunch in Yvoire at the restaurant, Les Jardins du Léman. You can bring a friend or a family member. Price for the lunch: €43.00 (all taxes included) for: aperitif, starter, main course, a vegetarian option is available and dessert; mineral water, soft drinks, wine, coffee or tea. Registration and payment for the lunch: At the coffee mornings on 14 April and 5 May as well as at the Villa, every Monday morning from 10:00 to 12:00. Xiaojin Zhang will be glad to receive you on those days and hours. You will be able to consult the menu at the same time and choose an option for the main course. Please be so kind to bring the exact amount of € 43.00 upon payment. No booking, no information by phone. Boat trip schedule : departure from Geneva Mont Blanc stop at Geneva Eaux-Vives stop at Nyon (boarding possible) arrival at Yvoire

10:15 10:24 11:35 11:57

departure from Yvoire for the return trip stop at Nyon (landing possible) arrival at Geneva

16:20 16:50 18:00

Boat fare for Geneva - Yvoire and return full fare group fare (minimum 10 passengers) with half-fare travelcard

CHF 48.00 CHF 38,40 CHF 24.00

Boat fare for Nyon-Yvoire and return full fare group fare (minimum 10 passengers) with half-fare travelcard

CHF 26.00 CHF 20.80 CHF 13.00

GA travel card is accepted. Members with GA or half-fare travelcard please be kind enough to mention it when signing and paying for the lunch. The payment for the boat trip will be done only at the beginning of June to ensure benefit of the group fare. Members wishing to go to Yvoire by car please inform Xiaojin on due time, no later than Monday 1st June.

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BOOK CLUB On Friday, 22nd May 2015, at 2 pm in the Villa, we shall be discussing our book of the month: The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O’Farrell. Two women, two destinies and two different epochs are intertwined skilfully by the author. In the fifties the young graduate, Alexandra Sinclair, leaves her home in Devon, England to experience a new life in the centre of London following a chance meeting with Innes Kent, the art dealer, journalist, critic and selfconfessed hedonist. Half a century later, Elina is recovering from a traumatic first childbirth which nearly killed her and is about to destroy her relationship with her husband Ted who has been behaving oddly ever since. The two stories are connected and it is Ted who will reveal the secret that connects Alexandra and Elina.

On Friday, 12th June 2015, at 2 pm in the Villa, we shall be discussing our book of the month: The Way To Paradise by Mario Vargas Liosa. Liosa's novel recounts, in alternating chapters, the story of two extraordinary destinies: the painter, Paul Gauguin, and his feminist grandmother, Flora Tristan. Although a century separates them and they never knew each other, they both aspired to achieve an insatiable and unrealistic dream to reach their much-coveted paradise. Two lives with their differences and similarities with one objective in mind, their endeavour to liberate themselves from the traditionalist society of their time. You can read all about books we have previously reviewed and discussed in our monthly meetings of the UNWG Book Club and see the list of books we will be reading and discussing in the coming months, at my website: http://www.1stbookreview.com All the best, Chouhrette

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A BOOK CAN BE YOUR BEST FRIEND The United Nations Women's Guild Book Club was started in October 2003 by Charlotte Hein. Unfortunately, after only two sessions, Charlotte had to leave Geneva in December 2003. As I was a member of The Book Club at the time, Charlotte asked me if I could continue running it. I accepted willingly, and started from January 2004 until today. Every year, before the summer holidays and in the Autumn, I give the members the list of books we will be reading in the coming months. We meet every last Friday of the month to discuss the chosen novel. For more than 10 years, the UNWG Book Club has attracted a small but devoted group of followers, eager to discover new perspectives in international literature. With a book selection spanning dozens of countries of origin and a multitude of literary genres, not only do the ladies enjoy novels on their own merit, but they also engage in riveting discussions about themes and narrative of the novel as well as other questions surrounding the historical, cultural or social settings of the story. The appeal of The Book Club is undeniably immense - it encourages reading as a relaxing or even stimulating pastime which helps prevent diseases like Alzheimer and the like. Additionally, the content and scope of the novels are enlightening and didactic. Who doesn't like to escape from their hectic daily life, if only for a short while, to travel to a different world, sometimes to another century or a magical universe? After celebrating in a manner befitting the occasion, our 100th novel on Friday 27th March 2015, we invite all book lovers or even any ladies who might be interested or curious, to join us so that we can travel together through the world of literature and discover new fascinating horizons. All the very best, Chouhrette Bunzl

Where books and friendship meet. Photos of Chouhrette and Book Club members

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LANGUAGE COURSES Day

Mon

Time

Language

Thur

Fri

Phone no.

