Other Info
Fascinating Facts...
5W has around 2500 members in over 80 countries from Algeria to Zimbabwe
The northernmost member lives within the Arctic Circle in Norway
The southernmost lives in Santa Cruz, Argentina
More than 100 languages are spoken from Arabic to Zulu
In what countries do 5W members live and how many are there in each?
The world distribution as at 1 July 2010 was 2306 members in 82 countries!
Algeria 1, Argentina 13, Australia 445, Austria 21, Bahrain 1, Belarus 1, Belgium 54, Brazil, 1, Bulgaria 5, Cameroon 1,Canada 98, Chile 3, China PR 2, Croatia 3, Cuba 3, Czech Republic 6, Denmark 15, Djibouti 1 Ecuador 1, Estonia 1, Ethiopia 5, Faroe Islands 1, Finland 22, France 39, Georgia 2, Germany 272, Ghana 8, Greece 3, Hong Kong 1, Hungary 13, India 3, Indonesia 1, Ireland 11, Israel 2, Italy 6, Japan 77, Kenya 20, Latvia 3, Lithuania 7, Luxembourg 2, Macedonia 1, Malaysia 1, Mali 1, Malta 1, Mexico 3, Morocco 3, Nepal 1, Netherlands 10, New Zealand 30, Nigeria 1, Norway 9, Palestine 2, Philippines 3, Poland 6, Puerto Rico 2, Qatar 2, Réunion 1, Romania 22, Russia 35, Senegal 1, Singapore 1, Slovakia 1, Slovenia 7, South Africa 6, South Korea 1, Spain 18, Sri Lanka 7, Suriname 2, Sweden 52, Switzerland 84, Tanzania 8, Thailand 2, Turkey 1, UAE 3, Uganda 3, Ukraine 15, UK 485, Uruguay 1, USA 259, West Africa 1, Zambia 2, Zimbabwe 18
Who Could I Visit....?
Members range in age from 18 to 80+ and come from all walks of life - housewives, students, retired, business, professional, artists, farmers, office workers, unemployed, etc, etc. They have one thing in common - a wish to befriend women from other parts of the world.
Individual Visits.....
When you decide to travel, you write to the hostesses whose names you have selected from the membership list. We find the best friendships are made when members have taken time to correspond before travelling. We recommend that the first visit should be short, in case it is not what you expect: lifestyles can be very different from your own. The visitor should fit in with the hostess and be prepared to entertain herself during the day if her hostess is working.
The Cost...?
There is no set subscription. The membership payment is a donation. The recommended minimum donation (RMD) is £35 to join, with an annual renewal of £25 for continuous membership. This covers the cost of providing one Membership List and three newsletters per year. 5W is financed only by its members' donations.
There are a number of countries around the world where it is difficult, either financially or politically, for women to make a donation, but 5W is enriched by their membership and the opportunities to visit these countries. If you wish to make an additional 'Friendship Donation' to help towards the costs of these members, this is greatly appreciated.
No money is spent on advertising and the enthusiasm of our members is our best advertisement. 5W has been reported globally on radio, TV, in the newspapers and magazines.
What Is a Trust...?
The women who oversee the work of 5W have formed a "Trust" - a non-profit Trust. They ensure that 5W works according to the "Deed of Trust" and are called "Trustees". They come from many countries. Their names and addresses are printed on the front page of the Membership List.
Every member is asked to sign an undertaking that she will not allow unauthorised access to her Membership List. To give names away is a civil offence in the United Kingdom; to sell them is a criminal offence.
The Board of Trustees will take appropriate legal action if there is any abuse of the Membership List.
Each member is responsible for safeguarding the good reputation of 5W, which exists to enable members to travel with confidence throughout the world.
It is appropriate that 5W should be constituted as a Trust, as every member needs to be able to trust all the others.
Interested? Get in Touch..!
The 5W office is open from 0930 -1430, Monday to Friday, UK local time, excluding official holidays. The answering machine/fax machine is available at other times. To join, you can use the application form here on this website. Please send with your donation to the 5W office.
We look forward to hearing from you
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