Inspiring Women Magazine September 2022

INSPIRING
WOMEN
Women & Youth:
Inspiring the
Future Generations
September 2022, Volume 6 Issue 3

Contents
September 2022. Volume 6, Issue 3
profiles
features
16
Introducing the FAWCO Youth Program
In 2013, the FAWCO Board launched the FAWCO Youth Program, which
has now run seven times in different countries across the world.
In Their Own Words 17, 28, 41, 49, 57 & 63
8
18
30
Our Cover Story
Finding the Eureka Moments
Dr. Pooja Joshi runs science workshops
for young children, nurturing
their problem-solving capabilities.
"Everyone Is Who
They Are for a
Reason"
Paula Brandenburg
helps adults and
teens develop the
mindset and skillset
of respect.
Habits of Mind:
Art Tours with
3rd and 4th
Graders
Pat Lawrence is a
docent at the Museum
of Fine Arts, Houston,
where she conducts
40 tours a year.
42
"What Makes You Different From
Everyone Else?"
Marelie Manders loves to learn what
makes her students tick.
50
58
Developing the
Leaders of the Future
Elizabeth Kelly teaches
an international program
in Belgium which prepares
young people to be
future business leaders.
Sponsoring
Childrens'
Summer
Activities
Nancy Evans sets
up a project in her
daughter's memory.
23
A Club Inspires:
AIWC Rabat
Club President
Nancy Lukas-Slaoui
and FAWCO Reps
Hafida Lahrache
& Souad Tadlaoui
introduce their club
to us.
37
Inspiring
Future
Generations
Katja Malinowski
uses the Sustainable Development Goals in
her teaching.
47
FAWCO Youth
Cultural
Volunteers
Program 2022
The American
Women's Club
of Amsterdam
hosted this program for 15 volunteers
from 11 countries.
55
Learning Leadership
and Practical Life
Skills
Kristin Bayer is chair of
the Berlin unit of the USA
Girl Scouts Overseas.
65
"What Is Going
On Here?"
Jane Indreland,
is a docent at the
Yellowstone Art
Museum in
Billings, Montana.
77
Inspiring the
Future
Generation -
One Award at
a Time
Barbara Bühling explains how the
FAWCO Education Awards function.
85
Live in the Garden with Friends
Carol-Lyn McKelvey, one of the hosts of
the Inspiring Women LIVE Garden Party,
tells us more
about the
event.
91
Inspiring Reads:
What is a Perfect
World?
by Nancy Lynner is the
author of What is a
Perfect World? - her first
book for children,
parents and teachers.
2 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 3

profiles cont.
68 80
Destined to Be
a Teacher
Rebekka Klingshirn
started her teaching
career when still a
child herself!
5
A Note from the Editor
Liz MacNiven
6 Advertisers Index
95
7
93
86
Working to Provide Quality
Education to Children in Nepal
Mary Palmer has spent two months
every year volunteering in Nepal since
she retired.
Introducing This Issue
More about what you can find
in this issue from Elsie Bose.
Inspiring You
in every issue
94
96
Empowering
Athletes to
Achieve Their
Best
Kayleigh Karinen is
a four-time world champion athlete who
works with and enables athletes globally.
More About This Issue
Our Next Issue
That’s Inspired!
“There is no shortage of
reasons for pessimism in the world
today: climate change, the pandemic,
poverty and inequality, rising distrust
and growing nationalism. But here is
a reason for optimism: children and
young people refuse to see the world
through the bleak lens of adults.”
Henrietta Fore
Former Executive Director - UNICEF
For this issue of Inspiring Women we decided
it was time to turn our attention to our young
people and those who work with them. Did you
know more than half the world’s population
is under 30 years old, which is the largest it’s
been in history? There is also an expectation
that the world will get even younger with 10
billion more people to be added to that group
over the next century. That’s a lot of people!
It seems to me that young people play an
increasingly vocal part in world affairs than
was true when I was a kid. The UNICEF global
study of young people from 21 countries done
in 2021 had some interesting conclusions:
“Born into a more digital, interconnected
and diverse reality, young people see a
world that is largely a better place for
children than the one their parents grew
up in – a safer and more abundant world
that offers children better education,
opportunities and hope for the future.
At the same time, young people are not
complacent. They report greater struggles
with mental health conditions. Amid a sea
of mis- and disinformation, they report low
levels of trust in the information sources
they use most.”
Henrietta Fore also said that compared with
older generations :
“The world’s young people remain
hopeful, much more globally minded,
and determined to make the world a
better place. Today’s young people
have concerns for the future but see
themselves as part of the solution.”
So it seems to me what is essential is that
those of us of an older generation give these
hopeful young people a voice and a place,
so that their optimism can be nurtured and
lead to progress. Young people need to know
that even if they are not globally well-known
a note from
the editor
like Malala or Greta Thunberg, they still have an
important part to play in making things better.
There are various formats for young people to
get involved globally, which you can read more
about. For example, I was interested to learn
about the Global Shapers Community and the
Millennial Manifesto, which has six key
principles:
1. We will create space for
intergenerational dialogue.
2. We will ask big questions to
advance bold solutions.
3. We will pursue systems change
and collective action.
4. We will make space for diverse
lived experiences.
5. We will embrace uncomfortable
conversations.
6. We will care for ourselves, others
and our ecosystem.
FAWCO itself has been working with young
people for many years, creating a space for
intergenerational discourse and learning,
amongst other things. We also have many
members across the world who use their skills
and talents, working with the youth of today.
I hope you enjoy reading the profiles and
features about it in this issue.
Here at Inspiring Women magazine, we aspire
to remain young and fresh and, in this vein,
I am sure you have already noticed the new
layout (big thanks to Kristin!).
We would really
appreciate your
views on it via our
survey (see p. 93
for the link).
Best wishes and
happy reading!
Liz
Inspiringwomen.
editor@fawco.org
4 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 5

advertisers
index
Be Fearless.
introducing
this issue
The Short List pp. 14 & 15
The Short List assists students with the
college admissions and application process.
If your child is about to start or is in the
midst of the admissions process, register
for their next FAWCO Club Workshop
webinar scheduled for October 6th.
Your questions will be welcome!
London & Capital p. 29
Whether you are a US Citizen living abroad
or a foreign entity with US reporting, their
dedicated teams take care of your wealth,
giving you time to concentrate on the things
that matter to you. London & Capital has
been supporting FAWCO since 2016.
TASIS p. 35 NEW!
The American School in England TASIS
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boarding school (ages 3-18) located 35
minutes from central London on a beautiful
campus in Thorpe, Surrey. Register for their
next Whole School Open Morning on
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Tharien's Art p. 35 NEW!
AWC Antwerp member and former Target
Program Chair Tharien van Eck is a superb
artist. She creates beautiful hand painted
cards and prints. Proceeds from her cards
continue to support education programs for
Hope for Girls and Women Tanzania.
London Realty Intl. p. 45
London Realty Intl. is owned by AWC London
member Lonnée Hamilton, who is a worldwide
property consultant. Her firm works with the
best agents across the globe to fulfill your
property needs.
Janet Darrow Real Estate p. 79
Around the corner or a world away, contact
Janet Darrow, FAUSA member, to find the
best properties. FAWCO referrals to Janet
help the Target Program!
The Pajama Company p. 89
The Pajama Company, founded by
Ellie Badanes, member of FAUSA and
AW Surrey, sells pajamas that are cozy,
cheerful and available online!
The current generation has a
responsibility for our community
and for making it a place that is
worth passing on to the next
generation. It’s never a perfect
world when it is passed on but
there should at least be a solid
foundation with a tease of exciting
potential that makes the future
worth it.
Worldwide, we are contending with a growing force of naysayers who are afraid
of the future. I am not sure if they are evil or ignorant. They deny science and
eschew facts. They lie with reckless abandon. Many are downright cruel because
their power allows it. And they are gaining ground.
So, current generation, we have a bit of work to do.
Those who teach and work with our youth are part of a partnership between
education professionals, support organizations, parents and families. This
partnership, when carefully managed and nurtured, creates a place for growth,
knowledge and confidence. Youths prosper in this environment, as does the
community.
Throughout the years FAWCO has relied on advertisers and sponsors to augment its
income. This revenue has allowed FAWCO to improve services and the flexibility to try the
latest innovations to enhance the FAWCO experience. FAWCO’s advertising
partners believe in our mission and support our goals. Some directly
support our activities and projects.
We encourage club leadership throughout the FAWCO network to
share our publications with their membership. Our advertising
partners have valuable products and services and we want your
members to take advantage of what they offer. Please support them!
For more information on these advertisers or if you have any questions about
FAWCO’s advertising program, please contact Elsie Bose: advertising@fawco.org.
The FAWCO members profiled here are in a special position. Their work with
youth is helping to shape the leaders and guardians of tomorrow. These women
are either working with young people from their host countries or with those who
are experiencing a new country or culture. They are adding cultural awareness to
the partnership’s tool kit, which is vital to a better understanding and acceptance
of the differences that exist in the world.
Here’s hoping that we can equip our youth with knowledge and experience that
allows them to live a life that’s fearless, not reckless.
Elsie
Founder
6 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 7

profile
Finding the Eureka
Moments
Pooja Joshi, a member of HIWC (Heidelberg International Women's Club),
runs science workshops for young children, nurturing their problemsolving
capabilities.
My life journey
I grew up in Pune, India at a time when India was
opening up to the world - with an influx of new
ideas and fresh outlooks. My parents shared their
openness and compassion with me along with
affording me a safe space to question everything
– traditions, religion, science and more. The
possibility of experiencing and understanding a
lot of life‘s important lessons from a very young
age had the most impact on my life. I am able to
accept people, young people included, as equally
able individuals with independent thoughts and
ideas. I remember spending my summers
playing with my cousins and friends. There were
no restrictions on what we poked or prodded and
investigated. We made up our own games and
played them as long as we wanted to. Thinking
back, this kind of boundless free play was key in
my creative journey.
Ready for
investigating
the world of
microbes!
Pooja Joshi
After leaving home
I volunteered to teach underprivileged children
and help them with Science and English while
I was still a teenager. I left home to complete
my higher education, traveled and explored the
world for myself away from the safety net of the
known – in a foreign country to add to the
adventure! After receiving the Commonwealth
Scholarship from the British Commission and
the University of Leeds, I wanted to give back to
society and taught Biotechnology to graduate
students at the University of Pune.
I got involved in outreach programs later on
when I was doing my PhD, where making
science easy first took root in my mind.
Organizing
members of a
cultural group of
native Marathi
speakers in
Heidelberg,
Germany.
8 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 9

Life changes
After having worked in the UK for over a decade,
I moved to Germany to support my husband as
he changed roles at work. I prioritized my young
family when we first moved. As we settled into
the humdrum routine, I struggled to find jobs
in the industry without any knowledge of the
German language. I then prioritized the
language learning process, which also opened
up new friendships and partnerships that have
become my support systems in this foreign land.
Pooja Joshi and family – hiking in the Alps.
To help my son get accustomed to the BIG
change in his life, I wrote a storybook for
him, about him, with a different name for
the protagonist - The Boy Who Had Many
Friends. The book helped him reconcile
that he hadn’t lost all his friends and that
he would soon find new friends in the new
place. My boy loves books and stories and
his own world of imagination, so I started
converting our science adventures into
books for him. Like The Boy Who Loves BIG
Words, where we explored words like
Metamorphosis, Photosynthesis,
Germination, Vaccination, etc. My son went
to a bilingual kindergarten (German –
English) and I started doing volunteer work
Exploring the world of science with some
little scientists.
there with the kids, reading them well-loved
stories followed by science activities based
on the stories. For example, we followed Julia
Donaldson’s The Detective Dog by investigating
the sense of smell, where they tried to guess the
smells around them with closed eyes. We even
tested how taste and smell are connected all
the way back to the brain. I loved feeding their
curious minds with knowledge bites and
watching the awe in their eyes. For me science
is a way of life, and to have this opportunity to
share it with young minds filled
me with so many creative ideas,
I had to do something about it.
That’s how my little business started.
It was born out of my need to
tell stories and my
passion for all things science!
Involvement in youth and youth
work
I’m always intrigued by how
curious young people can be and
how much unbridled joy they can
get when they are given the independence
to realize their ideas. I
love sharing the energy and the
enthusiasm they feel when they
discover something new. It’s the
Eureka moment when they figure
something out for themselves. It's
priceless!
I always loved making scientific
concepts easier for everyone to
understand. After giving birth to my son, I could
experiment to see how simple I could make
science. I started exploring ways to nurture
my son’s inherent curiosity and that led me
to designing experiments for little children to
explore and understand. My son’s birth was
the catalyst that made me really reflect on
how big a role science plays in our lives.
My experience in academia and research
prepared me for the scientific aspect of the
work I do, but I am self-educated when it comes
to working in the early education sector. As
Little scientists at work.
a scientist, research comes easily to me, so I
researched and read from the early education
gurus. My biggest mentors, though, were all the
little scientists who patiently allowed me to work
with them – their brutal honesty about what
they liked, they disliked, and their innocence
when they happily shared what they understood
and what they didn’t have helped me hone my
skills as an educator. I always have a list of the
most probable answers for any experiments I
have designed for them, but the little scientists
never fail to go above and beyond, coming up
with novel ways to solve a problem. Every
workshop is also a learning experience for me.
It’s a gentle reminder that the problem-solving
capabilities in kids are not for me to instill in
them, only for me to nurture.
Contributing to a better future generation
I think my biggest mission is to dispel the stigma
and the supposed difficulty surrounding science.
I want to make science
easy and simple,
because that is exactly
what it is. I look forward
to a world where our
kids can grow into
THINKING adults who
do not simply consume
but understand and
critically look at how
and what they
consume. Catch them
young, as they say! The
books and stories that
I write for the science
workshops are usually
centred around a
model that aids kids
to process more than
what they are told
without the added
baggage of always
being right or looking
for the right answer.
That for me is the
beauty of science:
to tinker about and
experiment and figure
out what might be
the answers to your
questions, whilst
happily stumbling upon
yet more questions to
explore. It's a world
away from the trappings of fake news and into
a world of the scientific method.
Biggest challenges
Personally my biggest challenge is
communicating science in a language that is
my fourth language – after moving to Germany
I conducted several workshops for kids in
German but I am still finding my comfort zone.
Even after four years here, I find giving the
exact same workshop in English much easier
to conduct.
10 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 11