Tina Puliga Room 1

+33456910018 079 791 79 94

09h30-11h30

Italian One hour Beginners One hour Advanced

10h00-12h00

French B1

Hassiba Oulhaci Room 3

022 362 99 80

10h00-12h00

French A2

Nadia Mehdi Room 2

+33 450 04 06 55

09h30-11h30

French Conversation

Maryse Nicora

+ 33 450 40 67 25

10h30-12h00

English Beginner

Karen Ransome Room 1

022 788 15 53

14h30-16h00

Spanish Intermediate

Doris Murillo Room 2

022 774 36 12

10h00-12h00

French A1

Baya Cherif Room 2

022 345 27 70

14h00-15h30

Japanese

Kyoko Ohkawa Room 2

079 830 30 94

09h30 - 11h30

German First hour Intermediate Second hour Beginners

Michaela Hajnoczi Room 2

022 750 22 50

10h00-11h30

English Conversation

Christine McLean

+33 450 20 83 66

13h00-14h30

Intermediate English

Bilqueece Alimohamed Room 2

022 788 47 88 078 752 95 95

09h30-11h00

Arabic French Intermediate & Advanced

Heba Mamish Room 1

022 758 1460

11h00-12h30

Arabic French Beginners

Heba Mamish Room 1

022 758 1460

10h30-12h30

English Conversation

Bertha Dubois Room 3

022 758 19 47

Tues

Wed

Group Leader

Registration for all language courses and activities will always take place at Villa des Feuillantines on Monday to Friday from 09h30am to 11h30. Please read Editor’s Notes for next September registration. To be eligible to register for any course or activity, you must show your current membership card upon registration. Bus: 5, 8, 22, 28, F, V, Z Tram: 15 Bus & Tram stop: Nations 18

ACTIVITIES Day

Time

Tues

2nd Tue of the month 10h30-12h30

Wed

Fri

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Image Consulting

Group leader

Phone no.

Rozmi Tzanos-Pahlisch

022 792 2035

13h45-17h00

Open Bridge at ILO

Eda Bankowski Imogen Lewis

022 793 6727 +33 450 28 37 93

14h00-16h00

Handicraft & Quilting

Manila Paktian Room 3

022 340 5483

Mahroughe Mary Kazazi Marit De Winter Edith Mayer-Wallin

022 776 08 58 022 797 27 47 +33 450 41 06 71

Sibyl de Peic

079 202 26 11

09h00 onwards

10h15-11h30

Thur

Activity

Hiking

Pilates at ITU

1st, 2nd and 4th Wed of the month 10h00-12h30

Painting & Artistic Techniques

Chantal Andersen Room 3

+33 450 99 10 39

3rd Wed of the month 10h00-12h30

Painting & Artistic Techniques

Mojdeh Taleghani Room 3

+ 33 450 26 14 71 + 33 450 70 42 77

12h30-16h30

Mah Jong

Chantal Andersen Room 1

+33 450 99 10 39

14h00-16h30

Painting/Artistic Techniques

Anny Tarnay Room 3

022 776 49 88 079 262 67 21

09h30-13h30

Social Bridge

Rosaleen Nassif Room 1

022 791 06 85

14h30-15h45

Pilates at ITU

Sibyl de Peic

079 202 26 11

09h30-10h30

Fitness Training at WHO

Cornelia Schenck

+33 450 40 45 88

Nouzha Ottmani-Mersaoui Room 3

022 793 11 35 079 912 40 85

Ilona Mercz Room 3

+33 450 42 82 34

Chouhrette Bunzl Room 3

022 752 11 04

3rd Fri of the month 09h30-11h30

Jewellery Making

Last Fri of the month 14h00-16h00

Cooking

Last Fri of the month 14h00 - 16h00

Book Club

Notices

In Memoriam - Ana Celia Seppälä

A Short Biography Ana was born in Mexico city on the 6th of November 1941. She grew up with 4 brothers and 1 sister. She was always first in class, and even graduated as first of whole of Mexico City from high school. Ana always wanted to live abroad, and managed to get a scholarship for architecture studies in Finland, where she met Matti, a brilliant economy student passioned by Mexico and painting, who she married in 1972 and followed around the world. Together they had 2 children Selja and Heikki, present here today. While the children were still very young, they moved to Venezuela for a couple of years. After that, the family made a short hop in Finland before moving to Mozambique in the aftermaths of a civil war. Although Ana had a good architect job and the children were taken good care of, the amount of stress was quite enormous and at the end she moved to Mexico with the children for the remaining last months of Matti's contract. After that, back to Finland where she also worked as an architect. In 1983 the family moved to Geneva, then France, when Matti got a job in the UN's International Trade Center (ITC). She fell in love with the region and having been living here for so long she decided to stay living here after Matti's death in 1995. Since then living alone but never lonely, Ana has written the rest of her story with all of us, and she will continue living in our hearts.

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  Dear Friends Many of you might not have been informed on time that our friend Ana Celia Seppälä passed away on Friday 6th of March and that the religious ceremony took place on the following Wednesday 11th of March. To give you the possibility to remember her and to pray for her we are inserting besides a short biography and her photo, the homages that were read during the ceremony:

