Dear wonderful members,
Have you heard of the most fabulous Fawco Regional Four that our club hosted this month in Brussels? It was just amazing! Our two speakers, Karen Northshield and Claire Oppert were over the moon, taking each one of us in an unknown world, so moving and full of renewal. Karen is now an honorary member of our club, so we will have quite a few opportunities to meet her in 2026.
In the afternoon, speeches from Sue Frick, former AWCB president and now part of FAUSA, Janet Davis, president of FAWCO Foundation and Belen Monasterio, FAWCO VP for Clubs were so inspiring and opened us to the world of FAWCO. Quite a few AWCB members told me after their speeches that they would like to know more about it. Remember, our club is a member of FAWCO, so ALL Members are also automatically a maamber of FAWCO and can take advantages of both the benefits and events. Take a look at the Fawco website: https://www.fawco.org
Our quote of today, from Mother Teresa of Calcutta, is just what our club is: we put so much love in all we do, starting with the pillow in Hearts for Hope to the beautiful Angel Tree Christmas 350 presents that you members choose with your heart and wrap in joyful colors. But we also put our love in helping others, like carpooling, bringing food for Nativas or opening our pool in the summer, not to mention so many small actions done because we have friendship in our hearts!
Thank you club members for being such beautiful people, I’m proud to be part of it!
Don’t forget to have a quick look at our calendar, even a few months in ahead, there is so much going on and you can take advantage of all of it: https://www.awcb.org/events/
And now, have a great Christmas season, giving to others all the love you have in your heart and I am so excited to see you in 2026! *FAUSA is a network for former Fawco members who repatriated in the US. **FAWCO is an umbrella that covers all the American women’s club in the world it’s the Federation of American’s Women’s Club Overseas |
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Florence Jeannin President, AWCB |
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“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.”
- Mother Teresa |
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We all Need a Little Christmas, Now!
I wonder if you are in the same head space as me; stress ridden due to the news coming from the U.S, concerned about the duration of the European and Middle Easten conflicts, and frustration at the Brussel government’s desire to change the social support systems. Living in the present and focusing on the things I can control requires me to disconnect from social media and act on my values; spreading joy and hopefulness through connections with others, especially those most Vulnerable. So, most definitely, WE NEED A LITTLE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT! Right this very minute, you can contribute joy and helpfulness by contributing to the Angel Tree project! This year we have purchased, wrapped and donated over 300 presents! Our wrapping party was a huge success and the organisations we have donated to are all so happy! Now we can enjoy Christmas, but lets already think about next year. You can always make a donation to Angel Tree (this year we had 11 donations from even non-Members who were so amazed at what we do!) so that we can contribute joy, hope and friendship to the charities we are supporting every Christmas. The refugee children, orphans, and children escaping domestic violence are our future and with our support, they can hope for a brighter future. https://www.awcb.org/angeltree/ Angel Tree Coordinator Melita Dawson-Campaignolle |
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Update of Activities sponsored by Lina’s Project 2025
This summer was brimming with enriching activities, unforgettable adventures, and meaningful moments for the 57 children and teenagers who participated in Lina’s Project. From city trips to the Belgian coast and cultural outings to museums such as the Museum of Natural Science, Atomium, Bokrijk, and Bubble Planet, our young participants explored Belgium’s history, nature, and creativity in fun and engaging ways. Sports enthusiasts enjoyed everything from kayaking, wall-climbing, and kickboxing to mini-Olympics, bowling, and swimming sessions at Nemo 33 and local pools. Many also took part in creative workshops including music, dance, culinary arts, storytelling, and arts and crafts, with new additions this year such as self-expression classes and a sushi workshop combined with a visit to the Japanese Garden. For those craving bigger adventures, overnight camps in Koksijde, Oostduinkerke, Nieuport, and even a trip to Spain—with a stop at Barcelona’s Gothic cathedral and a day at a water park—provided lifelong memories. This year brought several inspiring developments. We proudly welcomed a teenager with special needs, supported by Centre Nos Pilifs, who participated in inclusive sports and arts activities, as well as a calming visit to Bubble Planet. A noticeable shift occurred in age distribution, with two-thirds of participants aged between 12 and 20—many returning year after year, a testament to the program’s impact. While a third joined overnight camps, those staying in Brussels enjoyed an array of stimulating outings, from amusement parks to provincial nature domains, always with fresh programs that avoid repetition. A remarkable highlight was the initiative of two teenagers who chose to attend summer school in math and science; thanks to your generosity, we were able to sponsor their efforts and support their academic growth. None of this would have been possible without the dedication of our partner organizations and your invaluable donations. Thanks to you, challenges were overcome, new talents emerged, friendships blossomed, and—above all—the children had an extraordinary summer. |
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Selection of Special Upcoming Events
After the FAWCO Conference and the Paris trip, we are already onto the next set of events. As usual, we have a PACKED agenda to share with you; all Events still have spaces so hurry and sign up! All the details and booking info in the Events Agenda https://www.awcb.org/events |
Looking further ahead, we have three big events coming up. In March we will hold a Dinner Dance in Waterloo, with a disco by our very own Paul & Lieven. This will be preceded by a cooking class which will actually make the dinner. Then in April Marianne Hubert will lead a weekend trip to Bastogne; as a resident of the city she is the best placed to guide us around this historic place.
