ASEAN Women’s Circle inducts new president

Source:  ASEAN Secretariat

JAKARTA, 28 March 2019 – The ASEAN Women’s Circle (AWC) of Jakarta inducted its new president Madam Dhani Sarwono at the 2019 Installation Ceremony held at ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta today. The ceremony marked the official handing over of the AWC presidency from Madam Sari Percaya to Madam Sarwono.

Madam Percaya opened the ceremony with a reminder that it only took passion and one’s bare hands to make a difference.  She highlighted the  fundraising activities and charitable projects accomplished during her tenure as AWC president and thanked the ASEAN Secretariat for their support as well as the executive committee for their hard work.

In her remarks at the ceremony, AWC Chief Patron Madam Yasmin Fachir, spouse of Indonesian Vice Foreign Minister Abdurrahman Mohammad Fachir, expressed her appreciation to the outgoing president for her leadership and the executive committee for their devoted work.

For his part, ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General for Community and Corporate Affairs Dr. AKP Mochtan pledged the continued support of the ASEAN Secretariat to the new AWC president and executive committee.  He said that the Secretariat looks forward to continued collaboration with AWC to deepen and expand outreach to the ASEAN Community.

In her acceptance speech, Madam Sarwono, spouse of Indonesia’s Permanent Representative to ASEAN, said that she would do her utmost to continue the work that had been done with the support of the executive committee.  She emphasised that in addition to fundraising, AWC focuses on forging partnerships and providing continuous support to its beneficiaries.  She added that AWC would work closely with the ASEAN Secretariat to invest in education for our future generation through AWC programmes and activities.

As AWC continues to contribute to local foundations and support initiatives for the betterment of the ASEAN community, its spirit was displayed through special performances during the ceremony.  Guests were treated to a  rendition of well-known Indonesian and Western songs by Brian and Lio from Masyarakat Peduli Autis Indonesia (MPATI), a recipient of AWC’s donations.  MPATI is a non-profit foundation that focuses on empowering parents, teachers and therapists to provide proper guidance and education for young people with autism.

Also present at the installation ceremony was the ASEAN Foundation which showcased its commitment to promote ASEAN agriculture through the ASEAN Farmers’ Organisation Support Programme (AFOSP).

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