In 2005 I attended the Executive Committee Meeting in Rabat, Morocco with the then NCWNZ President Christine Low and we had a couple of days together for sightseeing in Marrakech. So, it was nice to return to Marrakech to see what progress had been made to the city in the past twenty years.

I have just returned from Morocco after attending the International Council of Women (ICW) General Assembly in Marrakech, Morocco in June 2025.

At this meeting I completed my twenty-three years' service at the International Level and was delighted to be presented with an Acknowledgement Award for my services to ICW by the current ICW / CIF President Martine Marandel. During my twenty-three years I held positions of the ICW Advisor for Youth, Social Issues Co-Ordinator, ICW Board Member for three years and an ICW Vice President for six years. The past six years, I have been the Secretary to the Asia Pacific Regional Council of ICW.

It was wonderful to meet up again with NCW friends from many countries around the world in particular from the Ukraine, Turkey, Malta and Switzerland.

I have been responsible for running and overseeing the ICW Gift Shop at which attendees bring items and gifts for us to sell and then donate the money to local groups in need.

The organisations who would be receiving the money were:

• CASEFF - Socio-Economic Empowerment Center for Women which offers vocational training workshops in various fields such as traditional and modern sewing, cooking, pastry making, digital skills and more. Its primary target is women living in precarious or vulnerable situations, with the aim of promoting their social empowerment through skill development and professional integration.
• DAA CENTER - DAL AL AFAQ CENTER Support and Shelter Center for Women in Crisis - This center provides a safe and welcoming space for women facing difficult life circumstances. It offers temporary accommodation as well as training opportunities to support their reintegration, autonomy, and long-term stability.

We had the opportunity to visit both of these centers on the Opening Day of the General Assembly and meet and speak with some of the girls' and women,

Total Amount raised and donated from the ICW Gift Shop over the 4 days was Euro 1828.30.

I also had the responsibility of overseeing and preparing with other ICW attendees participating at the Multi Interfaith Service held one morning at each Executive Committee Meeting and General Assembly over these years.

I would like to thank those past NCWNZ Presidents who have supported me over the years I have served on ICW and in particular Dame Alison Roxburgh who had also served in different ICW positions including ICW Vice President.

I look forward to attending future ICW meetings and meeting up with past, present and new country representatives.

It has been a pleasure for me to be able to serve and represent the National Council of Women of New Zealand and Girls' Brigade since 1987 - locally, nationally and internationally - and I will continue to do so.

Yours in Community Service,

Christine Knock MNZM
NCWNZ Life Member

To read more articles from The Circular (July-August 2025) issue 653, click on the tag below.