Cambodia Asia Life
5 March 2011
On the eve of the premier Indradevi Hope Award Ball, Craig Gerard chats with the Women’s International Group outgoing and incoming presidents, Dorte Kieler and Lynn MullerCambodian for Beginners - Second Edition
The Next Generation of Women Leaders: What You Need to Lead but Won't Learn in Business School
“Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something…” This anonymous quote dances atop each page on the Women’s International Group website, speaking volumes about what the organisation has come to stand for. “Together we can achieve more than we could ever do if we worked on our own,” say the recently elected WIG president Lynn Muller.
Started in 1994, the WIG was originally designed as a socialising network. “When most people come to Cambodia, they are part of a social network, either through their work or their children’s school,” explains outgoing president Dorte Kieler. “But if they don’t have children or their husband’s organisation is small, some women don’t have that network. WIG was designed to create that network for women.”
The social emphasis quickly changed. “Many of the original members were wives of UNTAC employees,” says Kieler, “and they saw their husbands helping to rebuild Cambodia after years of war. They knew they could help in this effort as well.” From there on, WIG has taken a special interest in assisting underprivileged women and children in Cambodia.
Each year, WIG gives financial support to projects around Cambodia. Most of the time, these projects focus on women and children, and they all must show active results and progress throughout the application process. Proposals are vetted through the Project Support Group, which visits each site before and after the money is donated to monitor progress. There are no limits on the number of projects that WIG will support, as fund availability determines outreach. Each mini grant is limited to US$1,500.
WIG members often become very involved with these projects, choosing to volunteer with certain groups. “We have such a wide range of women, each brings different strengths to the organization,” says Muller. The end result is that many of the volunteers can help organizations through their specialised skills.
Though helping disadvantaged Cambodians can be a serious endeavour, the group certainly has its share of fun. Last year’s WIG wig party and the WIG shoe party gave members a chance to doll up and strut their stuff on the catwalk. Prizes were given in multiple categories in both events. Monthly sundowners, morning coffees, luncheons, book club gatherings, bridge games, tennis matches and general meetings mean that the WIG social calendar is always full with as many events as you can fit in. Muller and Kieler chuckle that some women make every single event.
The queen of all social events on the 2011 calendar will be the Indradevi Hope Award Ball. The award, named after Angkorean King Jayavarman VII’s second wife, is designed to recognize women in the community who are making a contribution, but have not yet been recognized for their efforts. On March 12, three nominees will be honoured during the black tie event at the Intercontinental Hotel. This is the first year the award will be presented, a culmination of months of effort both on the part of WIG volunteers and the independent panel of judges.
“Our judges for the award are a good mix of men, women, expats and Cambodians, but none of them are members of WIG,” explains Muller. From the larger group, a short list of finalists will be announced on March 3 during a press conference at the Intercontinental Hotel. Award winners will receive a trophy designed by Artisans d’Angkor. The number and quality of nominations has exceeded expectations, according to Muller.
The other major fundraiser on the WIG calendar is the annual Christmas Fair, a shopping bazaar held the last weekend of November. In 2011, the fair will be in its 17th year. With vendors ranging from wine stores to handicrafts to fine clothing to holiday trinkets, this may well be the biggest shopping opportunity of the year. Organising the vendors and gathering the prizes for the raffle takes nearly six months to complete. Yet it’s all worth it in the end. Between table fees, entrance tickets and raffle tickets, the 2010 Christmas Fair raised over US$18,000, which all went towards supporting WIG humanitarian projects.
The Women’s International Group is open to all women living in Cambodia, regardless of age, nationality or duration of stay in the country. Both fun and empowering, the group offers an immediate social circle and a chance to make real impact on people’s lives. “The social side is as important as the serious side,” says Kieler. The website’s slogan rings true—within this group, there really is a place for everyone to do something.
For further information about the Women’s International Group, visit www.wigcambodia.com. Tickets for the Indradevi Hope Award Ball on Mar. 12 are $95 per person, contact wigcambodia@yahoo.com.
