Dear Friends,

On behalf of American Women for International Understanding ( AWIU), I am pleased to present our 2018 Annual Report. This report will illustrate the important work AWIU does to empower women around the globe to improve their lives and the communities they serve. AWIU was founded over fifty years ago by a small group of visionary women who believed the world would be a better place through woman-to-woman diplomacy. The first AWIU delegation traveled to the Soviet Union, a first for any group from the United States. We have sent delegations throughout the globe since 1968. Recent AWIU members traveled to Nicaragua where they visited a women’s clinic and subsequently provided a grant to help fund their cervical cancer screening program. That grant represented only one of the many global projects we funded in 2018.

We’re extremely proud of our relationship with the US Department of State and honored to host the Celebration every year which honors the Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage. We provide each of the honorees with a grant to continue her work in her home country. Our relationship with the Department of State also includes a collaboration in presenting the Career Opportunities in International Relations symposium for young women at the Department of State. On a personal note, I was honored to be one of the panelists at the June program.

AWIU has grown and evolved since 1968, however, we have remained true to our mission of empowering women. We thank you for your continued belief in our mission and for your support. Together, we look forward to our next half century of making a difference in the lives of women around the globe.

Sincerely,

Maria Emmi Schory