By WFWP Int.
“Let us continue to raise our voices for unity and promote peace across borders” said Dr. Julia H. Moon, President of the Women’s Federation for World Peace International (WFWPI), at the 2022 General Assembly on November 12, 2022. The General Assembly is an annual event that brings together WFWP leaders, members and guests from around the world on one international platform for global networking and to share reports on international and regional activities. This year the General Assembly featured various program, including the keynote speeches, surprise events, inspiring entertainment, and sharing of best practices.
All sessions were open to the public, with nearly 400 people worldwide joining each session live via the Zoom and YouTube platforms. The webinars were interpreted into five languages: Korean, Japanese, French, Spanish, and Thai.
The first part of the program was moderated by Ms. Najette Chouchane, WFWPI’s young professional and art creator from the UK. Ms. Chouchane opened the Meet & Greet session, a casual time for all participants to break into small groups and mingle with friends and colleagues, old and new. Mrs. Chouchane then welcomed Dr. Paris Moon, WFWPI Secretary General, who formally opened the meeting with warm greetings and a welcome to the audience.
Dr. Julia H. Moon gave the opening remarks forwarding the greetings from the Co-founder and that she is very proud of the way WFWP has evolved throughout these past 30 years by rising to challenges building a strong platform and network of women leaders working together all over the world. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who are making the world a better place through the small acts of kindness and empathy in your daily lives. Our world is becoming more and more closely connected, and conflict and war should not separate our hearts and our common dream of peace.”
In the welcoming remarks by Dr. Sun Jin Moon, Senior Vice President, she shared “I am guided by the words of WFWPI co-founders, “women will save the world”. I do believe that we can and will be the feminine voice and force of goodness, love, compassion, aid, and wisdom to make that dream a reality. I know that as mothers, sisters, daughters, and feminine bonds, we are united by one common universal truth, to live for the sake of others with a culture of true heart.”
Suddenly, the atmosphere of the program changed with the arrival of the new moderator, Mrs. Grace Kisile, administrator of the WFWPI UN Office in New York. The surprise event, organized in response to the retirement of former European International Vice President Mrs. Carolyn Handschin, who was stepping down to leave the job to the younger generation. A special video with warm messages from IVP colleagues was shown, and a plaque of appreciation, flowers, and small gifts were presented. Mr. Handschin was thrilled by the surprise and expressed her gratitude for working with the European team for more than a decade. She promised to work even harder in her capacity as Director of the UN Relations Office, WFWP IVP, EU Senior Advisor, and IAFLP EUME Regional Coordinator in the future.
The surprise event concluded with an entertaining performance by Universal Ballet’s “Miri-nae-gil – Pas de Deux,” a new work presented at the 2021 Korean Ballet Festival by Universal Ballet’s Artistic Director Liu Bing Xian, which incorporates one of the most complex human emotions, “jeong,” the opposite but inseparable emotion of love and hate.
The first part was followed by reports from WFWP IHQ and the WFWPI UN Office. Dr. Marta Carvalho shared her experience as part of the editorial team for the WFWPI 30th anniversary book project. Mrs. Merly Barlaan, Mrs. Maria Riehl, and Mrs. Carolyn Handschin reported on current activities and projects organized by the WFWP UN offices in New York, Geneva, and Vienna.
After a short break, the second part of the session began with a healing session led by Dr. Isabel Costa, a happiness therapist from Portugal. This session included a 20-minute inner child meditation, which allowed many participants to relax, look into their hearts, and calm their minds.
Mrs. Lilly Gundacker, moderator of the second program from Vienna, introduced the last and most important program of the assembly, a sharing on best practices. There were three themes: Funding Project in WFWP Australia (Mrs. Anne Bellavance), Young Professionals Team (Mrs. Kefilwe Lebepe), and Educational Courses on Heart’s Intelligence (Dr. Susan Kone). All presentations included information on the challenges and solutions of the projects, as well as the outcomes and future development of each piece of work.
The International President concluded the General Assembly by thanking all the leaders and members who continue to build and develop the foundation of WFWP and gave her closing remarks. The WFWPI General Assembly was a heartwarming learning experience where many leaders, members, and guests reaffirmed their heart and power in the last months before the New Year.