5 March 2011
On the eve of the premier Indradevi Hope Award Ball, Craig Gerard chats with the Women’s International Group outgoing and incoming presidents, Dorte Kieler and Lynn MullerCambodian for Beginners - Second Edition
The Next Generation of Women Leaders: What You Need to Lead but Won't Learn in Business School
“Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something…” This anonymous quote dances atop each page on the Women’s International Group website, speaking volumes about what the organisation has come to stand for. “Together we can achieve more than we could ever do if we worked on our own,” say the recently elected WIG president Lynn Muller.
Started in 1994, the WIG was originally designed as a socialising network. “When most people come to Cambodia, they are part of a social network, either through their work or their children’s school,” explains outgoing president Dorte Kieler. “But if they don’t have children or their husband’s organisation is small, some women don’t have that network. WIG was designed to create that network for women.”
The social emphasis quickly changed. “Many of the original members were wives of UNTAC employees,” says Kieler, “and they saw their husbands helping to rebuild Cambodia after years of war. They knew they could help in this effort as well.” From there on, WIG has taken a special interest in assisting underprivileged women and children in Cambodia.
Each year, WIG gives financial support to projects around Cambodia. Most of the time, these projects focus on women and children, and they all must show active results and progress throughout the application process. Proposals are vetted through the Project Support Group, which visits each site before and after the money is donated to monitor progress. There are no limits on the number of projects that WIG will support, as fund availability determines outreach. Each mini grant is limited to US$1,500.
WIG members often become very involved with these projects, choosing to volunteer with certain groups. “We have such a wide range of women, each brings different strengths to the organization,” says Muller. The end result is that many of the volunteers can help organizations through their specialised skills.
Though helping disadvantaged Cambodians can be a serious endeavour, the group certainly has its share of fun. Last year’s WIG wig party and the WIG shoe party gave members a chance to doll up and strut their stuff on the catwalk. Prizes were given in multiple categories in both events. Monthly sundowners, morning coffees, luncheons, book club gatherings, bridge games, tennis matches and general meetings mean that the WIG social calendar is always full with as many events as you can fit in. Muller and Kieler chuckle that some women make every single event.
The queen of all social events on the 2011 calendar will be the Indradevi Hope Award Ball. The award, named after Angkorean King Jayavarman VII’s second wife, is designed to recognize women in the community who are making a contribution, but have not yet been recognized for their efforts. On March 12, three nominees will be honoured during the black tie event at the Intercontinental Hotel. This is the first year the award will be presented, a culmination of months of effort both on the part of WIG volunteers and the independent panel of judges.
“Our judges for the award are a good mix of men, women, expats and Cambodians, but none of them are members of WIG,” explains Muller. From the larger group, a short list of finalists will be announced on March 3 during a press conference at the Intercontinental Hotel. Award winners will receive a trophy designed by Artisans d’Angkor. The number and quality of nominations has exceeded expectations, according to Muller.
The other major fundraiser on the WIG calendar is the annual Christmas Fair, a shopping bazaar held the last weekend of November. In 2011, the fair will be in its 17th year. With vendors ranging from wine stores to handicrafts to fine clothing to holiday trinkets, this may well be the biggest shopping opportunity of the year. Organising the vendors and gathering the prizes for the raffle takes nearly six months to complete. Yet it’s all worth it in the end. Between table fees, entrance tickets and raffle tickets, the 2010 Christmas Fair raised over US$18,000, which all went towards supporting WIG humanitarian projects.
The Women’s International Group is open to all women living in Cambodia, regardless of age, nationality or duration of stay in the country. Both fun and empowering, the group offers an immediate social circle and a chance to make real impact on people’s lives. “The social side is as important as the serious side,” says Kieler. The website’s slogan rings true—within this group, there really is a place for everyone to do something.
For further information about the Women’s International Group, visit www.wigcambodia.com. Tickets for the Indradevi Hope Award Ball on Mar. 12 are $95 per person, contact wigcambodia@yahoo.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment