Dear Friends,

Founded in 1968, American Women for International Understanding (AWIU) is a community of women who care deeply about improving international understanding. We envision a more humane and interconnected world and strive to build goodwill and collaboration through voluntary, non-partisan, female-led action. We support equal access for women and girls to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. The heart of our mission is to improve international understanding through personal connection, while empowering women to become highly effective global leaders, communicators and problem-solvers.

In the second year of the pandemic, we acted on a strategic plan approved in 2020, with the resulting launch of an inaugural annual fund to support AWIU’s growth and influence.

The International Women of Courage Celebration took place in a new format, a virtual video event produced by an Emmy Award-winner. It included interviews with CNN’s Lisa Ling and featured a live Q&A with ABC’s Rachel Scott. AWIU presented each State Department-designated honoree with a grant to continue the important work she is doing in her country. We also awarded grants to non-profit organizations around the globe that focused on training and empowering women, particularly in the areas of health, education and entrepreneurship.

The “Conversations” series, begun a year ago, yielded a wealth of relationships and insights, drawing AWIU members together as a community. We rejuvenated Career Opportunities in International Relations (COIR), a symposium that encourages young women who are interested in careers in international affairs to learn from and network with leaders in the field. Afghan women and girls were also an AWIU priority, with member donations enabling AWIU to make a significant donation to this crucial cause.

All of these initiatives are fostering connection, shared resources, and the solution of organizational problems, not only for AWIU, but for our wider village of grantees, Women of Courage, and partnering advocates far and wide.

Sincerely,

Tatiana Gfoeller
President, AWIU