Professionally my biggest challenge was
leaving the comfort of academia, where I
worked all my adult life by venturing into the
unknown. I started a science-themed workshop
series for kids, going back to the basics and
digging deep to make it appealing to parents
who probably were traumatized by the school
system into “studying science” and convincing
them that science can be fun and playful, too!
Instead of teaching science, I show them the
science already present in their lives.
Pooja conducting science workshops for kids.
I still remember how difficult it was to get kids
into the first workshops. We had the minimum
number of participants, just enough to avoid
making a loss. At the end of the workshop
though, the parents who were initially anxious
and hesitant about sending their kids to a
so-called science workshop were my biggest
champions in spreading the good word and
promoting the workshops in the wider
community. Some of the little scientists since
have attended every single workshop. It has not
only been encouraging but gives me immense
joy in seeing them grow up into these amazingly
aware human beings.
Things that make me sad
I am saddened that the world of science is
ageist and gendered. Under the umbrella of
STEM activities, a lot of science gets categorized
– cars for boys, glittery slime-making for girls,
programming for boys, perfume-making for
girls. A lot of the biases are social and cultural.
I believe science communication is mostly
targeted toward adults. That
is too little, too late. We
need to have more science
communicators and engaged
science teachers who can
speak the language of the
youth and make them
comfortable with the scientific
method. We need to have
young cheerleaders for
science to take us forward
into the future. When kids
can look at science without
fear of judgement and
discrimination, we can
expect a fairer future for all.
Pandemic changes
If it wasn’t already huge, the
many ways in which young
people can consume content
online have exploded during
the pandemic. A huge
percentage of young kids have
been raised in front of screens
in the last few years. Right or
wrong is not the argument I
would like to pose. I feel we
should accept that change
and improve and regulate consumption. The
way forward is to make kids more aware of how
and what they receive.
A new skill I'd like
I would love to learn more about creating
content for kids in an interactive way –
making videos about scientific concepts. There
is so much misinformation on the internet, that
I would love to have content that could rival fake
news. When someone searches for a fact they
should not encounter opinions. The scientific
method and logical thinking should be in the
spotlight.
Science is everywhere
The biggest myth is that science is not for
young children. Science is everywhere and in
everything, from getting your center of mass
in the right spot as you wake up and stand, to
the water you drink. It's in the chemicals in the
toothpaste you put in your mouth, to the food
you eat, and the smartphone you have in your
pocket. Science is what makes buildings you
live in stable and able to weather all seasons.
It’s part of everything from the transportation
you use to the end of the day when you fall
asleep and your brain cells fire up even as your
body relaxes. It is all Science. Science is in the
air. Kids experience science without knowing
the vocabulary for it. What I want to do is add
to their ever-expanding vocabulary so that
scientific words don’t feel difficult or alien when
they first come across them. They are part of
daily parlance.
The best advice I gave myself was to trust my
instinct and experience. Coming out of academia,
I questioned my ability to teach very young kids
(four- eight years). I have had to learn to
consciously avoid letting the impostor syndrome
creep in and to keep reminding myself why I do
what I do – make science simple and accessible
for all.
My guiding principles
I love putting everyday things under the
microscope – literally and figuratively – and
finding the EXTRAORDINARY in the ordinary.
Curiosity, creativity and wonder are my guiding
principles. I use stories as a medium to engage
kids in thinking and experimenting and
discovering for themselves the secrets of
science. Stories and storytelling are universal
to our human experience, making them a
wonderful tool to communicate complex ideas
simplistically. Children find science easier to
digest when they SEE it in their everyday lives
and can apply the concepts seamlessly by using
plain common sense. It brings science into the
realm of language – as commonplace, not
something that is difficult and therefore needs
to be learned!
A story from my childhood
My mother often tells my son that I always
opened up all the gadgets in the house. It
started with pens. I always opened them up for
investigation – why does it click, where is the
ink, what does the spring do and so many other
questions. These included fountain pens, ink
pens, ball pens, and sketch pens; I even opened
up a wooden pencil to look what the lead
inside looked like. They were all fascinating to
me. I opened up so many pens for so long that
my parents started hiding pens from me, just
to have at least one properly functioning pen
around in case of emergencies.
This constant need to understand how things
worked has made me the scientifically thinking
person that I am today.
Pooja with her mother and son.
Resemblances to my mom
My mother was an educator as am
I. In caring for my son, I am like my
mother – she was always present
whenever I needed her, and she has
been my therapist throughout my
life. It’s her rebellious behaviour that
made my attitude seem acceptable
and normal to me. Growing up in the
Indian patriarchal society she was the
person who made me confident in my
uniqueness.
12 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 13

14 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 15

feature
Introducing the FAWCO
In their own words Dubai 2013
Youth Program
My-Linh Kunst, AWC Berlin
Inspired by former United Nations
Secretary General Ban Ki Moon’s statement
“Working with and for young people is a
priority in my Five-year Action Plan,” the
2013-2015 FAWCO Board under the
leadership of President My-Linh Kunst
launched the FAWCO Youth Program
in 2013.
Youth make up nearly half (48%) of the
Berlin 2018 with chairs Karen Castellon and My-Linh Kunst.
world's population, and in less than 10
years will account for almost 75% of the
global workforce. It is time for our youth
to start working together and empowering one another towards creating a better world for
future generations. FAWCO, being a global family, is in an advantageous position to engage
our members’ children in this endeavor.
The Cultural Volunteers module of FAWCO's Youth Program is designed to foster cultural
awareness and volunteerism among FAWCO youths. The program is hosted by a FAWCO
member club, open to high-school-aged children of
FAWCO members. The teens stay with club member
families for a week and experience a new culture
while volunteering with local charities. The purpose
of the program is to help the youth discover
volunteering, develop their cultural understanding,
and raise their awareness of global issues and their
sense of global citizenship.
Our inaugural Cultural Volunteers program was in
Dubai (2013), followed by Shanghai (2014), Mumbai
(2015), Dublin (2016), Berlin (2018) and Athens (2019).
After a two years’ pause during the pandemic, 2022
was hosted by AWC Amsterdam on June 25 - July 2
(see page 47 for a recap of the program).
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
Throughout this issue, you will find
pages (starting with the opposite
page) called In Their Own Words
with quotes from participants from
the Cultural Volunteers Program.
All were asked:
"What was the highlight of the
experience for you?"
Julia Goldsby, AIWC Cologne
On meeting other third culture kids and local Emirati kids: We may dress differently and
practice different religions, but teenagers around the world are pretty much the same—
we're all goofy, curious, and hoping our generation can improve life for all of us.
QUOTES FROM CULTURAL
VOLUNTEERS
"What was the highlight of the
experience for you?"
Monica Jubayli, Program Chair
I'll never forget the first FAWCO Youth Cultural Volunteers who had just experienced
Ramadan with Emirati teenagers, waiting respectfully while the Emiratis prayed before
"iftar" (the meal breaking their Ramadan fast), and then all joined in to share the homecooked
food. The girls wore their abayas (coat dress) and shaylas (scarf), and the boys were
in their kandouras (robe) and ghutras (headdress). By the end of the evening, my living
room was full of noisy teenagers who could have been from anywhere in the world. Later,
driving to another event, my two young charges (I hosted two young men) spoke candidly
between themselves. I was the proverbial "fly on the wall" during their conversation. I
knew the FYCV program was a success when I heard them comment that Muslims were
often misjudged in Europe. They realized that underneath it all, there are more similarities
than differences.
Ben Maher, AWC Dublin
But what sticks out most in my mind is the coming
together, the universality of us as people,
and the possibility of becoming friends with
people strange to us if only given the opportunity.
It was undoubtedly the best programme I have
ever been involved with. It was a pleasure and an
experience of a lifetime.
16 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 17

profile
Habits of Mind: Art
Tours with 3rd & 4th
Graders
Pat Lawrence, FAUSA member and former member of MIWC (Munich
International Women's Club), is a docent at the Museum of Fine Arts,
Houston, where she conducts 40 tours a year.
My life journey
I grew up in the NJ suburbs with my parents and
three sisters. My mom was an artist. I was a very
active Girl Scout and enjoyed camping, hiking and
canoeing. During the summer, my grandparents
would take my older sister and me across the
country on a train to visit relatives in the
Midwest and West starting when I was four.
One trip I fondly remember was visiting my aunt’s
dude ranch in Tumacacori, Arizona, and then the
newly opened Disneyland in California. That
started my love of travel. On most Christmases,
my grandmother, who grew up in Manhattan,
would take the girls to church at St. Patrick’s
Cathedral and then Radio City Music Hall for the
Rockettes and Holiday Show. That started my love
for NYC. We spent many summer vacations at the
Jersey Shore in Long Beach Island. I graduated
from Rutgers U in New Brunswick, NJ with a
degree in Sociology but took several Art History
and Art classes and received my MBA from
Fordham University in NYC.
Pat in one of her dirndls.
After leaving home
Upon receiving my BA, I worked in the field of
Marketing Research. It was fascinating to learn
how people develop preferences and why they
make the choices they do. I lived in NYC and
moved into Brand Management
for Loewe’s Corporation and the
company that makes Lysol. Brand
Management is like being the hub
of a wheel and leading all aspects
Pat Lawrence
to develop a brand, from strategy
18 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 19

to advertising and promotion to packaging and
profit. I frequently walked to my office on Fifth
Avenue from my apartment on E. 84th St. This
entailed walking through the Central Park Zoo
and the Alice in Wonderland Plaza, then past
Bergdorf’s and the Plaza Hotel. I considered it a
privilege to see those sights daily! I would ride
my bike on Sundays to the Metropolitan
Museum of Art and spend hours appreciating
the beauty around me. The ad agencies would
take me to the best restaurants in town and
I’d golf in Greenwich, Connecticut with
Sports Illustrated people. It was an
exciting time.
Life changes
I met and married my husband in
NYC although, oddly enough, we
grew up about 10 miles from each
other in NJ. He is an engineer in the
petroleum industry and at some
point, he found a position in
Houston, TX. We thought it might
be time to begin a kinder,
gentler life outside of the city and I
networked to see if there were any
Brand Management positions in
Houston. I was fortunate to find the
perfect spot as a Marketing Director
for Minute Maid and Hi-C juices and
drinks with the Coca-Cola Company.
By the time I left Coke, I was the
Managing Director for the Southeast
area and commuted from Houston
to Tampa, Florida.
Houston, I promptly joined FAUSA and applied
to become a docent at the Museum of Fine Arts,
Houston. It was something that I had wanted to
do for a long time. My husband still works in the
petroleum industry, my son lives and works in
NYC in a tech field that didn’t exist when I was
growing up, and my daughter is a doctor in
Michigan. I stay active with docent tours and the
study of art history, leading FAUSA meetings, two
book clubs, water aerobics and travel. And we
just purchased a vacation casita in Santa Fe,
New Mexico.
about what it means to them. It’s amazing when
students bring up a point that I hadn’t noticed
and show great originality.
Contributing to a better future generation
The art tours with third and fourth graders help
them to develop critical thinking skills and
patterns of intellectual behaviors,
called Habits of Mind, that lead to
productive actions. The tours are
designed to help them think deeply
about a work of art and overcome
the fear of ambiguity, develop grit
through problem-solving skills, and
understand bias and assumptions.
My role is mainly as a facilitator of
conversation about an object so
that students participate and
communicate. For future scholars
and cutting-edge work, regardless
of the field, students need to
communicate well, take risks, be
unafraid of failure and work well
with others.
Biggest challenges
I love working with the kids!
Although I have taught graduate
students before, I wasn’t sure if I
would be able to relate to eight to
ten year olds in a teaching
situation. It takes a little extra
patience at times. And the
students come in with different
bases of knowledge and different
life experiences. Many have never
been to a museum before, some are
hungry and tired, and some speak
only Spanish, so I need to adjust my
I also started my family and we had
a boy and a girl. When my daughter
turned two years old, I quit the
commute and consulted for several
companies in Houston, such as Shell.
I also taught Brand Management to
MBA students at Rice University’s
Jones School of Management.
For all the international travel that
my husband did, I stayed in Houston
while the kids attended school.
However, when he received a Munich
assignment, I officially retired and
joined him there. The timing was perfect as my
son had just graduated from New York
University and my daughter was attending
Harvard College. They were both on the East
Coast and visited us more often in Munich
than they did in Houston. When we returned to
Pat giving her art tours to 3rd and 4th graders.
Involvement in youth and youth work
Spending time with young people keeps me
energized and young at heart. I love when they
consider a work of art, whether it’s a portrait or
an abstract painting, and have an epiphany
I became a docent when I returned from living
overseas in Munich. It was something that I had
always thought about doing but never seemed
to have the time for. It involved 18 months of
training and I had to commit to giving 40 tours a
year. The museum mostly hires former teachers
or artists; however, I believe that my college art
history courses and passion for touring
museums in Europe helped me become a
viable candidate.
Listening to young people
I like to really listen to what they
have to say and build upon their
comments, peppered with a few
facts. It makes each person feel
special and know that they have
something to contribute. When they
know that their opinions count they
are inspired to think more critically
and let their creativity show.
Working with Third and Fourth Graders
I love working with the kids! I never thought I
would have the patience to deal with third and
fourth graders, but I find them to be refreshing
and interesting. The best experience is when
students volunteer that they want to come
back to the museum with family. That tells
me I’ve been successful in engaging them.
20 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 21

feature
A Club Inspires:
AIWA Rabat
Nancy Lukas-Slaoui, Club
President of AIWA Rabat, and
FAWCO Reps Hafida Lahrache
and Souad Tadlaoui introduce
their club to us. AIWA is one of
four clubs in FAWCO's Region 7.
T
he precursor of today’s American
International Women’s Association
Rabat was the American Women’s
Association, which was started by
the United States Embassy wives in 1962. The
association was formed to engage in charitable
work in the greater Rabat-Sale area and offer
cultural exchange activities for embassy wives.
The original association was open to all
embassies and therefore had an international
composition to it. It was and still remains an
English-speaking association whose focus is
on community service and cultural exchange.
How many members do you have and what is
their nationality?
The current AIWA-Rabat membership is 125,
and the majority of the ladies are Moroccan.
Typically, our international members are expats
from the United States, Europe, Asia and
Spanish-speaking countries, as well as US
embassy wives. Our large Moroccan contingent
is made up of professional ladies who may have
studied abroad or lived in the US, Canada, or the
UK. Regardless of our backgrounds, we all share
a common bond of helping the less fortunate
through our CDC (Community Development
Committee) work and enjoying a spirit of
cultural learning.
AIWA General
Meeting, Mega
Mall, Rabat
How does the club run?
We try to have at least two vice
presidents or co-chairs in every
Fundraising: Christmas Bazaar at the Rabat
American School.
board position, of which there are eleven
(general meeting, cultural exchange,
communications, fundraising, CDC, membership,
hospitality, recording secretary, treasurer,
FAWCO reps, board advisors and US Embassy
liaison rep). There is only one AIWA president
and vice president. As with most associations,
there is a core of 40+ ladies who are very active
and carry the club. We encourage all members
to get involved, build friendships, find joy in
community service and be proud of making a
difference in the lives of so many less fortunate
in the greater Rabat area. In the spring, our
board advisors form a selection committee,
and a specific protocol is followed to vote in
the new board.
What kind of events do you have in your club?
We have several fundraising events that are
organized by our VPs for fundraising and carried
out by the fundraising committee. Our annual
fundraisers are the Thanksgiving Walk-a-Thon,
the Christmas Bazaar, Valentine’s Day Candy-
Gram Sale, and a Spring Fair event. Additionally,
we have a Moroccan cookbook/travelogue for
sale in both Morocco and the United States.
22 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 23

