IWA activities got off to a fantastic start with our first meeting of students and supporters. After an introduction to the IWA concept from one of the Co-Founders, we split into 4 groups to discuss how we could initiate our first IWA Empower project and ensure focus and meaning. Each group came up with a number of creative ideas of who to target, how to raise the funds needed and how best to engage all parties. These ideas were then consolidated into a plan of  action to empower 5 girls on the African Island of  Rodrigues.
Thanks to all at MaeAi Coffee for hosting the event!

Today is a special day as we have received our first university student volunteer, Jin Jie of Shanghai's prestigious Jiao Tong University. Here Jin Jie explains her feelings of being involved with IWA...
"I am overwhelmingly happy being the first volunteer of IWA. I heard of the idea of IWA quite ocassionally, however it grasped my interest right on the spot. It has
always been my dream to do something that makes a difference, and I am pretty sure that's what is happening here. I am 100 percent willing to dedicate my expertise in law and my patience and dilligence to this noble course. So what about you?"

IWA is pleased to welcome Jane F. McBride on to our Board of Governors. Jane
brings with her a wealth of experience in business set-up, entrepreneurial
enterprises, and non-profit organizations. She is currently the Lead Ambassador
for the Expatriate Professional Women's Society and the CEO of Private Jet
Journeys.

Thanks to Sunny, Robin and everybody else at Particle Coffee in Shanghai
[http://www.weibo.com/particlecoffee] for hosting our first IWA discussion session. Some great ideas, contacts and suggestions coming from all the people there. We will be working hard to incorporate all these ideas as IWA moves forward.

IWA's website goes live with a simple introduction of the mission and portfolio of projects. Thanks to Yichao [http://www.byodnet.com/] for all his help with setting this up!