IWA
The International Women's Association of Bucharest: a volunteer run nonprofit association, bringing people together since 1978
IWA was founded in 1978, during the Ceaușescu dictatorship, by the spouse of a diplomat. We became a registered association in 2000. IWA 1978: A Historical Background Written for the celebration of IWA’s Pearl Anniversary, May 2008, by Renee McDannel, then volunteering as IWA’s First Vice-President 1978 was marked by many memorable and interesting events in Romania, such as the hosting of the 20th International Mathematics Olympiad, the 10th Anniversary of the 'Prague Spring,’ and the founding of the Ecologist Party. Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife Elena were invited in 1978 to Britain to meet the Queen. This groundbreaking move marked the Romanian attempts to break free of Soviet control.
Ceaușescu's orientation during this time fostered the "ideological education of the popular masses” and was constituted by giving preferences and rewards to those artists who obeyed and conformed to party line. It was a time of cultural policy that supported an anti-elite spirit.
While IWA membership initiatives primary focused on creating venues in which the ladies could experience the cultural aspects of Romanian society, they also began their charitable work. The first project was to provide a monthly sponsorship of ten dollars each for a little girl & boy living in India under impoverished conditions. This was followed by an urgent response to send packages to Biafra. In the local community they donated $5000 each to 'Casa de Copii' number one and two in Bucharest. Today, IWA continues this proud legacy of cultural and charitable work in the community. The IWA membership ranks have swelled to over two-hundred and charitable contributions under the auspices of IWA have judiciously found their way into Romanian based charitable organizations. There original ideals of IWA have proven to withstand the test of time; to create a safe and welcoming environment where women of diverse nationalities can find common unity in friendship, while making charitable monetary and volunteer service contributions to their host country. | Past Presidents since IWA was registered in 2000 2021-2022 Samantha Petcu (Guyana / United States) 2020-2021 Liana Minasyan (Armenia) 2019 - 2020 Terry O'Donnell Parsons (United States) 2018 - 2019 Gladys Abankwa-Meier-Klodt (Ghana / Germany) 2017 - 2018 Ximena Alexandra Reyes (Chile / Sweden / Ecuador) 2015 - 2017 Terry O'Donnell Parsons (United States) 2014 - 2015 Jessica Townsend (United States) 2013 - 2014 Urga Denize (Mongolia) 2012 - 2013 Patti Golden (United States) 2011 - 2012 Anne Hutton (United Kingdom) 2009 - 2011 Erzsebet Bajtai (Hungary) 2008 - 2009 Irina Budrina Geets (Russia) 2007 - 2008 Tesca Barnett-Osman (United Kingdom) 2006 - 2007 Omaima Goher (Egypt) 2005 - 2006 Peggy Bates (United States) 2003 - 2005 Sharah Shelee (United Kingdom) 2002 Nevena Milkova 2001 Mavis Mitchell 1999 - 2000 Ursula Groeger (Austria) IWA became a legal voluntary, charitable, non-profit, non-political and non-religious organization at the turn of the century thanks to the dedication of: Ursula Groeger (Austria) Ruth Collins (Canada) Bonnia Bezmalinovic (Croatia) Angelika Kraus (Germany) Heinze Kirtcheva (Germany) Graf Heike (Germany) Petra Mueller Demary (Germany) Antoinette C. E. Moorrees (Holland) Georgiana Pogonaru (Romania) Lucia M. Ban (Romania) Daniela Kammrath (Romania) Melike E. Roman (Romania) Diana L. Zotescu (Romania) Marie Jeanne Joseph (Switzerland) Naila Bangerter(Switzerland) Sheilah Kast (United States) Joy P. Croome (United Kingdom) Good times over the years... our friends may have moved on |
IWA wouldn't exist without the hard work of many women over the years. These caring volunteers from around the globe gave their time, talent and smiles in order to help other families forge connections and feel at home in Bucharest. We love you and give you our heartfelt thanks! |
June 2021 - May 2022BOARD President: Samantha Petcu Vice President: Delia Sfetcu (Romanian) Treasurer: Monica Puiu (Austrian) June 2020 - May 2021BOARD President: Liana Minasyan (Armenian) Vice President: Gillian Adamson (British) Treasurer: Samantha Petcu (American - Guyanese) EXECUTIVE TEAM Charity Chair: Delia Sfetcu (Romanian) Membership: Alison Gritis (American) Activities: Irina Moreno (Canadian - American - Romanian) May 2019 - June 2020 Treasurer: Claudia Andrei (Romanian-American) Second Vice President: Gillian Adamson (British-Irish) Council Charity: Delia Sfetcu (Romanian) Fundraising/Coffee Mornings: Mary Stefan (Romanian-American) Christmas Bazaar May 2018 - June 2019
Treasurer: Lauren Willson (Canadian) Council Christmas Bazaar April 2017- April 2018 | April 2016 - April 2017 President: Terry O'Donnell Parsons (American) 2015 - 2016 President: Terry O'Donnell Parsons (United States)
2014 - 2015 President - Jessica Townsend (United States) Charity Christmas Bazaar Committee 2013 - 2014 President: Urga Denize (Mongolia) First Vice‐President: Kazuko Nishiyama (Japan) and Irina Budrina (Russia) Second Vice‐President: Bouchra Jleilti (Syria) Secretary: Olga Cridland (Romania) Treasurer: Ilinca Stefanescu Neagu (France/Romania) Charity Coordinator: Daniela Gonzales (Brazil) Membership Coordinator: Susan Webster (Canada) Fundraising Coordinator: Sanem Safi (Turkey) Activities Coordinator: Ozge Yokusoglu (Turkey) Newsletter Coordinator: Manzar Huseynli (Azerbaijan) Hospitality Coordinator: Marie‐Helen Karlsson (Sweden) Website Coordinator: Izabela Bauer (Poland) Bazaar Committee Bazaar Chair: Irina Budrina ![]() 2012 - 2013 June 2011 - 2012 President: Anne Hutton 2010 - 2011 President: Erzsébet Bajtai | 2009 - 2010 President: Erzsébet Bajtai 2008 - 2009 President: Irina Budrina-Geels 2007 - 2008 President: Tesca Barnett Osman 2006 - 2007 President: Josy Van der Stock Verrijt (Netherlands) May 2005 - April 2006 President: Peggy Bates May 2004 - April 2005 President: Sara Scheele 2003 - April 2004 President: Sara Scheele (UK) 2002 President: Nevena Milkova (Bulgaria) 2001 President: Mavis Mitchell 2000 President: Ursula Groeger June 1998 - 1999 President: Sally Garner & Ursula Groeger - June 1998 President: Hanne Mørch 1997 President: Hanne Mørch |