Dear Colleagues and Friends,

As we approach the end of the year, I want to extend my warmest greetings to all our Member Associations across the FAFICS family. Whatever you celebrate at this time of year, it is an opportunity to give thanks for the blessings you have received and a time to reflect on what we have accomplished together throughout 2025.  My first desire is to hope that you and your family and colleagues may live in peace and health in 2026.

Throughout 2025, the work of the FAFICS Bureau, our Standing Committees and Working Groups has been central to advancing our shared mission and strengthening the Federation’s relevance and impact.  On behalf of FAFICS, I extend my sincere appreciation to all volunteers for their dedication, voluntary service, and unwavering commitment to our common values, and I call upon our Member Associations to continue to identify and propose individual members whose expertise can contribute to this important work, through our Pool of Experts.

This last year has been both challenging, affecting a great many individuals.  I encourage every Member Association and their members to extend support—whether moral, material, or operational—to colleagues recovering from such challenges.  As you know, FAFICS is not in a position to respond financially to humanitarian aid requests – but perhaps your Association and members can.  For example, we received a request from AFICS Sri Lanka with a call to help those affected by the recent natural disaster through the establishment of an AFICS Humanitarian Fund to be used for assistance to the cyclone victims. You may reach out directly to our colleagues in Sri Lanka[1] if you want to lend support.  Members of other Associations have experienced challenging times, and we would be glad to pass on information about supporting their humanitarian efforts as well.

One of our purposes in our Statutes is to support the UN’s principles and programmes.  There is significant active criticism of the essential work of the UN, the numerous separations and the UN80 reform proposals.  Positive voices are needed.  I am one of the founding members of the United Nations Advocacy Community^[2] on the web and LinkedIn in my personal capacity. It offers a space for constructive exchange, advocacy updates, and broader visibility for issues that matter to our community.  I invite you to consider joining the conversations there and share your personal support for the work of the organizations of the United Nations.

I also wish to appreciate all Member Associations who have been responsive to our request for inputs to surveys and directory updates to our FAFICS website, and for sharing some of your interesting and informative newsletters. Soon we will be sending you (thru ASHIL focal points) a questionnaire related to specific aspects of after-service health insurance and long-term care.

Finally, I again thank you for your dedication, professionalism, and unwavering support throughout the year. Together, we have built momentum that will carry us into 2026.

I wish you all a healthy, peaceful, and fulfilling end of the year.  For 2026, the International Volunteer Year, I look forward to our continued work—guided by your ideas, our shared commitment and collective efforts.  I also hope that you can join us in July 2026 again in Vienna for our annual FAFICS Council.