We schedule monthly general meetings that
host a large variety of Moroccan, international,
male and female guest speakers, and we offer
sales tables to our women’s cooperatives.
Our cultural exchange activities are organized
by the VPs with the help of their committee.
for members and their spouses for Halloween,
Valentine’s Day, and St. Patrick’s Day.
In conjunction with the US embassy, we usually
have a Welcoming Tea, Christmas Party, and
End-of-the-Year Tea at the residence. AIWA has
an annual Ramadan Food Drive, Ladies’ F’tir, a
Chabana afternoon event and
an Achoura gift-giving party for
the children in the Ibn Sina
Children’s Hospital. In addition,
International Women’s Day
events are organized that may
include a guest speaker panel
on women’s issues at the March
general meeting, a luncheon,
and/or a health and wellness
yoga/Zumba morning workshop.
AIWA Cultural Exchange: St. Patrick's Day Party at the Sofitel Hotel, Rabat.
Members can look forward to a new members'
tour of the Rabat medina with lunch at a lovely
riad and two annual excursions to other cities
not too far from Rabat such as Kenitra, Tangier,
Sale, etc. Holiday cocktail parties are organized
Do you raise money for any
particular cause?
All the money that is raised
through fundraising goes to
our CDC to support the 30 plus
local charities that rely on us to
provide humanitarian assistance.
Local charity organizations send
us a request for materials with
pricing. The CDC meets monthly to review the
requests. Visitations are scheduled to speak with
the director(s) and inspect the sites. The CDC
then votes on how much we can help with each
project. Requested materials/needed items are
CDC: Blankets and warm clothing for the people in the Atlas Mountains to be distributed by the ENIAS university students
when they make their yearly medical caravan into the mountain villages.
Fundraising: 2 nd Hand Caftan Sale with proceeds going to AVENIR Children's Center.
purchased and a follow-up visit is scheduled to
inspect the delivered equipment.
Here are the names of just a few of the local
charities we support:
• Avicenne Ibn Sina Children’s Hospital:
Association Kaouthar.
• AVENIR Children’s Cancer Center.
• Dar Taliba: a resident home for girls
from rural areas to enable them to
finish their studies.
• Vaincre L'Autisme Rabat: training center
for young adults with autism.
• Residential Center for Displaced Elderly
Persons, Ain Atiq.
• BADEL Center for Children with Diabetes.
• Adult Training Center for the Blind .
• A variety of women’s training centers
and cooperatives.
What was your favorite activity last year?
I really don’t think we as a group have one
favorite activity because all our events are fun,
knowledgeable, offer a sense of community and
help build bonds of friendship. However, if I had
to pick one, I think the ladies on the board enjoy
welcoming new members, especially those new
to Morocco at the Welcoming Tea and new
members' tour of the Rabat Medina. We love
sharing the beauty of this country, its
indescribable sense of hospitality and its
cultural richness.
What else would you like us to know about
your club?
Women who become members of AIWA-Rabat
enjoy a kindred spirit of community service and
a desire to know and appreciate other cultures.
The ladies of AIWA-Rabat are as dear and
caring as all the women who are involved in the
FAWCO clubs. Our shared goals are our strength
as we continue to make effective changes in big
and small ways. We build bridges between
different nationalities, cultures and religions.
Thus, we empower ourselves and others to make
a difference, work towards positive change, and
bring improvements and dignity to the lives of
many around the world.
Tell us a little bit about Rabat and Morocco
Rabat is one of the four Imperial Cities of
Morocco but didn’t actually become the capital
of Morocco until 1912 when the French
Protectorate moved the title from Fes. This
picturesque city, which lies on the banks of
the Bou Regreg River, embodies the dignity of
ancient Rome with its Chellah Necropolis, the
unique Moorish architectural and decorative
style of the past, the art deco facades of the
24 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 25

colonial era, and now the impressive, modern
structures of a 21st-century capital city. This
distinct blending of the old and the new makes
Rabat one of the most attractive cities in
North Africa; it is now a center for culture and
tourism, as well as a UNESCO World Heritage
Site. Without a doubt, expats and embassy
personnel living here find Rabat to be a very
attractive city, easy to live in with all its modern
conveniences, yet it retains an ambiance of
historical and cultural beauty that is intriguing
and endearing.
Any unusual/interesting traits of the locals?
Morocco is internationally renowned for its
warm and inviting hospitality a reputation that is
well deserved. Its cuisine is rated one of the top
three in the culinary world. It is often referred
to “a cuisine of 1001 flavors.” The blend of
varied spices is a culinary art that is rich and
multi-layered. Moroccan food has a distinct,
savory appeal due to the variety of
vegetables used in making salads and
tagines (stews made with meat,
chicken, lamb, or fish); the use of
olives in some tagines and prunes,
apricots, honey and almonds in
others; grains like couscous and
delicious breads; and honey, almond
and sesame desserts. Enjoying a
Moroccan meal is the ultimate cultural
treat and one that you will look
forward to having again and again.
ornate Morocco homes that have been turned
into lovely hotels. Enjoy a real taste of the beauty
of Morocco with their rooftop restaurants for
dining and drinks with views overlooking the city
and surrounding areas. Breathtaking. There are
also many fantastic hidden gems for exploring
nature and appreciating the country’s culture.
• Hiking in the Middle Atlas Mountains:
Ifrane, Aguelmam Azigza, and Tazekka
National Parks, Sefrou, Ouzoud,
Paradise Valley and Jbel Aklim
• The natural stone arch of Imin n’Ifri
• The waterfalls of Oum Er-Rhia River
• The water cisterns and UNESCO-listed
Mazagan Fortress of El Jadida
What are a few undiscovered gems?
Discovering the medinas of Rabat and
Morocco is always a treat. It’s like walking back
hundreds of years into the past. Some hidden
gems in the medinas are the riads – beautiful,
Thank you for your willingness to support this
very important fundraising project. All proceeds
from the sale of this book will aid the less fortunate
in the Moroccan greater Rabat-Salé area through the
charitable work of AIWA’s Community
Development Committee (CDC). The price of the
Presents:
All proceeds
Casablanca
from
and Volubilis
the sale of this book will aid the less fortunate
in the Moroccan greater Rabat-Salé area through the charitable
work of AIWA’s Community Development Committee (CDC). The
Examples of AIWA-Rabat support in the Rabat-
Salé AIWA area includes cookbook Children’s Hospital; costs Center for $20 and is available exclusively at
Children with Diabetes; Center for the Blind;
equipment for handicapped in rural areas; www.lulu.com
support
26 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 27
AIWA cookbook is $20 and available exclusively
at www.lulu.com. At the Lulu website, click on
Wish to order our cookbook/travelogue?
Cookbook of 70+ recipes covering:
Soups
Bastila
Fish
Chicken
Beef
Lamb
Salads & Pickles
Vegetables
Couscous
Bread
Desserts
Infusions
And a Travelogue for Rabat, Fes,
Meknes, Marrakech, Tangier,
of various women’s cooperatives including rural
farming and rug-making; support of women’s health
issues; supporting school and training for children
and young adults with autism; supporting vocational
training to young people in smaller towns; etc.

In their own words
Shanghai 2014
We
understand
your world
Jacob Barnes, AWC Dublin
While most of the surprises I met were pleasant, I was not so happy about a number of
unexpected aspects. The biggest of the unwelcome surprises I met whilst in China was
the extreme poverty that exists. Stateside, most of what we hear about China is on their
growing economy and swift progression from "Developing" to nearly "Developed,"
leaving me appalled at how negligent the government seemed to be of the most
vulnerable in their society. While working with the children of migrant workers, we got to
visit the home of one of the children. We found that the family of six was living in what
many of us would consider a small room, with several of the children sleeping on no more
than broken cardboard boxes. For a country that is constantly being heralded for its
growing economy, I expected it to recognize the needs of its people more aptly.
QUOTES FROM CULTURAL
VOLUNTEERS
"What was the highlight of the
experience for you?"
Charlotte Knopp, AWC The Hague
“Heart to Heart” funds surgeries for underprivileged children from all over China. In China,
healthcare is only available in the province of birth. In some provinces, adequate healthcare
is unavailable, meaning that all necessary medical care must be received in another
region, and thus must be paid for out of pocket. The expat organization shares the
hospital's playroom, which is used for hospitalized children and children visiting hospitalized
families. After the playroom opened, I helped
one boy pick out a book. He was probably six or
seven and Tibetan – meaning we couldn’t communicate
in the slightest nor understand the Chinese
characters. We sat and flipped the pages,
followed the pictures, and made up stories,
trying to get the gist of the book. It brought
about a wave of nostalgia for when I was teenytiny,
pretending to read by myself but really just
paging through the pictures.
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28 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 29

profile
"Everyone Is Who They
Are for a Reason"
Paula Brandenburg, member of AWCL (American Women's Club of
London), helps adults and teens develop the mindset and skillset
of respect.
My life journey
I grew up in the United States, in Oklahoma and
Colorado. My parents divorced and remarried
when I was very young. I was raised by two
different sets of parents who were very different
from each other.
In Colorado, I had a very large, Italian family living
in a small community. My grandmother took care
of my cousins and me while our parents were
working. My cousins and I spent our days playing
outdoors. My sister was born when I was ten.
I remember the first day that I saw her; I
immediately loved her with all my heart.
In Oklahoma, the only family I had was my mom
and dad. I attended a small, private school. There
was one teacher I had, every year for eight years,
Mr. Sennhenn. As an adult, I realized that he had
been a rock for me; he was there for me day by
day. He taught me the importance of consistency
and dedication.
I loved growing up with diversity. I loved and will
always love all four of my parents. They each
played an important role in my life and had a
hand in me becoming the person that I am today.
Paula Brandenburg and her teacher
of eight years, Mr. Sennhenn.
After leaving home
I studied Early Childhood Education at university
and supported myself waiting tables. In my
program of study, another student made a very
large impact on the person that I am. She always
wanted to be in groups with me and sit next to
me. I wasn’t rude to her, but I did try to
avoid her as much as possible. She was
too needy. In one of our psychology
Paula Brandenburg
30 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 31

classes, she shared
that the year before
she started university,
she was pregnant and
lived in her car with
her dog. One day, as
she put a gun to her
head, her dog licked
her. She realized that
she couldn’t leave her
dog; he needed her.
The moment that she
shared that, I felt
terrible and ashamed.
There was a reason
that she wanted a
person in her life. In
every class that I have
taught, whether it’s
children, young adults
or adults, I end the
sessions with this: “Everyone is who they are
for a reason. We may never know that reason,
it is not our right to know that reason, but we
should always treat everyone with respect."
Life changes
I married my childhood crush, Rob. With his
profession, we moved many times. In each
new location, I located our doctors, the kids'
schools and, just as important, friends for us.
We have two biological sons, Robert and Lee.
As soon as the boys were old enough to join
the Boy Scouts, I also became involved. I joined
a Boy Scout leadership and team building
training, Wood Badge. This is an intense six-day
training that immerses adults in team building
and leadership activities. At the conclusion of
my session, I was asked to be on the staff of
the next session. Serving on a Wood Badge
staff is a big honor; I have served on five. In
addition to being on Wood Badge staff, I
became the director of a National Day Camp
Paula with her family, "adopted" daughter (above) and her "drama" son (left).
school. This is an intense training that certifies
adults to start and run a day camp for Scouts.
The Boy Scouts of America was a place where I
could give to communities.
As soon as the boys were settled in their new
community, I also taught in their school district.
Even though I had the luxury of being a housewife,
I couldn’t stay out of the classroom. One
year, I had a 12-year-old student who had a
very challenging past. She was abandoned at
a train station in India when she was around
three years old. The local authorities took her
to an orphanage, where she lived for a little
more than a year. A woman of Indian descent,
who lived in the United States, adopted her.
Unfortunately, when she was my student, her
adoptive mom became abusive. My family and I
became a respite family for that student. When
her mother would have a spell, she would
temporarily live with us. At age 17, she became
a permanent member of our family.
That same year, I had a student who was
unable to get involved in the school’s drama
department because he depended on the bus
to get home after school. I knew this young
man had a passion for the technical side of
theater. Unfortunately, his single parent
wasn’t interested and didn’t feed that passion.
With permission from his mom, I became his
“drama mom.” I was his transportation and held
the parental role that all the other drama
parents held. I am extremely proud to say that
he was successful through high school, was the
first generation in his family to go to college
and is a technical director of a theater. He also
became a member of our family; I am no longer
his “drama mom.” I am his “white mom” and
we are his white family. That year, Rob and I no
longer had two children, we had four.
Involvement in youth and youth work
I enjoy the challenge of getting to know them,
figuring out what makes them click. I love the
fact that they are one person when I first meet
them and as I work with them, they grow into a
different human being. I don’t work to change
them into what I think that they should be, I
allow them to grow into the person that they
are, deep in their core.
Ever since I can remember, I wanted to be a
teacher. At university, I learned about
Differentiated Instruction. This new knowledge
showed me the path to be the teacher that
was naturally me; I was born to teach. I always
knew that teaching was more than lecturing
and distributing new information. I knew that
I would expend the energy to learn and teach
each individual how they best learned and at
the level they needed. I now had the skills to
make that happen.
Going to make a difference in this world
I have a degree in Early Childhood Education.
However, I have a mentor who made more of
an impact on me than anything. In 1986, I was
17 and participating in the Model United
Nations. Betty Williams, a Nobel Peace Prize
Laureate, was a guest speaker. One of her
statements was: One person who believes
deeply enough and is concerned enough can
make a difference. As she addressed the
audience, there were a few moments when
she and I made eye contact. After her speech,
I walked to the podium and introduced myself.
She grabbed my hand with both of hers and
said, “Paula, you are going to make a difference
in this world.” I wrote her and thanked her a few
years ago and she replied. One of my biggest
wishes in life is to shake her hand again.
Contributing to a better future generation
During the last few years in a classroom, in
addition to teaching youth, I was coaching
their parents to parent. It seemed that parents
were taking a step back and no longer teaching
their children how to be respectful, to build
their character. Through the Boy Scouts, I
was educating adults on youth character
development when I realized that most parents
needed that training. That is when I developed
Respekt, LLC. I started it to help teens and adults
develop the mindset and skillset of respect,
which is needed to succeed not only in their
personal and professional lives but ultimately
in the communities in which they live. I worked
with youth and parents and I was also hired for
executive coaching and employee development
in companies that were having a difficult time
growing. I hope to better our communities one
person at a time.
Importance of face-to-face interaction
Many adults and youth spend more time face to
face with their phones than each other. Time in
the car, in the grocery store and waiting in lines
is time that parents could have their child’s
attention. Instead, they allow their children to be
entertained by a screen.
32 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 33

