Kolkata International Women’s Club (KIWC) has been around for more than the last two decades in Kolkata, serving as a lifeline for expat women seeking to integrate into the socio-cultural fabric of Kolkata, India. President KIWC, Iryna Vikyrchak of Ukrainian origin, currently leads this club comprising extraordinary, well-traveled women of all age groups, nationalities, and religions from across the globe and different walks of life.
The club is as cosmopolitan and diverse as it gets. Iryna herself is a published author, model, mother, and wife, juggling multiple roles while simultaneously pursuing a Ph.D. in literature, focusing on the poetry of Rose Auslander, at the University of Wrocław, Poland. She divides her time between France, India, and Poland. A typical Saturday in Iryna’s life includes hosting the KIWC annual AGM and luncheon during the day and attending the Play Season 4 Fashion show at Hyatt by night, with Alliance Française du Bengale as one of the partners.
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Iryna’s social life is diverse; on one hand, she participates in Rohan Pariyar’s fashion show at the Indian Museum, organized by Alliance Française du Bengale, and on the other hand, having been featured in Ukraine’s Harper’s Bazaar, she participates in all leading literature festivals in Kolkata. Currently, KIWC regularly supports about a dozen women and children-oriented NGOs (such as Swayam, Basha, Shuktara, Pushpa Bitan), thanks to KIWC’s sponsors and its own fundraising events such as Christmas Bazaar and She Kantha, with the Monsoon Ball being the central event of their annual program.
KIWC’s book club, spearheaded by Yukiko Yamaguchi Yuasa with other team members and also co coordinates all book club events, meets every month to discuss all genres of literature. Like-minded book lovers from different countries, languages, and cultures forge friendships as they discover new connections and strengthen their understanding through their love for books and discussions around authors. Through the book club, KIWC members have been taught to appreciate and understand other people’s perspectives, opinions, and unique ways of thinking. Yukiko remarks, “the book club has grown so much in the past years.” This year, the Monsoon Ball is scheduled for August 17, with the theme being a symphony of water. Considering that this month is for celebrating and commemorating Earth Day, we kindly request you to block that date on your calendar.
