News

IN MEMORIAM: MR MASATAKE MATSUDA

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Dear Colleagues of NFUAJ,

It was with enormous sadness that the Secretariat of World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations (WFUCA) learned of the sad demise of Mr. Masatake Matsuda, the Honorary President of the National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan and former President of Asia Federation of UNESCO Clubs and Associations (AFUCA), on 19 May 2020.

He was a very close friend of the UNESCO Clubs family and a wisdom leader of the NFUAJ and AFUCA. He devoted immense service to the promotion of UNESCO’s ideas and UNESCO Clubs movements in both Japan and Asia Pacific region.

We have lost an outstanding leader, a great pioneer.

The secretariat of WFUCA, on behalf of all of our members, conveys our deepest and sincere condolences to his family and to all the members of NFUAJ.

May he rest in peace.

Yours sincerely,

Secretariat

World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations

IN MEMORIAM: MR TAO XIPING

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Dear Colleagues, dear Friends,

It was with profound sadness that the Secretariat of World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations (WFUCA) learned of the sad demise of Mr. Tao Xiping, a very dear member of the UNESCO clubs family and the Honorary President of WFUCA, on the morning of 19 May 2020, in Beijing, China.

Mr. Tao Xiping, one of the world’s renowned educators, the founding father of UNESCO Clubs in China, has made significant contributions to the UNESCO Clubs movement over the past 35 years. Mr. Tao led a life of dedicated service for the promotion of UNESCO’s work, particularly in the field of education, which inspired so many others to do the same.

Since the withdraw of the financial support of UNESCO, WFUCA has been facing great challenges over the years. The secretariat would like to express its sincere gratitude to Mr. Tao’s support and contributions during this difficult time, which was vital for the maintenance of the function of the WFUCA.

We have lost a great soul and a relentless champion for education. His voice of experience will be missed around the world.

May he rest in peace.

Yours sincerely,

Secretariat

World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations

IN MEMORIAM: MR DHIRENDRA BHATNAGAR

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Dear Colleagues, dear Friends,

The Secretariat of the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs and Associations (WFUCA) is immensely sad to announce the sudden loss of our President of WFUCA, Mr Dhirendra Bhatnagar, who has left for his heavenly abode, on Sunday 17 May 2020, in Delhi, India, at the age of 65.

Born in 1954, Mr Bhatnagar, a prominent lawyer in India, dedicated his entire life in the field of UNESCO Club activities and promotion of programmes related to UNESCO and United Nations.

Having been actively associated with UNESCO Clubs movement in India and the Asia Pacific region since 1987, Mr Bhatnagar organized a number of National and Regional Training Programs, Seminars, and Workshops on important topics in the fields of UNESCO’s competence, particularly on Peace Education, World Heritage, Human Rights, Environmental Education, Sustainable Development, Education For All, International Understanding etc. Over the years, he wrote and published several books and articles to promote UNESCO’s programmes, including the production of a feature film “Babloo Ke Sapne” (Dreams of Babloo) to motivate out of school children.

Before being elected as the President of WFUCA, Mr Bhatnagar had been making contributions for years as Executive Board Member of WFUCA and the Vice President of Asia Pacific Federation of UNESCO Clubs and Associations (AFUCA).

In his capacity as President of WFUCA since July 2015, despite the difficult time we have been facing, Mr Bhatnagar has been leading WFUCA’s work and development, and devoted his efforts to strengthen the communication and collaboration with UNESCO and among members.

Under his leadership and guidance, several key events were organized in collaboration with members and UNECSO, such as the 70th anniversary of UNESCO’s clubs movement in 2017 and the International Youth Forum on Creativity and Heritage along the Silk Roads in 2019. He also devoted to reinforcing the relationship between WFUCA and UNESCO though constant dialogue, meetings and information sharing, and led the process of amendment of WFUCA’s Constitution. This enabled WFUCA to maintain its presence in UNESCO Headquarters, to maintain its regional federations, and to involve in UNESCO’s participation programme. Mr Bhatnagar also showed support by actively participating in the meetings and activities organized by the member federations and stakeholders around the world. Even until most recently, Mr Bhatnagar was working to propose initiative to UNESCO and mobilize joint efforts to combat the global pandemic.

