UNWG INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL CHARITY BAZAAR:

Report: Muhammad Amir Siddique Journalist Vienna Austria.

The United Nations Women’s Guild was founded in 1967 as a voluntary organization of women connected with the United Nations.

The purpose of the Guild is to foster friendship, to encourage appreciation of each other’s traditions and customs, and to financially support charity projects benefiting children of the world with emphasis on developing countries.

The UNWG organizes an annual one-day International Festival Bazaar for the public with free admission. There are gift items for sale from around the world and special food and drink offered by kitchens from 80 countries. There are also international cultural performances for the family. UNWG members and volunteers from the international communities in Vienna take part in the Bazaar.

Embassies and international missions to the UN have provided support through the years. Austrian and international businesses also contribute to the success of the Bazaar. Since 1967, the Bazaar has raised over €5 million for charity. The 2022 UNWG International Festival Charity Bazaar was be held on Saturday, 3 December from 10.00-18.00 in the Marx Halle, Karl-Farkas-Gasse 19, 1030 Wien. UNWG members, with support from their embassies or permanent missions to the UN, offer a selection of their national goods for sale.

All proceeds go to children’s charities selected by the UNWG. Also UNWG members offer food and drink from their national cuisine for sale. Most dishes are freshly prepared in our members’ homes using traditional ingredients. A taste of the best street food from around the world.

UNWG activities include collecting and selling books in all languages, old coins and stamps, and gently used clothing and household goods. Other activities are making quilts, needlework, and growing houseplants. These items are for sale at the Bazaar. Young talent and children proudly present their national costumes with dance and music on the stage at the Bazaar. Professional artists and the international community all share the stage, creating a kaleidoscope of sound and color. UNWG and several Austria-based NGOs take part in the Bazaar. UNWG offers sale of books (new and used), gently used clothing and goods, collection of antique stamps as well as environmental-friendly souvenirs usually sold in the VIC Kiosk. In addition, UNWG organized a Tombola, a Surprise Corner (“small donation brings great joy”) and the Garderobe in the Bazaar. The net proceeds from all the fund raising activities are donated each year to projects for children in Austria and in developing countries as well as to those supported by the United Nations organizations. The money raised from these fundraising activities has been distributed to charity projects for children and mother-child programs in developing countries. The charity projects serve abused children, children having restricted access to education, children with serious health problems, e.g. AIDS, children having no access to clean drinking water, orphans, and children with special needs or children suffering from extreme poverty or starvation.
Which project is selected to be financially supported by the Organization is decided by the Charity Review Committee on the basis of several selection criteria. Projects must focus on children no older than 15 (21 if disabled), or mother and child situations. The services of the organization must be available to all children without discrimination, regardless of race, gender, ethnic origin or religion. Furthermore, the UNWG does not fund administrative costs nor salaries, fees, study session expenses and transportation fees.
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