Paula out hat shopping in London.
I don’t know what we can do about it; I find it very
sad. I am thinking about making a business card
that briefly states the importance of face-to-face
interaction. As I am walking away from a parent
who is allowing their children to sit with a screen
to their face, I can hand them the card. Maybe it
will make a difference in at least one family.
Favorite way to inspire young people
One year I had a 6-year-old student who was the
mascot of the Crip gang. I recognized how much
he loved music and liked to sing. Just spending
the first 10 minutes of class dancing, I turned
Michael from a violent gang member to a learner.
I taught him how to read, but more importantly,
I taught him to love learning. I have a talent for
observing people and finding commonalities.
Through those commonalities, I gain trust, and
through that trust, I educate. I inspire youth by
accepting who they are and show them, through
experiences, how they can grow as a person.
Story from childhood
I spent my childhood growing up in two very
different areas and communities at the same
time. I see differences as the norm. In one of
those communities, Oklahoma, we did not have
family. My parents' friends and a few of my friends
became our family. I have always brought people
together; I build communities, through kindness.
Working on teens social skills
My degree is in Early Childhood Education.
I wanted to teach 6 to 10-year-olds. I was
terrified of young teens and teenagers. After
several years of teaching, I branched out and
learned how exciting teaching young teens is.
While working with that age group, there are
days when academics need to be set aside, to
spend time working on social skills. Young
teens are at an age when they are exploring
and experimenting with who they want to be.
I love being part of that process.
34 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 35

feature
Inspiring Future
Generations
Katja Malinowski, a member of AWCB
(American Women's Club of Berlin),
uses the Sustainable Development
Goals in her teaching.
“There is no more powerful
transformative force than education—
to promote human rights and
dignity, to eradicate poverty and
deepen sustainability, to build a better
future for all, founded on equal rights
and social justice, respect for
cultural diversity, and international
solidarity and shared responsibility, all
of which are fundamental aspects of
our common humanity."
Irina Bokova, former Director-General
of UNESCO
T
oday, there are 1.8 billion people
between the ages of 10 and 24 –
they are the largest generation of
youth in history. Connected to each
other like never before, young people want to
and already do contribute to the resilience of
their communities, proposing innovative
solutions, driving social progress and inspiring
political change.
To change course, the world
needs our youth to have the
knowledge, values and skills to
better navigate this uncertain
future and tackle its profound
challenges. Research shows that
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is
a crucial tool, which not only empowers
students to shape a better world, but also
perform better in school.
What is ESD?
ESD is not about inserting new thematic content
into an already overcrowded curriculum, which
would make it impractical – both time and
content-wise – especially for the teacher. Nor is
it about removing or minimizing the importance
of academic content. Instead, it is about
reorienting subjects into serving a more
socially and globally relevant purpose: that of
contributing to a sustainable, just and peaceful
world, with young people motivated, prepared
and empowered to address persistent and
emerging local and global challenges. Now,
more than ever, education has a responsibility
to be in sync with 21st-century challenges and
aspirations, and foster the right types of values
and skills that will lead to sustainable and
inclusive growth, and peaceful living together.
My introduction to the SDGs
I was first introduced to the SDGs, 17 ambitious
objectives for a greener, healthier, more
peaceful and equal planet, in late 2015 right
after they were adopted by the United Nations
Campaign’s
Global Festival
of Action in
2019.
36 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 37

while I was teaching IBDP Geography. I was
immediately attracted to them not only because
of the bright colors, but because they seemed
to give so much purpose and meaning to the
world – they were a roadmap/blueprint to a
better future at a time when our children were
demanding answers to uncomfortable questions
and inconvenient truths regarding the
environment and their future.
The importance of SDG 4 for me
As a History, Geography and Politics teacher,
TeachSDGs Ambassador and Advocate, and
Mentor for SDGs and Education for Sustainable
Development, SDG 4 - Quality Education is very
close to my heart, in particular target 4.7. This
aims at ensuring that by 2030 “all learners
acquire knowledge and skills needed to promote
sustainable development, including among
others through education for sustainable
development and sustainable lifestyles, human
rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture
of peace and non-violence, global citizenship,
and appreciation of cultural diversity and of
culture’s contribution to sustainable
development.” At the core of my teaching lies
the desire to instill a sense of social and
environmental justice, a healthy and robust
sense of inquiry and creativity, as well as a
deeper commitment to global citizenship. One
of the greatest testaments to the worldview of
my students is their engagement with the UN
Sustainable Development Goals, empowering
them with the knowledge, skills and pathways
to be effective and confident agents of change
and advocates of shaping the future they
would like to see and live in. The Global Goals
empower them by giving them permission to
believe in a better world. Activating our youth
then happened in three stages: Awareness,
Understanding and Action. I have been in a
truly unique position of influence to educate
my students to overcome the greatest
challenges of the 21st century and lead healthy
and productive lives, in harmony with nature.
A recurrent theme for me
The SDGs became a recurrent theme and
common thread throughout my teaching
and our school’s curriculum, providing many
opportunities for interdisciplinary projects
and student-led actions, e.g., our annual Week
to Act 4 SDGs, creating an SDGs in Action
newsletter or organizing regular events for our
school community with expert guest speakers
on SDG related topics. The students have
participated in various global projects, e.g.,
the Goals Project, for which they designed a
life skills unit on sexual harassment with the
support of UN Women and the HeforShe
Campaign linked to SDG 5 – Gender
Equality, and have connected with 16 other
schools around the world to focus on SDG 17 –
Partnerships for the Goals. Meanwhile, we have
embedded and infused the goals and education
for sustaniable development across the sections
of our school and have put them in the focus of
a whole-school approach, while redesigning our
curriculum. With the help of the Design Thinking
method, a problem-solving approach, our
students have been inspired through
extracurriculars like the SDG Action Club, Model
United Nations and the Biomimicry project in
Science to design, create and discuss innovative
and sustainable solutions to the global issues
we face today. We achieved the same level of
activism in a pilot project in which we turned a
Geography class into an SDGs course aligned
with the Berlin state curriculum. Additionally,
we expanded our annual “Amazing Race History
Challenge” in Berlin, which is a photo scavenger
hunt highlighting Berlin’s rich and diverse
history. This year, the students launched an
SDG edition of the “Amazing Race,” encouraging
other students to walk through their city with
open eyes and find evidence of sustainable
development. In some cases, students showcased
littering in the park or found the SDGs
visually on government buildings. It is this
commitment to education for sustainable
development for which we were awarded the
Eco-School certificate.
Is any of this achievable?
While wanting to give the students hope, there
was always that sense of disillusionment and
skepticism from their side regarding the
achievability of the Global Goals and the
question if they were not too ambitious.
After more than two years of COVID-19
John F. Kennedy once said to the
youth „...I come here today...not just
because you are doing well and because
you are outstanding students,
but because we expect something of
you. […] We ask the best of you...I
congratulate you on what you have
done, and most of all I congratulate
you on what you are going to do."
This perfectly sums up what I desire
most for my students and future
generations.
reversing any progress towards the SDGs, their
criticism is, of course, valid. At the same time, it
was important to prove to them how important
partnerships and commitment worldwide
were. My students and I had the incredible
opportunity to go to the SDG Action Campaign’s
Global Festival of Action in 2019, where they
met and interacted with politicians, social
entrepreneurs, business people and youth
activists from all around the world and
experienced and were inspired by the
38 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 39

tremendous actions and projects to make the
world a better place. I remember how
disappointed they were that, although a lot of
topics and workshops were about the youth,
they were the only young people at the event.
However, this in turn, encouraged them to
become engaged even more.
The importance of engaging with youth
Over the last years, I/we have been very
fortunate to have been supported by the United
Nations Association in Germany, which has
hosted many incredible events and panel
discussions with amazing guest speakers on
SDG-related issues as well as SDG weekend
seminars in which many of my students have
participated. From gender equality, sustainable
cities, climate action and ocean protection to
sustaining peace and partnerships for the goals,
the students have been inspired on so many
different levels. The experience of participating
in Model United Nations and global conferences
enhances their world view and their
engagement with global issues. This has led
to many students wishing to pursue their
university studies in international relations and
sustainable development.
In the context of the SDGs, we have seen an
extraordinary movement of young people from
all around the world who have come together
and become agents of change. Youth leadership
is essential in rebuilding a post COVID-19 world
with the SDGs. We have to harness the momentum
of this movement and their engagement
and continue to empower our youth.
Provided with the necessary skills and
opportunities needed to reach their potential,
young people can be a driving force for
supporting development and contributing to
peace and security. With political commitment
and adequate resources, young people have
the potential to make the most effective
transformation of the world into a better place
for all. Inspired by the words of Robert F.
Kennedy – “Some men see things as they are
and ask why. I dream of things that never
were, and ask why not.“ – I aim to instill a
sense of social and environmental justice and
responsibility in my students to take action
and transform our world.
Teaching the SDGs is about changing the
angles of how we view things. It’s an adventure,
but it’s a good one with very positive learning
outcomes. It’s what we want to give the
students; it’s what we owe them.
In their own words
Louisa Bühling, AIWC Düsseldorf
Mumbai 2015
The experience of the FAWCO Youth Program really opened my eyes to the inequalities
in the world, and visiting the four different charities showed me for how many different
reasons people in our world need help.
Meenakshi Advani, Program Chair
All involved in the program have lasting impressions of this incredible week. Some of the
host moms with children at home found that sharing their space with a child from the
program improved their own child's experience at home in a unique way.
The participants became best friends, cried, laughed, and were inseparable; were all well
behaved at their host homes; shared with us their sensitive emotions while visiting our
Mumbai supported charities; fit right into the cultural environment with no fuss and
ate the local foods; loved meeting and interacted beautifully with our membership; felt
the vast impact of being in a five-star hotel after visiting a homeless group of women
living in a garage together; spent their down time discussing their personal lives and daily
observations; spread their joy and knowledge not only to themselves but also to all of us
in Mumbai!
QUOTES FROM CULTURAL
VOLUNTEERS
"What was the highlight of the
experience for you?"
Renger Van Eerten, AWC The Hague
These (charity) experiences really stood out
for me and gave me a completely different
perspective on what I had previously thought
about Mumbai and charity work in general.
It taught me that I had to be a lot more
appreciative of the things around me and to be
less wanting.
40 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 41

profile
"What Makes You
Different From
Everyone Else?"
Marelie Manders, a member of HIWC (Heidelberg International
Women's Club), is a university lecturer and she loves to learn
what make her students tick.
My life journey
I grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Something that really stood out to me as a child
was the moment when the first democratic
elections in South Africa took place. I believe
I was about 12 years old at the time and I
remember the atmosphere in the country.
I remember taking my bicycle and riding up and
down past the voting station to see everyone
voting. That election resulted in Nelson Mandela
becoming the president of South Africa.
After leaving home
After leaving school I didn’t move too far from
home, about 40 minutes away to Pretoria.
There, I went to university to study law, which I
really enjoyed. While I was at law school I found
my ultimate passion in law - international law.
International law as a subject made a big
impression on me as it was exciting, more
current and deals with the relationship between
countries on the international scale. I ended up
staying in Pretoria for six years and completed
my masters degree in international law.
Marelie and her husband Bart
For work I eventually relocated to Durban, a
lovely city on the eastern coast of South Africa.
It was the first time I was truly in a city of my
own, without any friends or family
nearby, and this ended up
being the best experience of my
life. I met wonderful people and
eventually ended up meeting my
Marelie Manders
husband, who was in the city for a
42 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 43

hear. We are lucky that our subject
matter is current, which piques their
interest even more. Interestingly I also
learn from them, as they teach me about
German law and how it differs from the
foreign law I am teaching them, which is
great, as the legal systems are theoretically
completely different.
Contributing to a better future
generation
During exam time I always ask students
one question: "What makes you special/
different from everyone else?" The
responses I get are so wonderful and
varied, and this really teaches me who
my students are. In Germany the
classroom culture is very different and
the relationship between lecturer and
student is more formal.
Biggest challenges
With the subjects I teach, I hope to inspire
at least a couple of students to go on and
follow careers in the fields of human rights
or international law. Having the right
people in these positions would hopefully
end up making a bigger difference in the
lives of people internationally.
Marelie podcasting during the pandemic.
short time on an assignment for his company,
which is based in Germany. From there he asked
me to accompany him to his next assignment in
Brazil, and I agreed.
Life changes
Living in Brazil was challenging, as we were
based in a small town. But we eventually
managed to learn Portuguese and enjoyed our
time there. I spent my time teaching English as
a volunteer and met some wonderful people at
the language school, including life-long friends.
After three years we returned to my husband’s
“home base” for work, Germany, and we still live
here now, about six years later. We will probably
stay in Germany permanently and I think it is
a good balance between the places we’ve lived
before. I am proud to say that we are integrated
and I am very happy that I prioritized learning
German immediately when I arrived. At home it
is just me and my husband.
Involvement in youth and youth work
I have worked at universities as a lecturer on
and off since I left university myself and it seems
I just can’t step away from university settings!
Honestly it gives me immense pleasure working
at universities and enjoying the wonderful
atmosphere on campus. In my current job I am
teaching first-year students and students on
exchange to Germany.
I love working with young people, and especially
the first-year students, as it is just wonderful
to see them grow from high school kids,
completely from “school mode” where they are
the seniors, into "university mode," where they
are adults who have to take charge of their own
lives at university. I am in a unique position
where I get to teach them exciting and out of the
ordinary courses, and I really enjoy seeing their
faces light up in excitement at the things they
The biggest challenge I have had to
overcome was certainly the language and
cultural differences working in a foreign
university environment. Reaching students
is certainly much easier now that I
understand the differences in the classroom
culture in Germany.
A big difference in how young people are
seen between here and my home country,
at least from my background, is that
students in South Africa are not always
treated like independent adults when they
are at university. I have to say that this could
have changed since I lived there, as I last
lived there about nine years ago. But I feel
like the students there were still “spoon fed”
a little more and treated less like adults than
is the case in Germany.
The relationship between lecturer and
students in South Africa was also less formal
and much more open than the relationship
between German students and lecturers
here. I am always trying to encourage my
students to approach me when they need
help with anything, including personal
problems, but I haven't had many visitors come
through my door in Germany.
In South Africa students were not afraid to ask
for help. Lastly, the socioeconomic differences
between South African and German students
are, of course, very clear. Some South African
students also had a clear disadvantage coming
out of high school and had to work extra hard to
catch up and succeed at university. I saw some
wonderful students succeed in these situations
after brutally hard work! Some of these are now
successful lawyers and advocates in South Africa
today. This is really the most inspiring to see!
Inspiration from my mother
Although we always think that we would not
want to be like our mothers, I think many of us
realize that this is inevitable. I have inherited
my mother’s personality and her drive to always
be busy with something. She is really energetic
and is always busy with diverse projects, social
or otherwise. She managed to put this to good
use to create ways for our family to earn extra
money while we were students. Luckily I have a
love for cooking, which I did not inherit from my
mother - so in that sense we are very different.
44 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 45

feature
FAWCO Youth Cultural
Volunteers
Program 2022
Boat ride on
the IJ River.
Here, the CVs
posed with
91-year-old
World War II
survivor Myriam
Mater, who
shared her
inspiring
message of
tolerance and
kindness and a
positive outlook
for this future
generation.
The American Women's Club of
Amsterdam hosted this program
for 15 volunteers from 11 countries.
T
he American Women’s Club of
Amsterdam successfully hosted the
2022 edition of the FAWCO Youth
Cultural Volunteers Program from
June 25th to July 2nd. This was an especially
exciting event after two postponements due to
the pandemic. During the one-week itinerary, 15
Cultural Volunteers (“CVs”), aged 15-18, traveled
from 11 different countries (Belgium, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Scotland,
Sweden, Switzerland, UK and the US), stayed
with local host families and immersed
themselves in a variety of enriching activities
which were designed to provide insights into
critical global issues and Dutch culture while
offering them opportunities to give back to the
local community … all while making new friends
and having a ton of fun.
Here are a few highlights from their week:
The CVs learned from engaging and inspiring
speakers, covering topics from WWII to the
current refugee crisis, homelessness and
human trafficking.
It was difficult to imagine how 285 Eritrean and
Ethiopian refugees took a voyage from Egypt to
Italy on the very same boat that the CVs rode
on the IJ River. They were inspired by Tommy’s
personal story of leaving his home country after
persecution and the challenges he encountered
as a newcomer to the Netherlands.
No trip to Amsterdam is complete without a ride
through the canals. The Plastic Whale Boat Tour was an
opportunity to check this off the bucket list while also
learning more about sustainability and having a friendly
competition to see which team could collect the most
trash in a two-hour period. As you can see, both boats
did a great job!
The CVs volunteered to prepare a meal at a
homeless day shelter, spruced up a kids’
playground, and maintained yards in a social
housing area, meeting residents who were
grateful for help with gardening tasks they
were unable to do. The CVs found the activities
rewarding and enlightening.
46 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 47

