IWA Modena

☀️ Buon Ferragosto from IWA Modena! 🇮🇹🌍

Ferragosto is more than a day in the middle of August. It’s a moment to slow down, enjoy good food, share time with the people we love, and simply celebrate life.

For us at IWA Modena, it is also a beautiful reminder of what makes our community special: women from different countries, cultures and backgrounds, connected by friendship, curiosity and the joy of sharing experiences.

Whether you are spending Ferragosto by the sea, in the mountains, with family and friends, or simply enjoying a quiet day at home — we wish you a wonderful, sunny and peaceful Buon Ferragosto! 💛

✨ May this summer bring you new memories, meaningful connections and plenty of reasons to smile.

Some books stay with you long after you turn the last page.

“The Safekeep” by Yael van der Wouden gave us an evening full of thoughtful conversations about memory, belonging, identity and the many shades of human nature.

There were no simple answers. That’s exactly what made the discussion so special.

Now we’d love to hear from you.

Have you read Safekeep?
What stayed with you the most?
Would you recommend it?

And if you’d like to be part of conversations like this, we’d love to welcome you to our next IWAM Book Club meeting in September.

Because every story becomes even richer when it’s shared. ❤️

🏆 A Proud Moment for our IWA Modena Community 🏆
IWA Modena was honoured with an award at the XXV Trofeo di Golf Profilo Donna at Modena Golf & Country Club — a celebration of 10 years of collaboration between IWAM and Profilo Donna, beautifully organised by Cristina Bicciochi, founder of Profilo Donna and one of IWAM's earliest and most dedicated supporters. 🎉
The award was personally presented by Alberto Sola, Commander of the Local Police. This made the recognition even more meaningful, in light of our recent petition for women's safety in Modena.
The evening had an extra touch of magic. Anna Marchetti — one of Modena's most celebrated fashion designers, whose fashion house was founded in 1966 and is now approaching its 60th anniversary — had some of her stunning creations on display. 👗✨
This award belongs to every single one of you — every member, every volunteer, and every woman who has contributed her time, energy, warmth and passion to IWAM and to the annual Premio Internazionale Profilo Donna event over the past decade.
You made this possible. This is your recognition.💛

A Day of Rights, Recognition & Female Leadership in Modena
IWA Modena was honoured to be part of “Diritto e Libertà – Strumenti di Tutela per Donne e Professioniste”, a remarkable event dedicated to women’s rights, freedom, and recognition — organised by Avv. Eufemia Ferrara of Orizzonti Legali
Orizzonti Legali orizzonti.legali, in collaboration with Associazione Donne nel Mondo Modena.
Also present was Avv. Guido Giusti _guidogiusti, Ombudsman of the Emilia-Romagna Region and long-standing partner of IWAM, who stressed the importance of an institution close to citizens, especially in the field of women’s rights and protection.
Our own Isabell Guidastri had the privilege of presenting IWAM at the event — a moment that truly reflected everything our association stands for: connection, empowerment, and the belief that internationally minded women have a vital role to play in shaping the city we call home. 🌍❤️
The “Donne che fanno la differenza” award was a true highlight, celebrating women who make a real impact in their communities — often quietly, always powerfully. The honourees came from law, academia, entrepreneurship, art, gastronomy and more, showing that making a difference often means building, protecting, and opening doors for others. (1–16: names of the honourees)
1. Avasiloaei Mariana
2. Boni Roberta
3. Consoli Loredana
4. Coppelli Erika
5. Dondi Daniela
6. Fegatelli Jessica
7. Ferrara Eufemia
8. Garelli Simonetta
9. Guerra Maria Cecilia
10. Huszak Ana Claudia
11. Malagoli Sandra
12. Perris Francesca
13. Malagoli Sandra

stefaniatamburini.trust
michelazitolimakeupacademy
Roberta Boni

Photo from left to right: Tesfamariam Zighereda, President of Associazione Donne nel Mondo Modena, Isabell Guidastri, Avv. Eufemia Ferrara

2nd Photo: Guido Giusti

✨ – June Recap ✨

As we wrap up an unforgettable month, we’d like to say a heartfelt THANK YOU to our wonderful IWA Modena community. 💙

June was filled with meaningful moments—from our welcoming Coffee Mornings ☕ and the inspiring Global Wellness Day 🌿 to delicious Foodaholics dinners and our our cheerful Aperitivo gatherings 🥂. Every event was made special by your enthusiasm, friendship, and the incredible energy you brought.