Mr Bhatnagar’s enthusiasm, leadership, wisdom and true humbleness in his character has made him a most appreciated colleague and friend among us. He will be sadly missed but fondly remembered as the exemplary man he was.

We extend our deepest condolences to his wife, son, daughter, and all his family and friends.

Yours sincerely,

Secretariat
World Federation of UNESCO Clubs,
Centres and Associations

Christmas Actions, Athens, Greece

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The Christmas Actions of “Love and warmth to the children of in-need families and homeless people from the Municipality of Nikaia – Rentis”, organized by the Club for UNESCO of Piraeus and Islands, took place on 17 December in Athens, Greece. Ms. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, visited the Homeless Social Structures and participated in this activity. She read to the children a Christmas fairy tale that highlights the values of friendship, love and affection and offered Christmas presents to everyone.

 

Launching Ceremony of a partnership of Cultural-Educational exchanges between youth from Romania and China, Beijing, China

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A partnership of cultural-educational exchanges of youth between Romania and China in the summer of the year 2020 was established by EFUCA and Chinese UNESCO Clubs. During 7-14 December 2019, Dr.Daniela Popescu, President of the European Federation for UNESCO Clubs, Centers and Associations (EFUCA), and Mrs. Georgiana Trifu, Director of the Youth Center from the Bucharest City Hall, were invited by Mr. Francis Pang, the founder of the Sino-Canadian school network, to participate this ceremony.

 

Representatives of National Federations of Benin, Guinea-Bissau and Mali Visited WFUCA Secretariat, Paris, Francewf

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During the General Conference, Mr. Gabin Ahogbedji ALLOGNON, President of Benin National Federation Mr. Rui INFACA, President of Guinea-Bissau National Federation, and Mr. Alou KOITA, President of Mali National Federation visited WFUCA Secretariat with their delegations. They introduced the activities carried out, exchanged opinions about the development of UNESCO Clubs movements with the Secretariat, and acknowledged the work of the Secretariat.

 

Visit of Dr. Hojatollah Ayoubi, Secretary-General of Iranian National Commission to WFUCA Secretariat

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Dr. Hojatollah Ayoubi, Secretary-General of the Iranian National Commission, visited WFUCA Secretariat on 24 October in Paris. He introduced the current progress of UNESCO Clubs movements made by the Iranian National Commission, particularly the six clubs created in Iran last year. He also expressed an interest in establishing the Iranian National Federation of UNESCO Clubs and becoming a member of WFUCA. The Secretariat of WFUCA warmly welcomed the work of the Iranian National Committee and introduced the structure and basic information of WFUCA, the work of the secretariat, and the procedure of how to join the WFUCA family.

Future Folk Exhibition, Royal Costume, Paris, France

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Future Folk Exhibition will take place between October 2 and 10, 2019 in Paris. The exhibition is organized by the Alumnus Club for UNESCO with support of the National Commissions for UNESCO from France and Romania, together with the municipalities of Paris and Bucharest, as well as the European Federation for UNESCO Clubs and Associations (EFUCA). The project will include a total of 30 conceptual fashion works signed by the Romanian designer.

The Extraordinary Session of the Executive Board of WFUCA, Paris, France

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The Extraordinary Session of the Executive Board of WFUCA was held on 12 August 2019 in Paris, France. During this session, the Executive Board members worked together and proposed a revised version of the Constitution of WFUCA, which will be submitted to the next World Congress for adoption. The meeting also introduced the progress made regarding the implementation of the “Regulatory Framework regarding Associations, Centres and Clubs for UNESCO” in different countries; discussed and adopted the postponement of the next World Congress considering the difficult circumstance we are currently facing.

The Executive Board member visited the UNESCO Secretariat on the following day and exchanged with the officials of the PAX Sector.