Mission Statement
FAWCO is an international federation of independent organizations whose mission is
- to build strong support networks for its American and international membership;
- to improve the lives of women and girls worldwide;
- to advocate for the rights of US citizens overseas; and
- to mobilize the skills of its membership in support of global initiatives for education, the environment, health and human rights.
Member Club Support
FAWCO supports its Member Clubs through a number of programs and through communication with key volunteer leadership. Learn more about what FAWCO Clubs are doing around the world in News From Our Clubs and see the list of clubs which are members of FAWCO.
The volunteers who are critical for connecting FAWCO to its Clubs include:
- FAWCO Reps who share information about FAWCO to their clubs, are essential in hosting Regional Meetings, and have key responsibilities such as keeping the Club Profiles up to date and voting during Biennial Conferences and Interim Meetings;
- Club Presidents who can receive support from the Club Presidents' Coordinator, network with other Club Presidents, and access a wealth of club development resources; and
- Regional Coordinators who facilitate communication between clubs in one of the 10 regions around the world and help to set up and run Regional Meetings.
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Team shares information and tools for you and your club.
If you are a member of a non-FAWCO Club around the world, learn more about joining FAWCO!
UN Advocacy
FAWCO is a United Nations-accredited non-governmental organization (NGO) with special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). FAWCO has representatives in New York, Geneva, Vienna, Athens and Bonn. FAWCO UN Reps are on the Boards of the NGO Committees on the Status of Women in New York, Geneva and Vienna, and the NGO Committee on Migration in New York. These representatives disseminate information about the UN and Agenda 2030 (the UN Sustainable Development Goals) to FAWCO members, attend UN meetings on behalf of FAWCO, and advocate to improve the lives of women and girls in the areas of education, environment, health, and human rights.
The FAWCO UN Reps Team's mission is to:
- Inform the membership about UN priorities and programs.
- Encourage participation by Member Clubs in FAWCO's local and global NGO concerns.
- Coordinate and promote awareness among the Member Clubs on UN work in the areas of Education, Environment, Health, and Human Rights.
- Communicate UN news through the UN Liaison Bulletin and on FAWCO's website and social media.
- Advocate for projects and laws that directly affect gender equality and human rights.
- Represent FAWCO at UN meetings and conferences and on NGO Committees.
- Send FAWCO delegates to UN Commission on the Status of Women, UN Climate Conferences, Department of Global Communication conferences and meetings.
- Promote partnerships with other UN-affiliated NGOs.
- Endorse UN principles, recognizing the UN as a forum for the peaceful resolution of conflict.
- Arrange for speakers at FAWCO Conferences.
US Issues
If you are an American living overseas you may have many questions about your rights and responsibilities. FAWCO’s US Issues Committees serve as a valuable resource to assist you with US Citizenship, Tax and Banking, and US Voting issues and to work for more effective representation in Washington.
In fact, did you know that FAWCO was instrumental in the creation of the Americans Abroad Caucus? Learn more about this group of Congresspersons with a special interest in the concerns of US citizens living overseas, and find out a lot more in US Issues.
Have you ever heard of Overseas Americans Week? Discover what happens every year in Washington on your behalf.
Global Issues
FAWCO's Resolutions and Recommendations for 2023-25 reinforce our commitment to improve the lives of women and girls worldwide, especially in the areas of education, the environment, health and human rights. Therefore, our Global Issues Teams focus on these four issues.
- Education: Keeping UN Sustainable Development Goal #4 (Quality Education) in mind, the mission of the Education Team is to increase members' awareness of global issues in education by focusing on the topics of global citizenship, literacy, equal access, and bridging the gap between school and employment, especially as they relate to women and girls, while highlighting educational action being taken by Member Clubs.
- Environment: The Environment Team informs members about global environmental issues including air, soil and water pollution, species extinction, energy efficiency, conservation, waste reduction, and climate change. The Team's efforts support UN Sustainable Development Goal #13 (Climate Action).
- Health: The Health Team provides information on issues related to women's health and aging, and works to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goal #3 (Good Health and Well-being). In 2014, the Team launched Clubs in Motion.
- Human Rights: The Human Rights Team keeps members aware of issues and new developments impacting women’s rights, contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goal #5 (Gender Equality), and engages FAWCO Member Clubs in awareness and action campaigns.
The Target Program
The Target Program offers opportunities for local FAWCO Clubs to make a global difference. The program:
- Follows a three-year cycle of issue awareness and education, project selection, fundraising, project monitoring, review and evaluation.
- Demonstrates the power of FAWCO Clubs working together toward a common goal.
- Increases knowledge and awareness of global issues affecting women.
In keeping with FAWCO’s Resolutions and Recommendations, Target Programs have the overarching goal of improving the lives of women and girls. The FAWCO Board, in consultation with The FAWCO Foundation Board, chooses Target Issues on a revolving basis through our four areas of interest: Education, Environment, Health and Human Rights.
Information about our current Target Program can be found in the Global Issues area of our website.
The FAWCO Youth Program
The FAWCO Youth Program was launched in 2013 at the Biennial Conference in Bern with the mission to promote cultural understanding and raise awareness of global issues in our youth and help them develop into responsible and caring global citizens.
The Program includes Cultural Volunteers and Americana.
The FAWCO Foundation
The FAWCO Foundation has worked diligently and passionately to fulfill its purpose to implement the FAWCO's philanthropic concerns and interest in the global community, specifically by aiding charitable, scientific and educational programs, and by supporting the rights of women and children throughout the world. The Foundation continues to design and tailor programs to meet the ever-changing needs of the global community which it serves, and faces the future confident in its role as FAWCO's philanthropic heart. The FAWCO Foundation listens to your voice, the voice of the Member Clubs, and supports your projects, programs and passions. The FAWCO Foundation is your foundation.
With clubs increasingly demonstrating interest in supporting long-term on-going projects, the administration R&D Fund was transferred to The FAWCO Foundation and became the Development Grants Program (DGs). Member Clubs may nominate two projects or programs in two different DG categories. DGs are projects and programs known by the nominating club and have mainly aided women and children in developing countries. Recipients are chosen by majority vote of the Member Clubs.
The importance of fostering peace through knowledge and understanding and the belief that education is essential to developing peace-loving attitudes in children are cornerstones of The FAWCO Foundation Education Awards Program. The first FAWCO scholarship fund was created in 1935 when a member of AWC London donated $1000 a year for two years "to launch two promising American candidates on their studies in Europe." Today The FAWCO Foundation Education Awards Program offers annual awards to Club members and their children.
FAUSA
FAUSA–FAWCO Alumnae USA–is a vibrant and growing association of individuals who share the common experience of having lived abroad and who have returned to North America.
Open to individuals and couples, many of whom were members of FAWCO Member Clubs while living abroad, FAUSA strives to facilitate the repatriation experience of its members by serving as a resource for information, helping them maintain their international ties, and providing an immediate social network.
As the North American arm of FAWCO, FAUSA members and their children are eligible for Education Awards from The FAWCO Foundation and can participate in funding the awards, nominating a Development Grant, and supporting the FAWCO Target Programs. If you're interested in joining FAUSA, you can find out more information in this article.