BIG NEWS! We are excited to announce a 4th July BBQ, to be held at Kasteel Huldenburg. Over the last two years the events have been getting bigger (last year 40 people squeezed into a garden!), so this year we decided to rent a castle! It is the 250th anniversary of the foundation of the United States of America, so we wanted a special location, which this most certainly is! And the wines are made by the Comte and his wife in their vineyards in Spain; they are amazing.
And of course we have our very active Book Club that meets monthly, plus the wonderful Hearts for Hope team who meet every 2 weeks to make breast cancer recovery pillows for Institut Bordet and leuven Hospitals (any Club member can come and help!) And remember as an AWCB member you can also go to ACB and Arts Society events, so don’t forget to check their calendars as well!
Still want more? Ok, well contact us on events@awcb.org and we will add more for you; bring your ideas and plans! Remember, this is YOUR Club so come up with a plan and we will help!
Make sure to check the club events calendar regularly for updates. Please also send us event ideas via the Request an Event link on our website: https://www.awcb.org/request_event. We always looking for volunteers to organize and host events, please let us know if you would like to get involved. An event can just be a visit to an art gallery, if you are planning to go, just let us know and we can enter it into the club calendar so other members can join you.
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FAWCO Region 4 Conference Hosted by AWCB in November 2025
The conference theme was Renewal; and featured inspiring speakers Karen Northshield (survivor of the 2016 Brussels Bombing at Zaventem airport) and Clarie Oppert. Karen Northshield is a Belgian-American athlete who survived the 2016 Brussels Airport Bombing. She had a nearly zero chance of survival, but has shown amazing resilience by and now inspires others. Claire Oppert is a cellist and art therapist (and music teacher in nearby Waterloo) who has used her music for over 20 years to help persons, such as children with autism, people with neurodegenerative diseases, and palliative care patients.
Our Friday evening was a drinks and dinner event at the historic Roi d'Espagne building on the Grand Place in Brussels, a short walk from the hotel near St. Catherine church. Members met new friends and reconnected with old friends.
The afternoon was filled with FAWCO and FAUSA topics and the attendees enjoyed learning about the world of FAWCO. The conference also had an artist-in-residence, Maria Andrade, whose art was displayed in an adjacent room. The artist also sat in the conference and created a piece "Tree of Life", inspired by the context and discussion of the day.
Saturday evening started with a social drinks event, and then we moved to the celebration dinner in the hotel. The highlight was a live auction of the custom art piece created by Maria Andrade. All funds raised throughout the daytime silent auction and live auction benefit the AWCB Charitable Fund.
Sunday completed with a historical walking tour and then lunch nearby at the historic Restaurant Francois. Thanks to all the attendees, AWCB club members, and organizers who made the weekend a special event! |
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Meet the FAWCO Board in January
FAWCO will be celebrating 95 years in 2026, and we’ll kick it off with a chance to connect with you in an informal online meeting. The FAWCO Board will have an Open Town Hall on Wednesday, January 28 at 7 pm CET and on Thursday, January 29 at 1 pm CET. Come meet us, ask your questions and get to know more about FAWCO and FAWCO’s future. Register for Wednesday’s session here and for Thursday’s session here. Please use this survey form to submit your questions and/or comments.