In their own words
Dublin 2016
The group enjoyed some typical Amsterdam
pasttimes - visiting the Rijksmuseum, picnicking
on Museumplein (complete with a pick-up
football match), and biking from the quaint village
of Haarlem to the beach. Some even swam in
the chilly North Sea. They dined with local families
and youth at garden dinners hosted at AWCA club
members' homes.
Sustainability was also the focus of a visit to de
Ceuvel, an innovative, creative social enterprise
for a sustainable workplace, and to the Fashion
for Good museum, where the CVs learned about
the economics of fast versus sustainable fashion
and the wave of the future where more clothes
CVs volunteering at a homeless shelter and doing gardening tasks.
are made of reclaimed materials and colored
by bacteria and air pollutants. They learned
how many of these topics link closely to the
Sustainable Development Goals.
This group of volunteers was intelligent,
inquisitive, engaged, and eager to return
their new learnings to their home countries.
We hope the program in Amsterdam instilled
new perspectives, purpose, and a life-long
desire to give back to their communities. Many
thanks to the AWCA community for donating
their time to house, feed, educate and hang
out with the Amsterdam Cultural Volunteers!
Tot ziens!
Pascal Shrady, AIWC Cologne
I think what will stick with me most from the program were the days we spent doing volunteer
work. I know, some people may argue that it doesn't sound very exciting cutting
the hedges and mowing the lawn for someone. It was really fun: I could not believe how
satisfying it was to let years of anger out on gigantic plants.
I also felt that we all learned so much about teamwork during those two days. Not only
did it bring all of us together and strengthen bonds within the group, but it also built up
our confidence to take matters into our own hands and to want to volunteer in the future.
Personally, I learned again how much little things can have a huge impact. The two people
we helped with their yards seemed so grateful, and that is what really matters. Now I have
more of an idea about First World volunteering and experience to go along with it.
QUOTES FROM CULTURAL
VOLUNTEERS
"What was the highlight of the
experience for you?"
Harriet Käte Ludolph, AWC Hamburg
We helped an organization called “Serve the City”. They do work for people who are not
capable of doing it themselves anymore. That could be because of a handicap (mental or
physical) or just simply old age. We helped an old man with anxiety issues with his garden
work. We stayed there for five hours and I feel like in those five hours we really accomplished
something. It felt good to be able to help somebody with a simple task like that. To
make someone's life a bit easier. Back home most
volunteering work is very organized with no loose
ties and strict guidelines. Climbing around on
sheds and ripping out weeds was a great change
especially since I was not surrounded by people
my mother’s age. Not that I'm complaining, I love
babysitting refugee kids with my mother. But doing
garden work was very satisfying and I enjoyed
being able to make life a tad bit more enjoyable
for him.
48 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 49

profile
Sponsoring Children's
Summer Activities
Nancy Evans, a member of AWCB (American Women's Club of Brussels),
on losing her daughter suddenly and setting up a project in her memory
to help the children whom she loved.
My life journey
I was born in New Jersey, then moved to a little
town in upstate NY, and later to a suburb of
Boston, where I attended high school. My
teenage years with a local youth group in
Newton, Mass. greatly influenced my future,
by getting me involved in community service.
Lina in front of
the New York
city skyline, her
favorite city.
After leaving home
Right after I graduated from high school, my
dad got a job in Brussels, Belgium. So, I came
to Brussels even before my family arrived. I
enrolled in a beginner’s French class during the
summer and two months later started my
university studies in Medical Technology, in
Leuven (in French!). I met my future husband
there, who was Syrian. We got married during
my final year of college. After college I was very
lucky to find the job of my dreams, working in
the Microbiology department of a local hospital
here in Brussels. It was very difficult to obtain
a work permit, but the hospital was so pleased
with my work that they did everything possible
for me to stay and it worked out well. I held
down a full-time job, while raising three children.
Involvement in youth and youth work
I worked at the hospital for 45 years, taking a
year’s sabbatical from 1992-1993, to go back to
the US with my youngest daughter, Lina, who
Children's
was seven at the time. When we returned to
artwork from
Belgium after a year, it was very important to
Lina's Project,
Nancy Evans
depicting some
me that my daughter stay in contact with her
of the summer
activities they
50 participated in.
INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 51

Last day of work. Nancy with her boss.
them involved. I love sharing
what I know and encouraging
them to try something new. I
think hands-on activities are
the best way to do this.
I discovered my affinity when
I became a single mom and
was free to explore many
possibilities that were not an
option while I was married.
My current project sponsoring
summer activities for
underprivileged children in
Brussels was sparked by my
daughter’s passing. I wanted
to do something that was a
continuation of who she was.
Contributing to a better
future generation
Children are our future. Those
who come from low-income
families deserve to dream,
broaden their horizons, and
have new experiences, just
as much as any other child.
Summer activities can
accomplish this and the
memories last a lifetime.
It gives them hope and
self-confidence that will help
them in the future as they
grow into adulthood.
Biggest challenges
Raising money so that Lina’s
Project can continue is my
biggest challenge. Every year
we sponsor more children
and I hope I don’t ever have
to turn anyone away for lack
of funds.
Best experiences
I usually organize a party
in September for all the
participants and their
families to meet the
children and hear about
their experiences (except
during COVID-19,
restrictions). The smiles on
the children’s faces and the
gratitude expressed by the
parents are the greatest
gifts I could ever receive.
The youth-related issue
that makes you saddest
Seeing girls left behind. So
my project makes sure that
girls participate.
Inspiration from my mother
My mom and I are very different, but she definitely
passed on to me her organizational skills, her
determination, and her capacity to survive despite
difficult times. I have her genes and I am very grateful
that she gave me life.
Importance of languages
I hated studying French in high school. I never thought
I would speak it fluently! I’m glad I do now. It has
opened many doors. I loved learning words in Arabic
to communicate with my in-laws. I would never have
imagined that in the past either.
American culture. So, we joined an English-speaking
church, Girl Scouts and an English-speaking sports
association for children. As a scout leader and Sunday
school teacher in my free time, my focus was working
with children and being active in community service. I
was divorced by this time and wanted my daughter to
learn generosity and compassion for others through
hands-on activities. She did in fact learn these lessons
and grew to become a kind, generous young woman.
Unfortunately, she passed away suddenly of a
pulmonary embolism in 2016, at the age of 30.
I decided to start a project in her memory involving
children, whom she loved. With the help of her former
employer and the non-profit organization Nativitas, we
set up Lina’s Project, sponsoring summer activities for
children in Brussels.
Working with young people
They are enthusiastic and are interested in so many
things. You just need to capture their attention to get
Nancy with her son, Jamale,
and her daughter, Rime.
“We have a powerful potential in our
youth, and we must have the courage to
change old ideas and practices so that we
may direct their power toward good ends”
Mary McLeod Bethune
52 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 53

feature
Learning Leadership
and Practical Life Skills
Kristin Bayer, member of AWCB
(American Women's Club of
Berlin), is chair of the Berlin unit
of the USA Girl Scouts Overseas
All around Berlin, troops of girls from five
to 18 years old are being trained to be
the next generation of female leaders.
And, of course, having a lot of fun doing
it. Who are we? We’re the Berlin unit of the USA
Girl Scouts Overseas.
Camping
Trip 2022
In over 90 countries globally, USA Girl Scouts
Overseas (USAGSO) is delivering the same Girl
Scout Leadership Experience that is available to
girls and their families in the US. Though most
troops tend to center around military and
diplomatic communities, our unit in Berlin is
different in that we’re now made up of mostly
civilian families.
In 1999, I made my first Girl Scout pledge as a
Daisy Scout in the US. 23 years later, it is my
honor and privilege to serve as the Chair of our
Berlin unit and make use of my own 12 years
of Girl Scout leadership training, having gone
through the program myself until I graduated
from high school.
The vision for generations of female leadership
began over 100 years ago. In 1912 in Savannah,
Georgia, Juliet Gordon Low believed that girls
should learn leadership and practical life skills
and founded what is now known as the Girl
Scouts of America. And here’s a
fun fact: the first age group of
Girl Scouts is called Daisies
because Juliette Gordon Low's
nickname was “Daisy.” It’s a sweet
reminder that we begin our Girl
Kristin Bayer
Scout journey in the footsteps of our founder.
The program has adapted through the years to
the times, but today as in the past, Girl Scouts
is at its core focused on being girl-led.
To be girl-led means that, as girls keep aging up
in the program, they should be able to plan and
carry out more and more of it for themselves
and for the younger scouts. After all, when a
girl is five or six years old, it is much more
exciting to learn from an older girl who feels
more like a cool sister than just another adult.
And the older girls simultaneously learn key
leadership skills that will serve them well into
adulthood, no matter what path they take.
Some highlights of our leadership program
have been girls earning one of Highest Awards
(Bronze, Silver, and Gold). Over the past years,
we have seen various troops and girls earn
each type of these. The Gold Award – the
54 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 55

Left
Junior Girl Scout bridging
to Cadettes at the 2022
Campout.
In their own words
Berlin 2018
Below
Fall 2021 All-Level Service
Project - Leaf Raking.
Anna Sheehan, AWC Berlin
capstone of the Girl Scout experience – asks the
Girl Scout to identify a problem in society and
develop a sustainable program to tackle this issue.
We are fully volunteer-run here in Berlin and
have had great adult participation over the past
few years. The secret about doing Girl Scouts as
an adult is that it can be just as much fun to do
as it is for the girls. It’s also a great way to bond
with your daughter. And dads are welcome too!
In June, we held our annual all-level campout in
the German state of Brandenburg. A highlight of
the trip was our bridging ceremony, which
Kristin Bayer is a Gold Award Girl Scout and Lifetime
Member turned adult volunteer. Since September
2019, she has served on the board of the Overseas
Committee Management Team for the Berlin unit
of the USA Girl Scouts Overseas. She currently lives
in Berlin, Germany with her beloved husband Paul,
splitting her time between working full-time, taking
economics classes at Humboldt University, and
volunteering with the Girl Scouts. Kristin has been a
member of the American Women’s Club Berlin since
December 2018 and was a recipient of the 2020
FAWCO Foundation Women in STEM Award.
celebrates Girl Scouts aging out of a certain
troop level (Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, etc.)
and being welcomed into the next level. The
girls made a bridge with their arms for the
“bridging” girls to run to, symbolizing them
leaving one level of scouting to cross onto the
next. In 2021, three of our Girl Scouts bridged
for the final time into adulthood. It was an
amazing testament to our younger girls about
how far Girl Scouts can bring you by the time
you graduate from high school.
Although COVID-19 has had a substantial impact
on the types of activities we have been able to
do over the past two years, we are so grateful
that we were able to resume camping and alllevel
events. There is no greater feeling of
success than watching the older girls spending
time with the younger ones. The leaders also
find supportive friendships in each other as
we all work towards developing the girls in our
care. At the end of the day, we are all there for
the same goal. Juliette Gordon Low summed it
up best when she said, "Scouting rises within
you and inspires you to put forth your best."
May we all put forth our best daily as we honor
those who mentored us and work hard for the
future of the girls still to come.
This trip has inspired me to do more
because I am fortunate enough to have
the ability to do so. I want to thank the
FAWCO Youth Program for helping me
find what makes me passionate and
makes me strive to be better, not just
for myself, but in hopes that one day I
can do better for this world.
QUOTES FROM CULTURAL
VOLUNTEERS
"What was the highlight of the
experience for you?"
My-Linh Kunst, Program Co-Chair
The highlight for me each year is reading their post-program personal essays. The
preparation and execution of each year’s program is busy, leaving little time for reflection.
But when I read the youth’s essays, I am proud and happy to see our goals achieved. We
aim to raise their awareness that social inequalities and people in need are everywhere
(even in “rich” places like Dubai), and to show that they CAN make a difference – in big and
small ways. Another program goal is to get the teens together to share their experiences
as mixed-culture kids living outside their parents’ home countries. The youth write about
their continued friendships from the program. I hope that these short one-weeks will leave
lasting impressions and spark a lifelong interest in our youth to engage in social issues.
Natalie Parker, AWC Amsterdam
During this trip, our group spent a lot of time
talking about world issues. We discussed what
issues are prevalent in the places we live and the
differences and similarities in our cultures. These
discussions also helped me gain a new perspective
on different cultures around the world.
56 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 57

profile
Developing the Leaders
of the Future
Elizabeth Kelly, a member of AWCA (American Women's Club of
Antwerp), teaches an international program in Belgium that
prepares young people to be future business leaders.
My life journey
I grew up in New Mexico with my two younger
brothers and wonderful parents. While I have
many fond memories of childhood, the two
things that seem relevant are (1) the diversity
of New Mexico with its a large Hispanic
population and significant Native American
population and (2) hosting an exchange
student from Japan during high school. Both
circumstances introduced me to cultures that
were new to me and later helped me to
appreciate the value of differences and that
effectively interacting with people requires effort
but the benefits are worth it.
After leaving home
As a young adult I worked in the healthcare
industry as a healthcare executive. When I
wasn’t working, I worked with the youth of
my church. It was always nice to see them
grow and develop more confidence in who
they were becoming.
Elizabeth Kelly
The third phase of my life began when I met and
married my amazing Belgian husband.
Continuing my work in healthcare didn’t seem to
be an option so I began to teach, first English as
a second language and ultimately intercultural
communication skills. During that time I began to
learn about other cultures and the importance
of understanding and appreciating differences.
Over the last 20 years I have had
the good fortune to work with or
teach individuals, mostly young
people from more than 60
countries. During the last six
years I have taught at a college in
Elizabeth and
her husband
58 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 59

