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About us

The American Women's Club of Antwerp is a social, cultural and philanthropic club of
English speaking women from all over the world.

We are here to offer friendship, support and social activities whether you plan to
stay for a short time or a lifetime.

The American Women’s club, Antwerp, (AWCA) is celebrating its 90th year in 2019. The club was founded in 1929 as a social club by American men and their wives working in Antwerp following WWI. The American Women’s club of Antwerp is now a group of over 120 women from all over the world.

Our motto: May we never be hasty in judgement and always generous.

Purpose: Our purpose is to create a center of social, cultural, and philanthropic activities for women in the greater Antwerp area.

First, some history about our club and how we got here: The American Women’s club is under the umbrella of a larger organization called the Federation of American Women’s clubs overseas (FAWCO). It is a recognized NGO with a special consultative status to the Economic and Social council of the United Nations. FAWCO links over 75 independent American and international volunteer organizations for citizens who live abroad. That’s covering over 38 countries and 15,000 women. We are inspiring women working towards common goals of peace, multicultural understanding, and international goodwill; supporting women and girls in education; environmental awareness, health and human rights, and defending the rights of Americans living overseas.

Welcome

Hello Friends! My name is Celeste Bennekers and I am honored to say that I am the President of the American Women’s Club of Antwerp.

The AWCA is a group of women who are as diverse as the globe itself – all nationalities, backgrounds, and ages come together each month to not only meet, but to connect. We all have stories, have journeyed, and our life paths have crossed the globe to meet now. In Antwerp, Belgium.

I moved to Antwerp three years ago and as American woman and a mother of three small children, I wondered how I was going reconcile my identity as a Texan in my new-found home in Belgium. I discovered that I love being an expat. I had so much fun attending the AWCA newcomers’ meetings. With other newcomers I swapped stories about what we brought to Belgium in our suitcases. The members gave me suggestions about where to get the best Italian pizza and cocktails in the city. It is this sense of community that brought me into the AWCA, but it is the giving hearts of its members that made me stay.

The AWCA supports many organizations and causes throughout the city with not only their funds, but with their hearts and hands. The Caring Hearts Project, the Royal School of Ballet, Kleine Vos, Moeders voor Moeders, and Cherut are some of the charities the AWCA supports – but in reality, we support the breast cancer patients, the students of the ballet, the abandoned children, the young mothers, and the women gaining freedom from prostitution. These citizens of Antwerp are the recipients of our time, funds, and love, respectively.

The American Women’s Club of Antwerp is an organization full of Globally Minded Women, with Philanthropic Hearts. And like I said, I’m proud and honored to be their President.

Meet us, join us, and be inspired. Like I was. Am. And will continue to be.

Celeste

president@awcantwerp.org

Activities

Each month the AWCA organises a variety of events and activities in which members can participate.

A members monthly meeting is hosted on the second Thursday of the month with the aim of being informative and fun. On the third Thursday of the month a tour is organised. These tours can be to visit an exhibition, venue or cultural event in Antwerp or just as equally in neighbouring locations in France, Germany and the Netherlands. The club also organises special events during the year.

Members of the club also organise activities. These at present include:

As new and fun activities arise these too are shared with the membership and participation encouraged. Click on the button below to see what's coming up.

Newcomers

The AWCA aims to help American - and other English-speaking women from around the world - settle into life in Belgium and Antwerp.

The Newcomers component of our Club is specifically designed to help new arrivals.

Our monthly get togethers are a social occasion with emphasis on existing members sharing their experiences and knowledge with women new to living here, and providing a support network to help with the transition.

If you would like to know more, please contact us at newcomers@awcantwerp.org.

Philanthropy

The AWCA has a long history, and one aspect of the Club that has not changed over the decades is our philanthropic spirit.

Each year we volunteer and raise funds for a variety of charities and local community groups in need of support, particularly those helping disadvantaged women and children. We also support local cultural and artistic groups, such as the Royal Ballet School Antwerp and the fashion museum (MOMU), through our members participation.

Also very important to us is our Caring Hearts Pillow Project. For over a decade, members have donated materials and volunteered their time to lovingly make heart-shaped pillows. These pillows are distributed through several local hospitals and given free of charge to the many patients each year who are in need of postoperative comfort following surgery for breast cancer.

Click on the button below, for more information about our Philanthropic activities.

FAWCO

The AWCA is a founding member of the Federation of American Women's Clubs Overseas (FAWCO).

The American Women’s club is under the umbrella of a larger organization called the Federation of American Women’s clubs overseas (FAWCO). It is a recognized NGO with a special consultative status to the Economic and Social council of the United Nations. FAWCO links over 75 independent American and international volunteer organizations for citizens who live abroad. That’s covering over 38 countries and 15,000 women. We are inspiring women working towards common goals of peace, multicultural understanding, and international goodwill; supporting women and girls in education; environmental awareness, health and human rights, and defending the rights of Americans living overseas.

This organisation serves as a resource and channel of information for its members; promotes the rights of US citizens overseas; through its Task Forces and The FAWCO Foundation offers development grants and education awards. The FAWCO Foundation also collaborates on emergency funding for disaster relief. Becoming a member of the AWCA means you also become a member of a much larger global community of women. For more information, visit www.FAWCO.org.

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