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FAWCO Interim Meeting Malta 2026
The draft agenda is available on our website and registration is open. We are looking forward to welcoming you in March! More information is on the FAWCO website. |
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FAWCO and the UN
FAWCO Co-UN Liaison Alex Vo, FAUSA, attended COP30 in Brazil as a FAWCO delegate. Thank you Alex for showing up and speaking up for us all at this important time for the environment! Several other FAWCO members attended virtually. They will share insights, takeaways and actions we can all take next year. Here is the informative and inspiring text from a post that Alex made after returning from COP30. The UN Team is also busy preparing for another parallel event in NYC for CSW70 on Thursday, March 12, 2026. FAWCO will be again raising awareness of digital harm, especially of women, with a session titled: AI and Image Based Sexual Abuse (IBSA) On-line. Please contact Co-UN Liaisons Karen Castellon and Alex Vo if you are interested in attending. Here is an article about last year’s session. |
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Inspiring Womens Magazine
We're very excited for everyone to read our Art Works issue,celebrating more of FAWCO’s and FAUSA’s amazing visual artists! Please also mark your calendars for our next issue, Women Behind the Scenes, out January 29. Subscribe for free and have issues automatically delivered to your inbox! Encourage fellow club members, friends and family to do so, too. |
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Recipe Corner - What's cooking today?
Chicken with Cashews
It's Christmas, we were all tired of Turkey already after Thanksgiving so here is something light and easy to make, with a lot of taste!
- 1lb / 450g boned & skinned chicken pieces
- 2tsp Cornstarch
- 2 tsp Sherry
- ½ tsp of grated root of ginger
- 2 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 2 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tbsp water
- 4 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 crushed garlic clove (or 3 if like me you love garlic!)
- 1 cup / 240 m toasted blanched cashews
- 1 tsp sesame oil
Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and combine with the cornstarch, sherry and root of ginger. Set aside for 20 minutes and, in a small bowl, combine the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sugar and water. Heat the oil in a large pan or wok over a high heat. Add the garlic and chicken mixture and cook for 2 minutes on high, then reduce to a medium heat. Stir in the sauce and cook another 5 minutes. Add the cashews, drizzle with sesame oil and serve immediately with rice. Enjoy!
All recipes from the AWCBs very own cookbook ‘Applepie to Waterzooi’. |
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Thank you to our AWCB Sponsors! 🙏 |
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Your Logo Here?
Click here to learn more: https://www.awcb.org/Become-a-Sponsor
Our club needs a strong cash flow to support all of the social and philanthropical initiatives that we do. If you know of a business that might want to become a sponsor of the AWCB, then let us know at board@awcb.org and we will contact them. We are offering generous benefits for an annual rate of 300 Euros for non-members and 250 Euros for members. Thank you for referring sponsors and supporting your club! |
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AWCB Member Communications |
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Choose to enrich the club's philanthropic or social activities on offer, either one would be gratefully appreciated, and make new friends at the same time! It's your club, help us make it the most meaningful experience possible for you and other members! We always need help with communications, especially help in writing our newsletter, website updates, events planning and organization, and many other simple administrative and operational tasks - every little bit helps. Please contact us if you are interested. Thank you in advance and we look forward to hearing from you! |
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AWCB Member Directory
Have you met someone at a club and want to get in touch? Just log into our AWCB website and AWCB Community and then Member Directory and you can find the contact details of all members who have opted in to share their information. You must login to see information and you can change your own information and visibility by updating your profile. Please make sure your birthday is included in your profile so we can invite to our club birthday party events!
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AWCB Bulletin Board
While you are on the website, make sure you visit our Club Bulletin Board where you can announce something special, announce something for sale or to give away for free, mention an event you will go to, or ask for help or advice. Click here to see the AWCB Club Bulletin Board
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Get the App for our club calendar And view events on your phone! |
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