Belgium in an international business program.
We are helping to develop future leaders.
Involvement in youth and youth work
What I love most about working with young
people is the perspective on life. Most young
people are quite open, willing to share ideas
and opinions, willing to listen to other
perspectives without being too judgmental.
I have learned so much from young people
about cultures from around the world. It has
been interesting to see how much students
from around the world have in common, but
also their differences. It has been fabulous to
see them expand their knowledge, tolerance
and respect for cultural differences and
attitudes towards a variety of topics.
In addition to cultural variations, they have also
taught me about sexuality and gender. I had
to learn new terminology but it also impacted
other aspects of life. They introduced me to
the idea of gender-neutral toys. Just after a
presentation, I had to buy a baby present and
their insights influenced my present choice
and how it was wrapped. Change takes time
and is gradual, but there is value in continuing
to learn and evolve.
Contributing to a better future generation
The international program in which I teach is
preparing young people to be future business
leaders around the world. The world is getting
smaller and the more people understand
cultural variations, the more successful
businesses can be.
We teach respect, tolerance and understanding
about differences. In addition, we teach young
people the importance of being authentic and
true to themselves. There is a term coined
by Andy Molinsky, "Global Dexterity," which
Right
Elizabeth's
thesis
presentation.
Below
Artevelde
presentation,
2016.
means it is important to adapt to the
culture in which you live and/or work,
but you must also be yourself. We are
each unique and I try to impart to the
students the importance of leveraging
their cultural differences.
Biggest challenges
Technology entered my life a bit later;
consequently, my aptitude for technology
was limited. However, even before
COVID-19, I had to learn to use various
tools and new technology to manage the
classroom and administrative functions.
Within days, COVID-19 required us to
teach online, learn to use new tools and
to problem shoot issues. Most of the
time, I can solve technical issues. Not
something I would have ever believed.
Favorite way to inspire
It is my enthusiasm and passion for
whatever I teach. Students can tell that I
love what I do and they appreciate my
authenticity. They know that I am
interested in learning from them and that
their voices matter. I also encourage them
to appreciate all of their experiences and
learn from them. Life isn’t a freeway but a
series of paths. Most of the time, the less
direct routes lead to the most worthwhile
destinations in life.
Most important message to pass on
Many of the young people at our
university are the children of immigrants
who moved to Belgium for a better life,
particularly for their children. These
young people know the sacrifices their
parents made to give them a better
opportunity than their home country
offered. The drive and hard-working
attitude of these young people are
impressive. I wish these stories were
60 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 61

the ones being told to the average person,
because it might help people see that most
people are not trying to abuse social systems;
they simply want more for their children.
Who doesn’t?
In their own words
Athens 2019
Story from childhood
As a shy, small girl, I was picked on a bit and
mostly ignored. At some point in college,
that person disappeared. I learned that I
had value and something to offer people.
Over the years, I have had good mentors who
saw my potential, gave me opportunities to
grow and shine and encouraged me to strive
for excellence. While I thrive in positive
environments, I have used negative situations
to learn what I don’t want to be. I am a strong
believer in self-direction, but being supported
and nurtured helps tremendously.
Inspiration from my mother
Pioneering, supportive and much more are
just a few of the adjectives that I would use
to describe my mother. She was intelligent,
fair, hardworking, determined, and always
expressed her opinion. My mother had one
of the first Apple computers because it would
make her work more efficient and she didn’t
shy away from a challenge. If we commented
that she didn’t work, she always corrected us
saying "I work from home, but I work." She
encouraged me to work hard and believe in
myself. In reverse order, I always have an
opinion and am not shy about sharing it. I
view challenges as an opportunity and address
them head-on. Especially in teaching, I have
endeavored to be fair and transparent. My
employees knew where they stood with me
as do students in my classes. I believe I’m
intelligent: at least I’m smart enough to know
that there is a lot I still don’t know. I’m always
interested in learning more.
Our profilees in this issue were asked: "If someone wrote a book about your life,
what would the title be?" Here are some of the titles ...
Bennett Motha, AIWC Cologne
I was impressed by the history of Greece. I personally enjoyed the food, although it was
sometimes too much :). But most of all, I enjoyed the social work we did. It felt very good to
support people and improve their lives during difficult times. Working in the soup kitchen
was the highlight of my week because we could actually engage in conversation with the
people we were helping. That was probably the experience that touched me the most. To
see how much the food was appreciated was especially moving. Through these social
projects, we also became more aware of the many challenges Greece faces.
Stacey Papaioannou, Program Chair
Leading the Athens program reminded me what an inspiration teen volunteers can be,
and their sensitivity and perceptiveness touched me. They also were able to “go outside
the box” in their takeaways from their volunteering experience by seeing both the small
details as well as the bigger picture of the problems faced by the folks they encountered.
I have no doubt that 20 years from now each participant will be doing something in the
way of volunteering because of the time they spent in Athens.
Sophia Kusch, AWC Zurich
QUOTES FROM CULTURAL
VOLUNTEERS
"What was the highlight of the
experience for you?"
It was very satisfying to volunteer at so many
charities, especially when you could see the need
for it when just walking down a street. You don’t
see these things in Zurich, so the sheer amount
of people was slightly shocking. My favorite day
of volunteering was when we visited the Caritas
soup kitchen. There we gave food to people in
need and sorted clothes for the same people.
It was my favorite because you could directly
see the people you were helping, and I felt like I
made a difference, however small it may be.
62 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 63

feature
“What is going on here?”
Jane Indreland, a member of FAUSA, is a
docent at the Yellowstone Art Musuem in
Billings, Montana.
All of my life, I harbored a desire to
visit England, so I was thrilled when
my husband Terry told me that we
had an opportunity to live in the area
that is now North Lincolnshire. We lived there
four years before returning to the US. After
two years in Ponca City, Oklahoma, we moved to
London, where I discovered the AWC London,
FAWCO, and The Foundation. I loved working
with these inspirational women, and when
we returned to our roots in Billings, Montana,
FAUSA gave me the opportunity to keep those
connections through the last 23 years.
Education Department — outreach to children
In the year before COVID-19, the Education
Department connected with approximately
8,400 children.
Hank French
looking at Willem
Volkers's Portrait
of My Father.
Between a Rock
and a Hard Place
Bently Spang
(Northern Cheyenne)
Tsetsêhesêstâhase/
So'taahe
This work refers to
the Indian Boarding
Schools, where the
boys had their braids
cut off when they
arrived. This was
devasting culturally.
After a few months, I saw an ad looking for
docents at the Yellowstone Art Museum, and
my volunteer life took a new turn.
Yellowstone Art Museum background
In 1964, the Yellowstone Art Center opened
in the former Yellowstone County Jail. (Some
believe that the building is haunted by its
previous occupants!) After a $6.2 million
expansion campaign, the new state-of-the-art
Yellowstone Art Museum (YAM) opened in 1998.
Montana is in a region that generally focuses on
historical or Western art, but the YAM focuses
on contemporary, avant-garde work originating
in the northern Rockies region. It promises “to
connect the contemporary past and present by
preserving and exhibiting art. We promise to
inspire and educate curious minds of all ages.”
Currently, the museum has 8,500 works of
historic and contemporary regional art and
archival items, either on view or stored in a
separate building called The Visible Vault. In
addition to its own works the YAM features
traveling exhibitions.
There are studio opportunities for children and
families including:
• z Art and a Story for young children.
• z YAM Camp for two weeks during
the summer.
• z Art Academy for one week in partnership
with Rocky Mountain College.
• z Summer Art Studio, one day a week for
eight weeks.
• z Studio Second Saturday October-May
• z Fam at the YAM, classes taught by
local artists every first Friday (a city -
wide event the first Friday of the month).
• z Explorer’s Academy Head Start –
approximately 300 Head Start
students do an art project in their own
classrooms followed by a tour at the
YAM and another art project. An
exhibition in the Young Artists Gallery
for the children and their families
attracts many people who had never
seen the museum.
• z YAM Teens—A group that is currently
working on a mural.
64 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 65

Hank French looking at a work created by Sean Chandler, an Aaniiih (Gros Vente).
“Chandler feels responsible for working toward cultural revitalization for his tribe. He is the president of Aaniiih Nakoda
College in the Fort Belknap Reservation in Harlem, Montana, and is dedicated to revitalizing the Indigenous lifeways and
language of Aaniinen and Nakoda Tribes, all alongside his artistic practice. “ Lisa Ranallo, Minneapolis Institute of Art
• z Partnership with Billings Public Schools:
• y Juried Exhibitions in the Young Artists
Gallery for Grades 5, 7, and 8 with free
bussing for Grade 5.
• z Outreach to underserved populations:
• y Crow Agency Elementary School on the
Crow Indian Reservation (one-hour drive).
• y Students from Lame Deer, on the
Northern Cheyenne Reservation, visit
the YAM for a tour and an art project,
followed by an exhibition in the Young
Artists Gallery.
• z The education department also
has partnerships with three other
surrounding communities.
What is a docent?
The word “docent” is derived from the Latin verb
“docere,” meaning to teach, but a docent is often
much more than a (usually) volunteer museum
tour guide. A docent is the public face of the
museum, and the visitor’s experience is often
determined by the docent.
The 20 members of the YAM Docent Corps
have much more flexibility than those from larger
museums. We give tours, assist in the studio,
visit classrooms, and help out in any way needed.
The group meets every Monday morning,
September through May, so we get to know
each other very well.
My specialty is visiting the 4th grade school
classrooms to present the Art Suitcase Program.
When I started 21 years ago, we hauled posters
to schools, but now the images are shown
electronically on the classroom smart board.
During COVID-19, we did it through Zoom, which
was challenging for me, because it was difficult to
see and hear the students.
Our goal as guides is to help the viewers engage
with the artwork. When I started, I thought that
my job was to give information about the artwork
and artist, which didn’t always interest the
students. Then we were educated about Visual
Thinking Strategies. VTS sounds simple at first.
In involves three questions: 1. “What is going
on here?”, 2. “What do you see that makes you
say that?”, and 3. “What more can we find?”. The
leader shows respect to the child by paraphrasing
the answer and pointing out the thing they are
talking about. The presenter never tells a student
that she or he is wrong. In its purest form, the
guide never gives information or tries to lead the
group to a conclusion. I discovered that
using VTS results in a much more engaged
group. (However, personally, I do inject a little
information now and then as well.)
Indian Education for All
Approximately 4% of Montana’s current
population is American Indian. Most tribal
groups currently refer to themselves as
“American Indian,” but the term “Native
American” is frequently used, and when I speak
with the students, I use the term “Native.” There
are 13 tribes and eight reservations in Montana,
and many of them are working on preserving
their original languages and tribal names.
When Montana rewrote its constitution in 1972,
it included Article X, Section 1(2): “The state
recognizes the distinct and unique cultural
heritage of American Indians and is committed
in its educational goals to the preservation of
their cultural integrity.” In 1999, the legislature
enacted the law referred to as Indian
Education for All. It states, “Every Montanan,
whether Indian or non-Indian, should be
encouraged to learn about the distinct and
unique heritage of American Indians in a
culturally responsive manner … all school
personnel should have an understanding
and awareness of American Indian tribes to
help them relate effectively with American
Indian students and parents …” My personal
observation is that the decision to include
American Indian studies in the elementary
curriculum has made a difference. When I
started visiting classes 20 years ago, it appeared
to me that the Native children were reluctant
to participate, but now it seems that they have
more confidence in expressing their opinions.
In spite of their small numbers, Native artists
have made a huge impact on the art of the
Northwest, and many works by Native women
and men are in the permanent collection. I
am proud that the YAM is trying to increase
diversity by reaching out to the Crow (Apsaalooke)
and Northern Cheyenne (Tsetsêhesêstâhase/
So'taahe) tribes, as well as others.
For a docent, there is nothing much more
rewarding than to see children’s eyes light up
when they suddenly connect to an artwork. It
has been my pleasure to work with the staff
and other docents to bring that moment of
inspiration to the museum visitors.
Hank French is looking at pots by Jesse Albrecht,
above and below. They have harrowing images
from Albrecht's military service in Iraq. After his
tour in Iraq, he struggled with PTSD, leading to
seven weeks at the Veterans Affairs hospital.
66 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 67

profile
Destined to Be A
Teacher
Rebekka Klingshirn, HIWC (Heidelberg International Women's Club),
started her teaching career when still a child herself! She has tried other
things over the years, but always seems to come back to teaching.
"I'm about 5 or 6 years old in this picture –
of course I can’t remember when it was taken
and what I thought of or felt that moment. But
looking at it now, I see a strong, cheeky, happy
me. Does it show me as someone who would
teach and love it? No, I wouldn’t think so. But I do
remember that I’ve been wanting to be a teacher
since second grade."
My life journey
I grew up between Bonn and Cologne, in a
village called Niederkassel-Rheidt. Before we
moved to our own house, we lived in a cul-desac
and had lots of children our age close by.
We built igloos in winter and played at the playground
closeby, but we did have to be home
for dinner at six.
My favorite memories of my childhood were
the picnic we had in our playroom (we had been
promised one, but on the day it was raining,
so my parents arranged everything for inside:
we had a green carpet, it was perfect!!!), that
my dad took each of us on a cycling tour over a
weekend when we were in third grade, and that
my mom managed to make my birthday special
every time (it’s during the summer break when
lots of kids were away).
I have always loved going to school. When I
started in secondary school, I would go in early
and meet with two friends to watch rabbits and
have the place to ourselves. I enjoyed learning
all the languages I did (Latin, English, French,
Spanish) during my years at the school. In 11th
grade, I took part in an exchange program and
went to high school in Texas before graduating
in 1994.
After leaving home
I started university the same fall,
at the University of Heidelberg. I
was born in Heidelberg, and my
grandma lived in the same house
we live in now, but we didn’t live
together back then – she didn’t
Rebekka
Klingshirn in
New York,
on top of the
Empire State
68 INSPIRING WOMEN Building.
INSPIRING WOMEN 69

understand the idea of using the
phone to chat and that could have
caused a lot of problems … Instead,
we met each other every week –
except for when I was traveling all over
the world during the semester break.
She passed away just before I went
away for yet another stay abroad; this
time I went to the University of Stirling
in Scotland.
After I had finished university with an
MA in English and German linguistics
and literature in 2000, I was lucky to
be offered a job at Universiti Teknologi
Mara (UiTM) in Shah Alam, Malaysia,
to teach German as a foreign language.
I ended up staying for two years
instead of one, and would have
probably stayed even longer, had I
not met my now husband at the end
of my second year.
Christoph and I got together at my sister’s
wedding, and it was hard to go back to Malaysia
to teach – we basically “instantly” (I had actually
known my sister’s best friend for about eight
years before that wedding) knew that we would
get married. When I returned to Germany, he
was still in Kaiserslautern to finish his PhD; I
commuted between Heidelberg and there, but
Rebekka and her family on a recent trip to Scotland.
then was accepted to do my own PhD in
linguistics at the University of Kiel (ALL the
way in the North of Germany), with a part-time
teaching load. After all the commuting and
trying to figure out what I actually wanted to
do to earn money (I figured life should be
something besides teaching, see more on that
below), we moved to Niederkassel again.
Christoph got a job in Cologne and I was still
commuting to Kiel, but at least the commute
was cut from almost
eight to almost five
hours …
Eventually, I realized that I simply had to do my
student teacher training, and was just about
finished when we were expecting our son.
Christoph realized that he wanted a job change,
applied, and we’ve lived in my grandmother’s
house since 2008, right before Linus was born.
I went back to teaching when he was almost a
year old and am still teaching.
My training and mentors throughout the years
I have formal training for students from 5th-13th
grades (secondary / high school) in Germany, in
English and German as subjects. I love to teach
English, German is ok … (I am German, mind
you). I have not had official mentors, really, but I
had two wonderful elementary school teachers,
Ms. Hunger (German) and Ms. Sick (math) – no
laughing at names here – who were kind, strict
and generous. My mom was a teacher, and
she was my teacher in sixth grade (religious
education). My German teacher in high school
(grades 5-10), Mr. Jacob, taught me to speak up
for myself and use my voice. My US high school
math teacher, Ms. Hebert, was so smart and
was able to “unlock” my brain on so many more
levels than just math. As much credit goes to
these teachers as, unfortunately, has to go to
the terrible ones I’ve had: those were teachers
who were lazy, arrogant towards us students,
who didn’t listen, weren’t empathetic. I never
wanted anyone else to have such bad teachers.
Biggest challenges
Some of the biggest challenges I have faced
were school-related but not teaching-related. I
have been bullied for making my family my first
priority (mind you, I had just lost a child six
months before). My official “mentors” during my
teacher training didn’t mentor me – one even
ate crisps/chips during an official visit from the
My parents and I in 2011 on our way to Kiel to receive my PhD in English Linguistics on the “Syntax and Semantics
of Shakespeare’s Adjectives.” It was such a long and rocky road, but they were always by my side – as was my
husband Christoph, who took the photograph and made my hat, displaying all the things I / we had gone through
during those tedious years. I cannot thank them enough for all the guidance, teaching, mentoring in all these 46
years.
A couple of years ago,
I taught sewing to a
group of students at
an inclusive
elementary school.
We made aprons for
the coming students
as the farewell and
thank-you present at
the end of the school.
The proud moment
for them (and thus
for me) was when the
kids turned the workpiece
inside out and
all of a sudden saw
their finished aprons.
70 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 71

