The topic of luncheon was the “Indus Valley Civilization” and featured guest speaker Mrs. Ambrim Hayat.

The luncheon was well attended by members of the Muslim Women’s Association as well as several distinguished guests from Washington, DC’s diplomatic community. The Muslim Women’s Association holds regular luncheons to promote the understanding of Muslim cultures and provide a venue for further collaboration between members.

The topic of luncheon was the “Indus Valley Civilization” and featured guest speaker Mrs. Ambrim Hayat.

The luncheon was well attended by members of the Muslim Women’s Association as well as several distinguished guests from Washington, DC’s diplomatic community. The Muslim Women’s Association hold regular luncheons to promote the understanding of Muslim cultures and provide a venue for further collaboration between members.

The 64th annual MWA International Bazaar was held on Saturday, May 10, 2014 at the Islamic Center of Washington, DC. For 64 years, MWA has helped promote the organizational member states by hosting an annual event that demonstrates the cultural diversity of Muslim nations and MWA membership that draws thousands of residents and visitors alike from the Greater Washington area.

This year’s Bazaar was well attended. The Bazaar has become an institutional event attended by locals who enjoy the exploration of our rich diverse community and our cultural events and offerings.  For more than 64 years our MWA annual bazaar has continued to demonstrate the beauty, variety and diversity of Muslim nations throughout the World, and the solidarity and friendship of American Muslim women with American and international women worldwide.

March 27, 2014

Today, Mrs. Hakimi participated in a luncheon event in honor of International Women’d Day which took place in Congress. The event was organized by the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) and featured Congresswoman Karen Bass [ R-CA]; First Lady of the Republic of Namibia Madam Penehupifo Pohamba, Administrative Law Judge M. Lisa Buschmann, and President and CEO of Women’s Global Initiative Rev. Marcia L. Dyson.

Mrs. Hakimi spoke briefly about women’s political history in Afghanistan and shared some of her personal experience as an Afghan woman. She also spoke about her new role as President of the Muslim Women’s Association of Washington, D.C., which has successfully supported nearly 100 young Muslim women in the Greater Washington, DC, area pursue their higher education. Mrs. Hakimi and the rest of the featured speakers were awarded A UPF “Ambassador for Peace” Certificate for their advocacy efforts.

March 18,2014

Today, Mrs. Hakimi participated in a State Department event to commemorate Women’s History Month. The event was organized by the Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide (AASFSW).

During the event, Mrs. Hakimi spoke about current achievements in women’s rights in Afghanistan, the strong women which helped to shape Afghanistan’s history, and current challenges that remain. Mrs. Hakimi also spoke about her role as President of the Muslim Women’s Association in D.C., and organization which has successfully supported nearly 100 young Muslim women in the Greater Washington, DC, area pursue their higher education.

Several other spouses of Ambassadors were present, including spouses of the Ambassador to Austria, Azerbaijan,China, Egypt, Fiji Germany, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Taiwan, and others.

Babette in Georgetown hosted the Muslim Women’s Association’s March luncheon. The luncheon included a delicious buffet of Iranian cuisine. In addition to celebrating the beginning of spring, members participated in a raffle that was offered by Babette.

The event was well attended by MWA members and their guests.

WASHINGTON – Mrs. Rose Brito, spouse of Portuguese Ambassador Nuno Brito, hosted the MWA’s December Holiday Luncheon at her residence on December 17.

After MWA President Sultana Hakim welcomed everyone with her opening remarks, Ms. Brito spoke about the history of Christmas and the importance of Christmas in her country as well as in her family. Like in many other countries, the holidays are very important to the Portuguese. Christmas is a time of gathering and family and people around the world have been observing it with traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in nature. Popular customs include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, and sharing meals with family and friends.

In addition to the important remarks, guests sang Christmas songs and enjoyed a variety of Mediterranean cuisine.

The Embassy of Afghanistan open its doors for the November MWA luncheon on November 20, 2013. Afghan women’s rights activists Ms. Fowzia Etimadi and Ms. Nilofar Sakhi spoke to guests about the situation in Afghanistan and the immense gains women have made over the last decade.

In addition to speaking about her work in Afghan civil society on behalf of women, Ms. Etimadi explored the role of women in Islam and in Afghan culture. She made the point that women as mothers, sisters, daughters and wives can influence the thinking in the home and encourage the male to denounce violence but education is critical. A lack of education, especially in rural areas, remains a challenge, but has improved over time.

She implored the international community to continue investing in education for all Afghans, especially the women, saying that “education is the passport to integration” into the economy and the international community.

To continue on with the theme of education, Ms. Sakhi also spoke to the luncheon attendees about her exciting and important work at the International Center for Afghan Women’s Economic Development (ICAWED) where she is Executive Director. The ICAWED is a pioneering institution associated with the American University of Afghanistan dedicated to advancing the role of women in Afghanistan’s economy.

The center will function as a headquarters to incubate female-led small and medium-sized businesses, provide business training to female entrepreneurs, funnel investment capital to promising women-run businesses, and provide women access to all the business and information technology (IT) assets at the American University of Afghanistan.

As a permanent, state-of-the-art facility dedicated to women’s economic empowerment, the center will function as a national hub coordinating and connecting both public and private sector entities that share the goal of fully integrating women into the Afghan economy.