  Ana Seppala We lost a friend. A few days ago, the Guild lost a member and we, the Guild members lost a friend. Ana Seppala was very active in the Guild, an Executive member for many years, took part in the Bazaar Committee and was Responsible for a Guild Stall more than once. Calm and friendly, she was always there when we needed her advice or her help, and on top of that, she knew the Rules!! She was a very dear friend for many years. We shared laughs and sorrows and we knew that we were there for one another. We had common interests such as music, the Béjart Ballet, and painting. During these last years we were together in the Mah-jong group every week where we shared cheerful moments among friends, playing the game, chatting and from time to time, having a birthday party. We will miss her deeply and she will always be with us. Tu amiga te dice: "Hasta siempre Ana!" Beatriz Campeas   FOR ANA FROM GITA Ana whose kindness and courage made her one of the best members of the Guild, passed away last week after ailing for several months. She is survived by her son and daughter. Among the members of the Guild, Ana was an active member, who served on the Executive Committee in different capacities. She was a tireless and responsible worker, always ready to extend a helping hand whenever required. Ana was easygoing, generous and candid. She was a good and solid friend. She was undemanding and even though I did not see her often, I knew she was there if I needed her. Ana, I will miss you. You were the most straightforward friend I dealt with. I will always remember you for your quiet, kind, graceful support when we served on the same committee. Gita Sundararaman Dear Ana, querida Ana, Marie-Claire just read out the messages that Beatriz and Gita had sent from Uruguay and India respectively to pay tribute to you. Their words of friendship and admiration are resonating over the oceans. You fully deserve this homage and all of us here join in. Filled with emotion, I am echoing Beatriz’ and Gita’s messages, not as President of the United Nations Women’s Guild, within which you have been so radiantly active, but as a friend. I know that I am hereby expressing the feelings of all members of the Guild, especially of the group of friends of yours that are present here to bid you goodbye. Each one of us was appreciative of the aura of trust and generosity beneficially emanating from your smile and your gentle look. It did not take long for me before I valued all qualities of your big heart. I am very glad to have had the chance to know you and to rub shoulders with you. The fortitude you showed in the valiant battle against your illness is a lesson for us all. We thank you, dear Ana, for the human warmth, the tact and the advice that you made us benefit from and we praise your achievements. We have gathered here for a last goodbye, to repeat over and over again how much we love you and how sad we are that you left us for the beyond. Christine Evéquoz

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Notices

In Memoriam - Susan John (1955-2015)

Susan was born on 26th February 1955 in the state of Kerala, India. Her father was a banker and her mother a homemaker. She has 2 brothers, both are engineers. Her schooling was at the Holy Angels Convent School in Trivandrum. She did her under graduation at the All Saints College and her Masters at the Mar Ivanios College in the same town. She got married in 1977 to George John, a chartered accountant. They have one son, Johnny, who is a chartered accountant and now settled at Toronto in Canada. Her early married life was in Bahrain. There she was working for the Ministry of Education. For several years she was the English speaking executive assistant to the Minister of Education. She came to Geneva in 1997 when her husband was transferred to this town. In Geneva she did not take up any job, but was involved in voluntary work. She was involved in UNWG, in women’s groups of the World Council of Churches and in the American Episcopal Church. She served on the vestry and was in charge of the Altar Guild of the church for several years. Her main hobbies were quilting and porcelain painting. Our house is full of her paintings including a complete dinner set. Her difficult times started in 2009 with the first breast cancer and the related surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. She relapsed in June 2014 and was undergoing treatment since then. She was called to her heavenly abode on 19th February 2015.

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Editor‘s Messages NEWSLETTER CONTRIBUTION DEADLINE

for Sep/Oct You are reminded to bring your membership card to all course events and activities offered by the UNWG. To enter the UN or other international organisation buildings, you are required to wear your UN issued badge for UNWG members.

newsletter

All articles, photos (in .jpg format only) and text in both English and French as separate documents (in Word .doc format only), must be emailed to [email protected] by

Friday 26 June 2015 All information received after this date will appear in the following edition.

Necessary application forms for badges can be picked up at the Villa at the following times: Monday to Friday 9.30am to 12.30pm Monday and Thursday 2.00pm to 5.00pm

Thank you for your kind understanding!

Money raised at International Bazaar held last November: CHF 45,525.00 CHF 81,944.40 CHF 44,856.95 CHF 76,964.50 CHF 10,100.00

Restaurant stalls National stalls Guild stalls Lottery tickets Cash donations

Please note that there will be no Visits & Culture event scheduled in May and also, no Monthly Meetings in May and June Please be advised that there is no Cookery Club in May nor June. Contact: Ilona Mercz 078 685 35 66/[email protected]

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Editor‘s Messages cont. Congratulations! Awa has a new and lovely granddaughter, born on 5th February. Her name is Aisha Alima Fall. All classes end before the summer break on week ending Friday 26 June. teachers’ meeting will be held on Monday 31 August from 2pm- 4pm. Registration for languages and activities will take place at the Villa from Tuesday 1 September to Friday 4 September between the hours of 10.00am to 12.30pm. Please remember to bring your current membership card with you to be eligible for a place on any courses. Classes resume: Monday 7 September, No classes on Thursday 10 September (Jeune Genevois) Villa will be closed on: Wednesday 23 September (Hajj)

CONTACTS President: [email protected]

Newsletter: [email protected]

Vice-President activities: [email protected] Public Relations: [email protected] Vice-President projects: [email protected] Recording Secretaries: [email protected]

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Treasurers: [email protected]

Hospitality: [email protected]

Membership: [email protected]

Monthly Meetings: [email protected]