30 years of charitable action

In 2021 the International Women’s Club of Bratislava (IWCB) will be celebrating our 30th anniversary, which also marks 30 years of chariable action in Slovakia. Founded in November 1991 by a group of Slovak and expatriate women, the Club aimed to connect foreign and local ladies with shared interests and a desire to contribute to the local community.

Thirty years on the Club is still going strong. Several of the founding members remain very active in the Club and still participate in charity and fundraising projects. Since inception the Club’s culture of friendship, cultural exchange and charitable action has enabled it to positively contribute to Slovak society.

Bazaar 2019

Bazaar 1992

To date there have been 28 IWCB Charity Christmas Bazaars, raising over 1.3million€ for Slovak charities and not-for-profit organisations. This event continues to be successful due to the great support from the Ministry of European and Foreign Affairs, City of Bratislava, Diplomatic Community, the International schools community and various private corporate organisations. Over the past 10 years alone these funds have enabled the IWCB to help over 316 organisations.

2019’s Charity Christmas Bazaar was by far the most successful raising 106.394,00€, topping 2018’s previously record-breaking 92,000.00€.

EMERGENCY AID

When the pandemic hit early 2020, making a Bazaar that year impossible, it was clear the Club needed to rethink its approach to fundraising. Using funds raised during the the last Bazaar in November 2019, the Club launched an Emergency Support Fund and Food Bank aimed at helping organisations most in need during the initial months of the crisis. These initatives enabled charities to purchase essential hygiene supplies and distribute food aid to those in most need.

MOVING WITH THE TIMES

The pandemic illustrated the importance of not forgetting the less privileged in society. Every year the number and urgency of charitable requests received by the Club’s Charity Committee increases. Our collective fundraising efforts to date have meant that children, the homeless, elderly, terminally ill and minority groups have all received crucial funds to improve their quality of life. Therefore the IWCB has been working on alternative ways to fundraise and continue its valuable charitable work.

It also highlighted it was time for the Club to develop alternative ways to fundraise, to enable it to continue its valuable charitable work. This started in November 2020 with our Christmas Charity Fundraising Campaign, which included the first Online Charity Auction, and collectively raised a fantastic 11.696,61€.

The Club’s newly formed Fundraising Committee will be working on new fundraising projects throughout 2021 - and beyond! Keep an eye out on our Instagram and Facebook channels for the latest information.