Visiting an experimental art museum with my students in 2018; they graduated
last year. The experiments started before we went in with a rather wet art
installation right at the entrance – heaven-sent on a hot, hot day.
school board (!!!). Currently, the biggest
challenge I face is paperwork that has
nothing to do with teaching and wearing a
mask during the lessons – both these things
tire me out. In these and similar situations,
I have looked for my own, real mentors –
people that inspired me and that I wanted
to learn from.
Best successes
A lot of my (vocational) students tell me that
they are afraid of speaking English because
their previous teachers made fun of them.
Usually, when they leave my classroom
at the end of a school year, they speak at
least a little English – even the refugees that
have not heard a word of English before.
Today, I saw a student for the fourth time
this school year: first session, two class tests
(which he obviously failed) and today. He
said, “I really can’t speak English and I’m
afraid of it, but I thought I’d give it a try with
you.” We have one more session before the
end of the school year. I thought that was
a huge success for both of us. What makes
me happiest as a person is when former
students have become my friends: I don’t
know what I did to make that happen in
any of the four cases I have in mind, but
I am so glad that I get to call my former
students – Pala, Wiebke, Destan and
Sandra – my friends.
Involvement in youth and youth work
What I love most about teaching (young
and old students) is that they teach you
so much. Of course, there are curricula
that I have to follow, and I sometimes have
to push to get things done, but the indirect
feedback I get is incredible. Sometimes it’s
the keen interest in a topic, sometimes the
improvement of the students’ grades that
let me know something went well. The
same goes for lessons that were boring
– both for them and me. When listening
to students and their experiences, I have
found that that helps me to provide lessons
for them so that they can learn what I have
to teach them.
I think I have been a teacher all my life,
really. As an older sibling, I would (sorry
to have to admit that) boss around my
younger brother and sister, thinking that
was teaching. At the same time, I also
learned from my older sister about how
to navigate life. I have wanted to become a
teacher since I was in second grade, and I
started tutoring other kids and working at
a summer camp when I was in 10th grade.
Even though I thought that I was meant to
do other, bigger things for a while, it turned
out that everything I did and tried ended
up in me teaching somebody something.
In the end I caved in.
Inspiration from my mother
I am a teacher, like my mother, although
I think that our methods of teaching are
quite different from one another. She’ll be
80 this fall and still teaches. I guess it runs
in her blood just as it runs in mine: I take a
sewing class at a community college once a
week, and everyone helps out the beginners
whenever the teacher is busy. Quite often,
I am told “Thanks, I’ve learned so much
from you. You explain so well. You should
be teaching.” It makes me smile.
Getting advice
The worst piece of advice was not to trust
students. I have experienced so much trust
and respect because of me trusting my
students. I don’t think that needs an
explanation. The best piece of advice I
have given myself is to trust my guts and
instincts. That might have saved a student’s
life this year: I had a feeling when I saw
him sitting in the hallway and asked him
what the matter was; he had experienced
his friend’s suicide online, while video
chatting with him.
First aid training for teachers
I would really like to have mandatory first
aid training for teachers. A student had a
terrible accident at the beginning of 2020;
he fell off a railing and onto a staircase.
Luckily, we had three or four teachers who
could rush to give first aid. I organized a
first aid course for our colleagues this year;
only 20 signed up out of 60. That makes me
sad and angry.
I would also like to see more empathy and
the corresponding training for all teachers;
this should also be mandatory. It makes me
furious when I tell colleagues about classes
with harassment situations, students with
(mental) health problems, dyslexia, etc., and
that we should get together to find a solution
– and the answer is: “I am a teacher,
72 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 73

that’s not my job.” What also infuriates me is
that not enough is done to detect and help
dyslexic children at an early age. I have no
solution to that, I’m afraid.
Inspiring young people
I learn my students’ names by heart in the first
lesson I have with them. This year, that’s about
280 names in 12 classes. All I do is ask them
their names and to tell me the one thing that is
their superpower. What it does is to make them
think about themselves in a positive way and
that sets the tone for the whole school year.
The fun thing for me is that after about the
third or fourth students, the explanations
usually become longer and longer, and that
gives me more time to connect faces and
names. I have had several students contact
me once they had started university, asking
me how I do that: memorize so much in such
little time. And that leads to another, informal,
lesson on how to get organized and focus on
something important. My superpower and
passion is teaching, by the way, but I think that
has become quite obvious by now.
Story from childhood explaining who I am
That is probably the other most difficult
question I have ever come across. I don’t think
there is one simple answer to that, but my
travels all over the world, getting to know
another culture, “surviving” on my own in a new
environment is probably what has made me
an open-minded, soulful, thoughtful, restless,
relentless and inspired person. If I am lucky,
also an inspiring one.
Who knew?
I never, ever thought I would enjoy
gardening and experimenting in the
garden. My dad, a lawyer, frequently asked
for help when we were kids and showed us
how to do this and that, and I hated it every
single time. Turns out, he was also a teacher
in more ways than one. I am so happy with
growing my own tomatoes and trying my hand
at growing potatoes and onions as well as
experimenting with which flowers and herbs
grow best in my garden. It gives me peace of
mind, it relaxes me, it brings me joy – just like
it did (and still does) for him.
Some creative examples of projects and
activities, such games, role playing, and
English conversation that Rebekka has
used to inspire her students.
Contributing to a better
future generation
I do hope that all of my students
are more empathic and kinder to
each other after my time with them,
and that that is my doing. I would
love for them to be proud of their
accomplishments, yet humble.
74 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 75

feature
Inspiring The Future
Generation - One Award
at a Time
Barbara Bühling, President of the
FAWCO Foundation, explains how the
FAWCO Education Awards function.
T
his issue of Inspiring Women is
truly about each and every FAWCO
member past and present. Whatever
role you choose to play in FAWCO,
large or small, shows that you care.
Your involvement with FAWCO can serve as a
role model for other members, and your
fundraising activity helps more students further
their education. We at the FAWCO Foundation
are very proud of what we have achieved in our
efforts to provide Education Awards to FAWCO
members and their children.
I believe that the best way to inspire the
future generation is to invest in it and, as any
investment adviser will tell you, the wisest way
to invest is to diversify! The FAWCO Foundation
Education Award Program has been diversifying
its investments in the future for over 50 years!
The first Education Award was given to Joy,
whose mother was a member of AWC Madrid.
Since then, the FAWCO Foundation has given
out 359 awards totalling $1,142,000!
Here are some of the most common categories
of Education Awards offered:
Arts, Humanities and Sciences:
These award categories are our
mainstay. At least one award in
each category has been offered
each year since 2005.
Special Challenges:
There have been ten awards granted in this
category. These awards were given out before
the world went digital; this means that we have
limited information about the recipients.
Vocational:
This category has been offered since 2019.
Sadly, in 2022, there were no applicants. We
believe that this is a wonderful opportunity for
an individual enrolled in a training program or
course at a trade school – we can only
encourage you to apply!
Dual Cultural:
First awarded in 1988. Since then, 29 Dual
Cultural Awards have been given to children of
FAWCO members who have one American and
one non-American parent and who have lived
outside of the US for more than six years. With
the award comes the opportunity to attend an
American high school or structured summer
educational program in the US, allowing the
recipient to experience the American way of life.
Member Awards:
Approximately 50 Member Awards have been
granted since 1997. FAWCO members have
benefited in many ways by pursuing a further
degree, by learning a new skill or by broadening
and fine-tuning already existing qualifications.
Setting up
Silent Auction
items at
Foundation
Night.
76 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 77

This article would be incomplete without recognizing the inspiring women who have spent amazing
amounts of time and energy to fundraise for the FAWCO Foundation Education Awards Program
as well as those who work behind the scenes to review all the applications. Everyone does her part,
and together we keep the Education Awards Program alive. As a team, we can be proud to call
ourselves inspiring women for the future generation.
Barbara Bühling
There are many, many different kinds of awards
that have been given, sponsored by individuals
or clubs. There have been Foundation Awards,
Federation Awards, Achievement Awards. We
have lists of all awards, but often the details
are lacking. If you have any information about
awards (especially pre-2010), please share and
send it to me at president@fawcofoundation.org.
Each and every award given has helped to
shape a future, and we would love to know
more about them!
We have received wonderful messages from the
EA recipients who had dreams of being doctors,
lawyers, architects, scientists, teachers, fashion
designers and more, as well as from students
enrolled in varying degree programs. What is
common to each communication is the heartwarming
messages of gratitude and thanks.
Bernadette: “I could not have done
this without you and send
a multitude of thanks to
FAWCO.” (2003)
Martha: “I would like
to thank FAWCO for
making this life changing
experience possble.” (2004)
Robin: “I would like to
express my gratitude for
the support that FAWCO
and the FAWCO
Foundation have provided
not only to me, but also
to past recipients. For
students, whether at the undergraduate or graduate
level, acquiring funding for their research
is extremely difficult. This support is pivotal for
young scholars just beginning their careers and
acts as the seed for future research, scholarship,
and advocacy.” (2020)
Not only have these students benefited from the
award money itself, they have learned the value
of philanthropy. For example, 2020 Dual Cultural
Award recipient Alisa told us she tutored
students in her school in math and science to
help raise money for our Target Project S.A.F.E.
And many of you know the story of 1993
Foundation Award recipient Sami, who
generously donated money to fund the 2022
Foundation Award; he was so appreciative of
the help he had received when he was a student
that he wanted to help someone else. The
generosity of paying it forward is an incredibly
inspiring way to support the future generation.
Barbara stepped into the world of fundraising at
the Silent Auction in Bern (2013). She headed
the Silent Auction team before becoming the
FAWCO Foundation’s VP Fundraising in 2017.
Barbara has been the FAWCO Foundation
President since 2019.
“I believe my inclination to be involved in fundraising
for Education Awards began when I was a teenager.
My father (Col. J.J. Ward USMCR) was President of the
Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, and for several
years, my sisters and I were hostesses at the
Leatherneck Ball in New York. I think I am just following
in my father’s footsteps.”
78 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 79

profile
Empowering Athletes to
Achieve Their Best
Kayleigh Karinen, a member of AWCF (American Women's Club of
Finland), is a four-time world cheerleading champion who now coaches
young cheerleaders.
My life journey
I could never have imagined that signing up
for the cheerleading team as a child would
eventually open the doors to higher education,
foreign studies, and an international sports
community. Cheerleading unexpectedly
became the catalyst that set me off on a path
to new opportunities, including becoming a
four-time world champion athlete with Finland,
the nation of my heritage. Most importantly,
joining a sports team gave me a supportive
community, one I found to be inclusive and
inspiring. Sports provide an environment for
people to come together to reach a common
goal regardless of their history, linguistic
background, and gender identity.
Ultimately, my involvement in sports led me to
pursue a degree in a foreign language, which
led me abroad and enabled me to impact young
people as a coach, as well as establish lifelong
connections across culturally and linguistically
diverse communities.
Kayleigh Karinen as a child.
My journey athletically first brought me from
Michigan to Kentucky then to Oklahoma. After
that I studied abroad in Spain, Chile and
ultimately in Finland. In all of these places I
became involved with cheerleading, both as
an athlete and coach.
I grew up in the lower peninsula
of Michigan. I started
cheerleading around age eight/
nine. When I was 13, I started
living half the week in Chicago
and half the week in Michigan in
Kayleigh with
her medal.
80 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 81

order to compete at the elite level. I learned a
lot about time management. Overall, this
experienced shaped me in a lot of ways as an
athlete and a person.
I graduated from high school a year early and
moved to the University of Kentucky to cheer
but did not make the team there for a year. I
then went to Oklahoma State University, where
I cheered for one and a half years before going
abroad to Spain, then to Chile and eventually to
Finland through my linguistic interests.
After leaving home
Currently I am in Helsinki, Finland, where I work
as an entrepreneur owning a cheerleading
business. A list of recent successes includes
being four-time world champion athlete with
the Finnish National Team, a 2022 female
athlete of the year nomination, and a FAWCO
Foundation Education Award to support my
academic research. I am finishing my Linguistic
Diversity and Digital Humanities master’s degree
at the University of Helsinki. My MA thesis
research focuses on the role of sports in
language revitalization/normalization with
Basque as the case study.
Sparking my interest
I starting coaching in 2009. It all happened
because I loved the sport and just wanted to
get more involved. Since moving abroad, I knew
I wanted to coach but not maybe to the extent
that I am now. I am fortunate that I just ended
up in the situation I am in and sometimes it
feels like it all just fell into place.
Training and mentors throughout the years
I have a bachelor’s in Spanish Philology and am
completing a master’s in Linguistic Diversity.
Related to my work, I just completed a
specialization portion of a degree for sports
entrepreneurship. I constantly attended cheer
conferences and trainings to expand and share
my knowledge. I have had many, many mentors
in, and outside of cheerleading; I cannot imagine
getting to where I am without the guidance and
advice from these special individuals.
Biggest challenges
My biggest challenge was being an immigrant.
When I first moved to Finland, I was a cleaner at
the cheerleading gym, coaching part-time, and
sleeping on the couch of the gym. I have had so
many struggles with immigration, but somehow
all while, studying, working full-time and winning
four world championship titles along the way.
Young people in Finland
In Finland young people have more freedom to
think for themselves. They have the opportunity
to contribute to the conversation and change
things whether it is in sports teams or in the
community. I was so accustomed to a system
of “You do what I say” coaching mentality;
coming to Finland where athletes and young
people have such open hands was like a breath
of fresh air.
Saying no
I believe my ability to understand my value and
also to say "no" are valuable skills. As a female
entrepreneur in sports, I under-sell myself too
often. I would never let my athletes do that,
so why should I let myself? In addition to
embracing my value, saying “no” to
opportunities that do not serve me is a journey
I am on and working to improve.
Inspiring young people
I think my coaching style is empowering as
opposed to demanding. I have learned so much
through living in different countries and being
exposed to different ways to approach youth. I
think this style works so well because while you
still have a superior position, the athletes feel
much more appreciated and not talked down to.
Inspiration from my mother
I think we are both very easygoing but also can
stress too much about work. My mom is more
of a homebody, and I am the complete opposite.
Currently coaching has me in a different country
every two weeks.
Too much and too little time
I spend way too much time 1) on social media
Story from childhood
When I was eight or nine I opened
the Yellow Pages and found a
cheerleading gym. I called and asked
if I can join: the rest is history. I have
always been very proactive and if I
want to do something, I make it
happen no matter the circumstances.
mostly because of the nature of my work and
2) overthinking raising prices for my clients. I
don’t spend enough time reading, investing in
different cultural events that I love, and just
simply being.
82 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 83

