About Us

Who we are and what we do

Who are we?

World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers and Associations (WFUCA)

Since the founding of the first UNESCO Club in Japan in 1947, UNESCO Clubs, Centers and Associations have been key partners of the Organization.

Members of the movement, all of them volunteers, include individuals of all ages and nationalities from diverse backgrounds. They share a commitment to UNESCO’s ideals and work to translate them into concrete actions at the local level. Therefore, they are in a privileged position to present civil society perspectives to decision-makers. Over the decades, the UNESCO Clubs movement has witnessed and participated in a wide range of developments across UNESCO’s fields of competence.

Currently, there are 193 UN Member States. As for UNESCO Clubs, there are more than 4,000 worldwide, although the exact number may vary depending on regional updates. At the international level, the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers and Associations (WFUCA) is responsible for informing, coordinating, and mobilizing its members, with the support and cooperation of UNESCO.

In light of the growing role of civil society in public policy-making, the movement plays a key role in civic education and in promoting dialogue among cultures and generations for sustainable development.

Key Areas of Support

Support for NGOs and associations registered with WFUCA: Timely information is provided on events and opportunities for collaboration with the United Nations.
Intergovernmental support: Support is provided to the NGO Committee, which meets twice a year to review the accreditation of organizations before the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
Participation in assemblies: Through civil society organizations (CSOs), the participation of NGOs in intergovernmental processes held at United Nations Headquarters and other venues is facilitated. Each year, approximately 7,000 NGO representatives participate in these events in New York alone.
Technical assistance: With the support of the United Nations Development Account, capacity-building activities are carried out for civil society organizations.

Objectives

Promote UNESCO’s ideals, objectives, and programs by strengthening and fostering the development of UNESCO clubs, centers, and associations.
Promote international understanding and education, particularly in support of the effective exercise of human rights, endogenous development of peoples, and the construction of a more equitable economic and social order.
Foster mutual understanding among the world’s diverse cultures.
Engage individuals in UNESCO’s work, especially at the community level.
Promote the use of science and technology for peaceful purposes and for the benefit of humanity, particularly in developing countries.
Promote, in all societies, the right of every individual to a cultural identity.

Mission

The mission of WFUCA is to promote, in North America, Latin America, Central America, and the Caribbean, the development of UNESCO Clubs within four main categories:

School clubs, composed of students and teaching staff from educational institutions.
University clubs, established in universities and higher education institutions.
Community clubs, composed of legally recognized members, including prominent figures from the cultural sector and public service.
Civil society clubs, made up of legally constituted organizations that promote education and bring together professionals, entrepreneurs, and community leaders.

Vision

The current vision of UNESCO Clubs is to empower one billion lifelong learners worldwide by making learning accessible to people from all economic backgrounds and fostering the development of critical minds committed to peace, justice, and sustainability.

Development

Currently, UNESCO Clubs operate as key partners in promoting UNESCO’s ideals through local and global actions. Their main areas of focus include:

Quality education oriented toward peace, justice, and human development.
Environmental conservation and protection of World Heritage sites.
Promotion of intercultural dialogue and civic participation, especially among youth and adults from diverse sectors.

There are different types of clubs, such as school, university, and community clubs, which work in collaboration with UNESCO National Commissions and other civil organizations.

Additionally, the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers and Associations (WFUCA) coordinates these initiatives globally, supporting volunteers of all ages and backgrounds in their mission to build more just and sustainable societies.

Peace

Peace is a fundamental right of all human beings. Like freedom, it is a shared responsibility of nations and organizations, which must promote it through actions and programs that ensure its realization.

Culture

We promote, respect, and develop initiatives that preserve and disseminate the cultural heritage of different social groups.

Non-Governmental Organizations

"The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization may establish appropriate arrangements for consultation and cooperation with international non-governmental organizations concerned with matters within its competence, and invite them to undertake specific tasks."

(UNESCO Constitution)

WFUCA contributes to the coordination of international cooperation in the fields of education, science, culture, and communication. It also strengthens links between nations and societies and mobilizes citizens so that every child and every person:

Has access to quality education as a fundamental human right and the foundation of sustainable development.
Can develop and live in a culturally diverse environment that fosters dialogue, where heritage serves as a bridge between generations and peoples.
Can fully benefit from scientific and technological advances.
Enjoys freedom of expression, the foundation of democracy, development, and human dignity.

WFUCA’s messages and work are increasingly relevant in today’s globalized world, where interconnectedness and diversity must be understood as opportunities to build peace in the minds of people.

Beyond its regional work, WFUCA collaborates with the World Federation of UNESCO based in New Delhi, India, founded by George Cristophides, as well as with international leaders such as President Denhira Betangar (India), President Pradeep Kaphale (Nepal), and representatives and ambassadors linked to the Economic and Social Council within the framework of UNESCO at the continental level.

Legal Nature

UNESCO WFUCA is a civil society organization with legal, financial, and operational autonomy. It maintains an institutional relationship of cooperation within the framework of the UNESCO Associations and Clubs movement, but it is not part of UNESCO’s organic or administrative structure headquartered in Paris, France, nor does it act as UNESCO’s official, diplomatic, or governmental representative. UNESCO itself presents WFUCA as a global network linked to its values and includes it in its official list of partner NGOs.

Its activities are carried out in the fields of education, science, culture, and communication, in alignment with the principles promoted by UNESCO, while fully preserving the operational and governance independence of each regional federation or affiliated entity. From a regulatory standpoint, formal cooperation with UNESCO does not mean being part of its institutional structure; rather, it reflects a recognized relationship of cooperation documented in official instruments and reference materials.