WFUCA

The Online Extraordinary Session of the Executive Board of WFUCA

by

The Extraordinary Session of the Executive Board of WFUCA was held on 5 February 2021 through online meeting.
In accordance to Article 8 of the Rules of Procedure of WFUCA, Mr Jaykun YOO (Republic of Korea) was elected anonymously by the Executive Board as the Acting President of WFUCA.
The Executive Board reviewed the report of the WFUCA Secretariat for 2019-2020 and discussed the implementation of the Regulatory Framework regarding Associations and Clubs for UNESCO and accepted Iran National Federation as a new member of WFUCA and will send this application to the next World Congress .

Call for applications: The Co-Creation, an International Game of Art

by

The first “Le Petit Maupassant” Cup international art co-creation tour, jointly sponsored by the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers and Associations (WFUCA) and Association pour le Développement des Échanges France-Chine (ADEFC), is an art exchange and interactive activity for international artists and children from China and other countries. 5 French artists were invited to present 5 “unfinished” works based on the Swan Castle and the childhood memories of Marcle Proust, one of the greatest French novelists in the history of world literature in the 20th century. Each work has been intentionally left “blank”. Children from China and other countries will jointly complete these 5 “unfinished works” with their innocence and wild imagination to realize “co-creation” and start a magical artistic dialogue across time, space, regions and cultures.

Artist Augusto FOLDI creates his art at the Castle Swan

The works that pass the review will be eligible to participate in the tour exhibitions held at Louvre and the Swan Castle, France, and will be exhibited together with the finished works of the 5 invited artists.

Artist Christophe RONEL creates his art at the Castle Swan

For more details please visit this link.

Intervention of WFUCA for 41th General Conference of UNESCO

by

 

Intervention by Mr. Jaykun Yoo, President of the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations (WFUCA),
at General Policy Debate, 41st General Conference of UNESCO
13 November 2021, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris-France

Honorable Madam Director General
Honorable Mr. President of the General Conference
Chairperson of the Executive Board,
Dignitaries, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates
Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, I would like to send my warmest congratulations to Madame Director-General for your re-election, and I firmly believe that under your wise leadership, UNESCO clubs’ movement will open a new chapter in this post-covid area.
As the President of WFUCA, it is with great pleasure and pride, I share with this gathering that this year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations. During the last 40 years, WFUCA and its all members, that compose of more than 4000 UNESCO Clubs and Associations spread in about 80 countries around the globe, have greatly contributed to the spread out of UNESCO’s mandate.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of WFUCA, a series of celebrating activities were successfully carried out, including the Online Opening Ceremony, a public webinar on the theme of “Civil society with the Pandemic”, an Asia-Europe Education Forum, a Youth Forum on “Climate change and Culture”, and an International Art co-Creation Competition, which gathered members of WFUCA from over 40 countries and senior officials from UNESCO, National Commissions for UNESCO, NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee, to take a stock of the 40 years history of collaboration, and looking into the future.

Ladies and gentlemen,

As you all know, UNESCO Club Movement is a people’s movement involving representatives of all sections of the society, particularly young women and men, rendering services voluntarily in advancing UNESCO’s aims and objectives.

Taking this occasion, WFUCA would like to thank the General Conference and the Executive Board for its decision to renew our official partnership with UNESCO for another eight years and I would reiterate we are committed to strengthening the organization by supporting its programmes and activities and work within the guiding principles of UNESCO, in close collaboration with the National Commissions to UNESCO.

Thank you very much for providing me the opportunity to speak before this distinguished gathering.

IN MEMORIAM: MR TAO XIPING

by

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

by

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

Call for Participations: “The Planet of ART” International Festival 2020

by

“The Planet of ART” International Festival is organized by the Kazakhstan National Federation of UNESCO Clubs in cooperation with the Foundation of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Elbasy and the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers and Associations. To educate the younger generation, promote intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding, as well as strengthen friendly ties among children of the world, the competition has been successfully implemented in Kazakhstan for more than 10 years.

In 2020, the festival is marked by the release of the final album “The thinkers of the Great Steppe” which will include the best works of the finalists of the project, and the winners of the contest will traditionally be invited to attend the Final of the Festival in Almaty.

All the children and youth aged 3-18 are welcome to participate in this competition. The original works must be sent to the Organizing Committee of the Festival, no later than 1 June 2020.

For more information on the “The Planet of ART” International Festival please CLICK HERE.

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

by

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

by

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.

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

by

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.