The United Nations Secretary General Mr Kofi Annan, in his
address to the opening ceremony of the General Assembly
Special Session on Children said:”We are meeting here
because there is no issue more unifying and more urgent or
more universal than the welfare of our children.”
We keep hearing about wars, political upheavals, earthquakes,
tsunami and economic crises, unfortunately the children around the
world are not spared the adversity and atrocities. What we strive to
offer them is a little happiness and betterment of their lives. Bearing
in mind all these, the organisation of the Annual UNWG Bazaar is
even more important, as its main aim is to raise funds so as to finance
projects for the betterment of needy children in different countries
around the world.
The United Nations Women’s Guild celebrated its 35 birthday in
2005, boasting a membership of over 500 members from over 100 different
countries. The Guild was founded in 1970, in accordance with
the UN Charter Principles. The Guild (UNWG) is a non-profit organisation
with a mandate to raise funds for the benefit of disadvantaged
and less fortunate children in various parts of the globe as well as
fostering friendship and understanding amongst women of differing
nationalities and cultural backgrounds.
The Guild offers a diversity of monthly and weekly activities as
well as special cultural and social events on a voluntary basis, from
the Geneva Office, at Villa les Feuillantines, situated next to the UN
on Avenue de La Paix.
The major event and calendar highlight however is the International
Charity Bazaar, which is held in November at the Palais des
Nations. This most important event, is the major contributor to the
projects’ funds, which are shared amongst targeted needy children
projects as well as emergency assistance as the need arises.
During the past 35 years of its existence the Guild has brought
relief and help by raising more than 3.5 million CHF to support
approximately 700 children projects. Since its inception in 1978, the
Annual Bazaar has expanded its initial aide capacity from 16 895 CHF
which supported 12 children projects to a sum of over 300 000 CHF in
2005 in the hope of supporting over 70 childrens’ projects.
The Bazaar held on 22 November 2005 at the
Palais des Nations, hosted 46 restaurant stalls, 61
national stalls and 16 Guild stalls. The restaurant
stalls offered international gourmet food, delicacies
and treats prepared by the missions. The national
stalls, also represented by the missions, offered
works of art, handicrafts and specialities from
around the world. The visitors were delighted by
the national costumes, international music, entertainment
and added to this the prospect of finding a
special treasure coming from a distant country. The
joyful and buzzing atmosphere all through the
Bazaar 2005 attracted 4,500 invited guests and 9,000
stall visitors and helped raise the sum of approximately
320 000 CHF.
Almost a third of the 2005 funds raised came
from the lottery, made possible with the help of
over 150 corporate and individual donors, a group
of 40 volunteers, (many of whom worked the year
round), and also the sale of 10 000 lottery tickets.
200 fabulous prizes were on offer, just to mention a
few, the first prize a BMW Series 1 car, a Tag Heuer
watch, airline tickets and many more.
Pooling our efforts and resources for the benefit
and happiness of hundreds of children around the
world was our main aim. The commitment and
enthusiasm of members of the Guild and the missions
participating have helped us achieve a common
happiness at the end of the day, that of being
able to once more live up to the very essence of our
mandate, that of helping needy, under-privileged
and less fortunate children around the globe.
The UNWG Bazaar organizers wish to extend
their sincere gratitude to Mr Sergei Ordzonikidze
and his staff for support and assistance in helping
to make a change in the lives of those children who
are awaiting our help.
We also extend a word of thanks to the director
generals of all UN agencies and international
bodies for allowing the sale of lottery tickets and
also to all the missions and to all our members who
have spared no efforts to make this major event a
success.