Whether you’ve been with us for years or joined us for the very first time, thank you for making IWA Modena such a warm, vibrant, and truly international community.

Now it’s time to enjoy a well-deserved summer break… but we already can’t wait to welcome you back in September! We have another exciting season of events, new experiences, and wonderful opportunities to connect, learn, and celebrate together.

Have a fantastic summer, and see you in September! ☀️💙

Our June read took us into the warm and comforting world of “La Pasticceria di Mezzanotte” by Noriko Onuma.

Set in a small midnight bakery, this novel reminds us that sometimes the people we meet, the stories we share, and even a simple loaf of bread can help us find where we belong. We gathered to talk about belonging, friendship, second chances, and, of course, all the delicious food references that made us crave a visit to our favorite bakery.

Swipe through to discover some of our favorite quotes and reflections from the book.

Have you read La Pasticceria di Mezzanotte? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

At IWAM, we believe that supporting women means also reminding them to take care of themselves.

This Global Wellness Day ®, we were proud to bring together a wonderful group of wellness experts, led by Stéphan BOERHOF from globalspatouch to create an afternoon dedicated to well-being, connection, and joy.

In our busy lives, self-care is often the first thing we postpone. Yet taking care of our physical and mental well-being is not a luxury—it is the foundation that allows us to show up for our families, careers, communities, and ourselves.
Aligned with this year's globalwellnessday theme, "Joy," our members enjoyed inspiring wellness sessions, meaningful conversations, relaxation techniques, skincare rituals, and moments of genuine connection.

We are grateful to all the experts who generously shared their knowledge and to the amazing women who joined us and made the event so special. A special thanks goes also to Liliana Orozco Vallejo behealthybewell_by_lili, Lily Vayer - Ribchester lilyoga_flow, Inbal Haim idancer_personaltrainer, Suzanne Foster from suzannemakesmoves, Veerle Coen from lighthouse_by_veer, Lena Milošević from lifelovealignment, Eva Young katevayoung and of course all the other members that contributed to the event to make it special.

We hope everyone left feeling a little more relaxed, a little more connected, and a little more inspired to make their own well-being a priority.

Because wellness is not something we do once a year. It is something we deserve every day.

globalwellnessdayitaly

Our President Isabell Guidastri will be speaking at Diritto e libertà: strumenti di tutela per donne e professioniste — a public conference on women's rights, legal protection, and empowerment.

📅 Wednesday, 10 June 2026
🕓 16:00
📍 Casa delle Donne Modena — Strada Vaciglio Nord, 6

Alongside lawyers, psychologists, and institutional voices from the Regione Emilia-Romagna, Isabell will represent IWAM Modena with her talk on "Women for Women" — the power of women supporting women through connection, inclusion, and community.
The event is open to everyone. Come and join us!

From the very first welcome to the final goodbye, the IWAM Spring Party was made possible by many hands, generous hearts, and countless small details behind the scenes. Thank you to every volunteer, musician, organizer, and member who helped create such a beautiful evening together. 🌸

A little taste of Peru 🇵🇪 in Modena! 😍

The foodoholics of IWAM gathered in a cosy setting this week to enjoy the vibrant flavours of Peruvian cuisine at ♥️

An absolute fun evening with the ladies ✨
A wonderful selection of dishes throughout the evening (with the ceviche standing out as our favourite 🐟), perfectly paired with a piña colada 🍹. We even made a new friend along the way! A very photogenic Llama 🦙😍

Thanks to our wonderful member for organising such a delightful evening ✨

Cheers to another stamp in our food passport!
We are already looking forward to the next stop, to explore different flavours and culinary experiences in our very own Modena 🍽️🇮🇹👏