feature
Live in the Garden
with Friends
4
One of the hosts of the Inspiring
Women LIVE Garden Party,
Carol-Lyn McKelvey, FAUSA
member, tells us more about
the event.
Screen shot of
“Inspiring
Women LIVE
- It’s a Garden
Party”
1 2 3
With a glass of Pimm’s in hand
and festive fascinator in place,
Inspiring Women’s Editor-in-Chief
Liz MacNiven, AIWC Cologne, welcomed almost
50 gardeners and aspiring gardeners to the
“Inspiring Women LIVE - It’s a Garden Party”
event on June 8. Amanda Kreuder-Carrington
(AIWC Düsseldorf) kicked off the party with a
tour of her beautiful garden of both indigenous
and non-indigenous plants, while giving helpful
tips for those aspiring to create a similar
garden universe. A picture of her relaxing in
her fabulous cabana made us all want to head
to Düsseldorf!
During the first break out, fellow gardening
aficionados were able to choose from three
fabulous sessions: Busy Bees Bring Better
Blooms, hosted by Liz Janson (FAUSA) (photos 1
& 4); Let’s Get Dirty - the Benefits of Composting,
hosted by Sandra Montgomery (AWC Bogotá)
(photo 2); and Getting Started - Planning your
Flower Beds, hosted by Kit Desjaques (AAWE
Paris) (photo 3). These informative presentations
were enhanced with Q & A time that bloomed
organically from the participants!
The group came back together to hear and learn
from Margaret Hunter (AWC Denmark) as she
discussed Permaculture - A Revolution Disguised
as Gardening. We were all inspired to look
beyond the beauty of our gardens to find their
functional value and their yummy offerings!
Our second break out featured three more
innovative gardeners: Sharon Smillie (AWC
Amanda Kreuder-Carrington's garden
Amsterdam) hosted Bugs, Birds, Bullfrogs –
Biodiversity in the Garden; Judy Steinemann
(AWC Bern) hosted Gardening Adventures with
Children; and Berit Torkildsen joined us from
AWC Oslo to share the secrets to her delicious
and highly sought after chutneys. A field trip to
Oslo at the holidays might just be in order!
A special thank you to the knowledgeable
presenters who shared their colorful,
fragrant, functional and/or delicious
corners of the FAWCO world with
us. Thanks, too, to Liz MacNiven,
Elsie Bose (AWC Paris/FAUSA)
and Michele Hendrikse DuBois
(FAUSA), whose vision for the
Garden Party several months
ago culminated in a fun and
informative event. The
atmosphere was jubilant as
participants leaned into the
theme with drinks, outfits and
backdrops. Everyone came away
with at least one tip to apply in
their own spaces, be they big or
small. With a nod to Claude Monet,
we hope that you were inspired to make YOUR
garden “the most beautiful masterpiece.”
84 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 85

profile
Working to Provide
Quality Education to
Children in Nepal
Mary Palmer has been a member of BWN (Barcelona Women's
Network) since 2011. Born in Spain, she considers herself an
international person, having traveled & lived in other countries.
Mary now lives between Spain - Barcelona and Nepal - Pokhara.
My life journey
I was born in a small village in the Spanish
Pyrenees, near France, where I spent my
early childhood. I went on to obtain a full
teaching degree in three stages: basic in
Huesca (Spain), further development in
Barcelona (Spain) and then in Edinburgh
(Scotland) with a Master of Education.
My married life was spent in Edinburgh,
Scotland, where my son was born. I have worked
in education my entire life - in Spain, France,
Scotland, England, the USA, and at present in
Nepal at Shamrock School. I consider myself
an international educator and I have extensive
experience and total dedication. I have also
been running English Summer Camps for
children and teens in the Spanish Pyrenees
and in Edinburgh, Scotland, for many years.
Involvement in youth and youth work
I have been involved with youth and in
youth work throughout my life
and most specifically since my
retirement in 2010.
Mary in Nepal
walking to the
Mary Palmer
villages in the
Annapurna.
86 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 87

Fundraising dinner for Shamrock.
Earthquakes are one of various natural disasters
which affect the country, and every 60-80 years
Nepal can expect to be hit by a big earthquake.
Effect of earthquakes on education
More than 8500 schools were destroyed or
badly damaged and many children became
orphans and homeless. Some students were
compelled to leave their studies forever. Most
of them went to the cities to look for work and
some of them were sold into India at the open
border shared by the two countries. Many
children are still suffering from mental illnesses
due to the effect of the earthquake. So far only
5400 schools have been re-built. I believe that
education is the only source to help.
During my first visit to Nepal in 2010 I
encountered children from the villages walking
to school a minimum two hours each way.
There is hardly any medical care in the country
and certainly no education for all the children.
There is definitely no Special Needs Education
and many issues such as "Menstrual Health"
are not covered. This can all be resolved
by providing children the means of receiving
an education.
Recently, with the cooperation of a team of
trustees, I have set up a charity in Barcelona,
Spain – Asociación Shamrock Nepal – to help
sustain Shamrock School Nepal
(www.shamrockschoolnepal.org).
I believe that we must work together to provide
good quality education to children in Nepal. I
am proud to say that not only did I think this, I
said it and have done something about it too!
Interest in education
Since my childhood I have been interested in
education and helping others. Being the eldest
of five siblings I had to help at home. My father
was an open-minded person who believed in
education for his children and freedom of
movement to achieve that. I was inspired to
follow that route, quite unusual in Spain in the
1940s (I was born in 1945). I feel privileged to
be able to help children in Nepal, which I never
imagined I could do …
I visited Shamrock School, Pokhara, Nepal for
the first time in October 2010, after retiring
from Oak House School in Barcelona, Spain,
where I had been a teacher and Primary
Coordinator for 31 years. Since then, I have
spent two months each year at Shamrock School
in Nepal volunteering my efforts and sharing my
experience and knowledge. I truly believe the
work I am
doing in Nepal
is extremely
important and
absolutely
worthwhile.
earthquakes in 2015, when the world focused
for just a few days on this incredible country.
It occurred on Saturday, April 25th, and about
9000 people were killed and thousands more
were injured. The magnitude of that earthquake
was 7.8 on the Richter scale. Let's not forget that
this year is the seventh anniversary of one of the
most devastating earthquakes in Nepal.
Nepal
earthquakes
Most people
have forgotten
about Nepal
after the
devastating
Oak House School
Barcelona, Spain
retirement photo
with the children
in Infants.
88 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 89

feature
Inspiring Reads:
What Is a Perfect
World?
Nancy Lynner, a member of
American Women's Club of
Central Scotland,is the author of
What is a Perfect World? – her
first book for children, parents
and teachers. With a Master of
Education degree in Curriculum
from Vanderbilt University,
Nancy has taught performing arts,
drama, and theater to people of all
ages. She has run a family events
business, The Wonder Company,
and managed events and
development at the Smithsonian
Institution and at the John F.
Kennedy Center for the Performing
Arts.
She lives in Edinburgh, Scotland.
uring the summer of 2020,
D
during the first lockdown, my
son and daughter-in-law were
expecting their second child.
This inspired me to think about
the state of the world. I wrote
this book for my two grandchildren.
How long did it take you to
write the book?
Including all the drafts, it took less than a
week. I had been writing children’s stories
for 15 years, and never published. Amanda
Drollinger (AWC Central Scotland) introduced me
to Tharien van Eck (AWC Antwerp) and through
several months of teamwork, the three of us
produced the book. Joyce Halsan (AWC Central
Scotland) became our designer. The four of us are
all invested in dedicating all proceeds to the Target
projects of FAWCO Foundation.
What is the most important thing you want
readers to take from your book?
To inspire children and their readers to
improve human life on this planet now and
for future generations …
90 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 91

When did you start writing?
I started writing children’s books, and
creating story theater and plays in the 1990s.
As a writer, what would you choose as your
mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
A Red Bird.
What is your favorite childhood book?
I love the books and the illustrations of
Rosemary Wells. Her McDuff series are
underappreciated. McDuff is a West
Highland terrier.
What are you reading now?
In the Shadow of the Mountain by Silvia
Vazques-Lavado, for FAWCO. It’s a difficult
read because of the struggles she suffered,
and for an emotional break I interspersed
reading that with Richard Osmond’s second
book from his Thursday Murder Club series
The Man Who Died Twice.
If you could tell your younger writing-self
anything, what would it be?
• Never give up
• Look for creative solutions to all
questions
• Never give up
A short summary of the book
What is a Perfect World? helps a reader share
11 world issues with two seven-year-old
children. By having the title as a question,
reader and listener start with a dialogue
about the issues brought out in the text, and
in the illustrations. From clean air and clean
water to the right to food, medical help and
education, the whimsical illustrations (by
Tharien van Eck, AWC Antwerp) lead the
reader through a journey of hope for what a
perfect world will include. Vital global issues
are addressed but the weightiness of the
topics is lightened by a soft finish.
Each page has a red bird flying, playing,
nesting, or listening to the book along with
the reader. The characters in the book were
all given names by FAWCO members who
were approached by van Eck. A glossary of
the characters is in the back of the book.
The simple text means this book functions as
an Easy Reader.
All proceeds from the book go to the
FAWCO Foundation.
Books presented in the
Inspiring Reads feature are
available for purchase via
the FAWCO website in the
Books by Members or Books
by Clubs sections.
Enjoy!
inspiring you
Founded in 1931, FAWCO is a global women's NGO (non-governmental organization), an
international network of independent volunteer clubs and associations comprising 58 member
clubs in 31 countries on six continents. FAWCO serves as a resource and a voice for its members;
seeks to improve the lives of women and girls worldwide, especially in the areas of human rights,
health, education and the environment;advocates for the rights of US citizens overseas; and
contributes to the global community through its Global Issues Teams and The FAWCO Foundation,
which provides development grants and education awards. Since 1997, FAWCO has held special
consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council.
our 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.
magazine feedback
We want this magazine to be interesting for all FAWCO members.
In an effort to provide articles of interest to all our readers,
we have created an online feedback questionnaire.
It should only take a few minutes of your time to complete
and will be a great help to us!
Please click on the link or paste it into your browser
to complete our short five-question survey.
thank you!
SURVEY
Advertising disclaimer
FAWco receives financial remuneration for page space from advertisers. Views expressed or
benefits described in any display advertisement, advertorial or in any webpage visited online
directly from these adverts are not endorsed by FAWCO.
copyright 2022 fawco
Inspiring Women© Magazine is owned and published electronically by FAWCO.
All rights reserved. All bylined articles are copyright of their respective authors as indicated herein
and are reproduced with their permission. The magazine or portions of it may not be reproduced
in any form, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means - electronic,
mechanical, photocopy or otherwise – without written consent of the publisher.
92 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 93

more about
this issue
The Inspiring Women Team
our next issue
Coming in
November 2022
Liz Elsie Karen Berit Michele Haley Kristin
For more information about this magazine, please contact a member of the Inspiring Women team:
Editor in Chief, Liz MacNIven, inspiringwomen.editor@fawco.org
Advertising and Sponsorship Manager, Elsie Bose, advertising@fawco.org
Distribution Manager, Karen Boeker, iwdistribution@fawco.org
Social Media Manager, Berit Torkildsen, iwsocialmedia@fawco.org
Features Coordinator, Michele Hendrikse Du Bois, inspiringwomenfeatures@fawco.org
Profiles Coordinator, Haley Green, inspiringwomenprofiles@fawco.org
Layout Coordinator, Kristin D. Haanæs, inspiringwomen.layout@fawco.org
Acknowledgements:
Thanks to our profilees: Elizabeth Kayleigh, Marelie, Mary, Nancy, Pat, Paula, Pooja and Rebekka,
with thanks also for the use of their photos and those of their friends and families. Additional
thanks to Althea, Ann Marie, Barbara, Carol-Lyn, Hafida, Jane, Katja, Kristin, Meg, My-Linh, both
Nancy’s and Souad for their work on the features.
The cover photo is of the FAWCO Youth Cultural Volunteers during their week in Amsterdam in
late June. They had just returned to the dock after spending a rewarding and fun morning on two
boats, competing to see which team could gather the most (and most interesting) trash from the
famous canals during a cleaning expedition. This tour was led by Plastic Whale, an Amsterdam
social enterprise with a mission to rid the sea and land of plastic worldwide, while educating
people about the economic value of plastic waste.
Special thanks to the proofreading team of Karen Boeker (AWC Denmark), Laurie Brooks (AWC
Amsterdam/ AWC The Hague,and FAUSA) Mary Stewart Burgher (AWC Denmark), Sallie Chaballier
(AAWE Paris), Janet Davis (AIWC Cologne), Kit Desjacques (AAWE Paris), Mary Dobrian (AIWC
Cologne), Carol-Lyn McKelvey (AIWC Cologne/FAUSA), Lauren Mescon (AWC Amsterdam) and
Jenny Taylor (AIWC Cologne and Düsseldorf).
Please note: images used in this publication are either sourced from the authors themselves or
through canva.com or pixabay.com.
We would like you to post the link for this issue of Inspiring
Women, Women and Youth: Inspiring The Future Generations,
in your club publications until "Who Would Have Thought" is
published on November 15, 2022.
Call for November Nominees!
Inspiring Women is known for
selecting big themes for every
issue and we are always surprised
and amazed at the interesting and
high quality individuals profiled
and the features written for every
theme. But as much as we like to
Deadline for Submissions
September 23 rd
believe we are on top of all the
current trends, we don’t know everything! So we are taking advantage of FAWCO’s big tent full of
women with vast and varied ideas and we are seeking out members and stories about issues and
trends that haven’t, as yet, hit our radar. For our November issue we are looking for someone in
your club who has been doing something - a hobby, a talent, a task, a passion - that they have
turned into something “more”. We are looking for people who can say, “I always loved to read so
I started a book program for kids", " I like to knit, so I started a group that makes baby caps and
booties for the infants of single mothers", ”I love to ride my motorcycle so I started a senior biker
group". Maybe it's simply something that gives meaing to your life. Why do you love what you do?
These women have a passion for something which they have then taken to the “next level”.
Please tell us your story or nominate someone else you think has a story to share.
To nominate candidates for profiles, please send the candidate's name, candidate's email
address and a brief description (50-100 words) of why you think they are inspiring and fit the
theme for the issue. Send the information to inspiringwomenprofiles@fawco.org
To submit a feature: We use features to complement the theme. This can be broadly applied;
let us know what you'd like to write about! Our features are 700-800 words plus photos.
Contact Michele at inspiringwomenfeatures@fawco.org
Photographs are integral to our magazine. We end each issue with a page of a photograph
that offers a unique perspective on its theme. The photo can be provocative, amusing,
entertaining and/or a photo that you think says "That's Inspired!" for this issue. Please contact
inspiringwomen.editor@fawco.org
The deadline for submitting
nominees, features and photos
for our next issue is ...
94 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 95

That's
Inspired!
96
Photo by Anna Ljung Grüner-Hegge,
a Swedish photographer living and
working in Colombia.
Photo title, Divine Inspiration,
Villa de Leyva, Colombia, 2021.
"Divine Inspiration is an ode to all the
nuns who work tirelessly and selfishly
with youth here in Colombia. So many of
the orphanages and recreational centers
in this part of the world are run and
operated by nuns who manage to survive
solely on private donations and working
many tireless hours themselves."