A warm, welcoming international community of women

IWAP in 2025 has a vibrant and supportive membership of women from more than 35 countries. We are a non-profit organization run by volunteers. Our members are from diverse backgrounds, including newcomers to Prague, long term expats who have settled and integrated here, local internationally-oriented Czechs, trailing spouses, short term residents, and regular visitors. While English is the uniting IWAP language, members don’t need to speak fluently to participate. 

IWAP builds long-lasting friendships, networks and connections. We offer much more than a one-off activity or class, and try to make it easy to just join in!

The Board of Directors is an active group of IWAP volunteers which manages the activities of the association and makes sure that the mission is properly followed. The Board meets monthly, and Board members keep essential functions operating as well as making key strategic decisions.

• The Executive Committee is: President, Leslie Nicholson; Vice-President, Vivian Strang; and Treasurer, Kathe Kuna.
• Directors are: Membership, Shirley Šorejsová Lanzieri; Charity, Barbara Woodard and Venetia Dunlop; Interest Groups, Connie Shattuck; and Cultural & Social Events, Brigitte Lintner.
• The Board is supported by IWAP’s Office Manager, Sandra Hill and Recording Secretary, Theresa Waldrop. 

In 1991 there was a vibrant expat community forming as people from around the world were drawn to the excitement of post-communist Prague. Life for expat women was a unique and sometimes challenging experience, with daily life complicated by language barriers and cultural differences, as well as practical challenges like how to find goods and services. This was the perfect beginning for a group of women from 10 different countries to establish the International Women’s Club of Prague (IWCP). Women of all nationalities (of course, including Czechs) were invited to join, and English was the main language they used for sharing information and making in-person referrals and recommendations in those pre-internet days.

The IWCP grew rapidly, becoming an integral part of the Prague community. In 1998 it was formally incorporated as the International Women’s Association of Prague (IWAP), with a mission to offer friendship, enhance cultural understanding and support local charities. 

Throughout the years, IWAP has rented various clubrooms, as well as organizing meet-ups and activities in venues all over Prague. There have always been regular meetings, events and excursions, as well as dozens of interest groups, many of which have continued for decades! 

IWAP has evolved, keeping pace with the many changes in our city. In 2019, instead of increasing membership fees, it was decided to forgo the expense of rented space, and to continue with activities in various locations. The COVID epidemic that followed soon after validated this choice, and we kept our association going with online meetings and small gatherings in the outdoors. In the years since, IWAP has continued to add to our events and activities. These are now promoted through our website and weekly email newsletters to members.

IWAP has brought special friendship and opportunities to thousands of women in Prague since 1991, and informal reunions of past and current members keep happening in places all over the world. Our aim is to continue to sustain this wonderful association well into the future.

We celebrated our  30th anniversary in 2021: