International Women's Club Karlsruhe

The International Women's Club Karlsruhe was founded as "German-American Women's Club" in 1957. With "international understanding and cooperation" as its aim, the club has been renamed in 1965. New tasks for the club emerged as Karlsruhe became an international city with institutions such as University, Forschungszentrum, industries, Eurocontrol and French, American and German military among others. Today, our club has around 300 members from more than 20 nations.

According to the club charter our aim is to contribute to the international understanding and to promote the welfare of children, youth, the old, the sick and the handicapped. International friendship is fostered and deepened through numerous activity groups, cultural programmes and social events.

The major annual events of the club are: the Pfennigbasar in January, the "Fundspresentation" (awards of the proceeds from the Pfennigbasar) in May. The German-American student exchange program and the youth work of the Federation are supported as well as charity organizations in Karlsruhe. The net proceeds from all the Pfennigbasars including the year 2004 amount to about 2.524 million Euro. Further events are the "Herbsttee" (Fall Tea) and the "Christmas Tea" where also donations are presented.

Members come together in various activity groups. These activities are organized voluntarily by the members for the members. The list of activities include conversation in various languages, cooking, hiking, singing, literature, arts, handicrafts, Bridge and visits to nursing homes. The American tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving Day is further carried on.