In Cannes, France, in April 1966, the Riviera Airlines Club hosted a conference of the various airline club representatives to discuss the formation of a world body which would unite and promote the activities of interline clubs throughout the world. The objective of such an organization: To promote and encourage friendship, good fellowship and mutual understanding among people of the world, no matter what social standing, race or religion.
Many of WACA's goals are based simply on having fun together, with no limitations to its differences of status, social standards, race, religion or politics.
Most member clubs have a yearly event. The club organizes a travel package that is listed in the WACA Calendar of Events. Interliners from all continents participate and learn first-hand the country, its culture, and taste a variety of food and drink of that country.
Service to the Community
WACA has always had many programs and each Club in turn has a list of the Charities they support.
For many years we have supported UNICEF by collecting coins, sorted into country dominations and sold back to the countries attending our events and then send the money to UNICEF. With the introduction of the euro we discussed the continuation and we had suggested Notes for the Needy.-.easier to carry and possibly more income.
Next on the Agenda has been Special Olympics. When games are on, we organise members to liaise with their branch and we assist in check in departure and arrivals after the games. There were sponsorings by Member Clubs with contributions towards expenses or the airfare. It's amazing to see people with disabilities arriving home with medals. Several years one girl won 10 medals and had no legs and got around on a skateboard....that's courage.
International Institute for Peace through Tourism
WACA is one of the 40 Coalition Partners of this Organization.
The International Institute For Peace Through Tourism ( www.iipt.org)) is a not for profit organization dedicated to fostering and facilitating tourism initiatives which contribute to international understanding and cooperation, an improved quality of environment, the preservation of heritage, and through these initiatives, helping to bring about a peaceful and sustainable world.
It is based on a vision of the world's largest industry, travel and tourism - becoming the world's first global peace industry; and the belief that every traveler is potentially an "Ambassador for Peace".
Youth Program
We used to arrange for children of airline employees to do an exchange but in the last few years its been too dangerous as we would be held responsible but we are negotiating with an organisation called "International Youth Exchange Programme for Families of Airline Employees.
Charity Programs
At each AGA we identify a project to be supported at that location. Our members are asked for toys for tots, educational material or bed linen to be donated to orphanages or other institutions in that city. Several years ago in Lisbon we gave goods to a home with abused children and we organised computers to be sent to them. In 2002 in Budapest we literally had a room full of boxes of toys, books, pens, rulers etc. In 2003 the goods were taken to an orphanage in Belize and in 2004 to an orphanage in Cha-Am, Thailand. In 2005 all our support was given to an orphanage from the organisation of Mother Teresa in Agra, India.
After the devasting Tsunami end of 2004, WACA created its “WACA Relief Fund” to concentrate all efforts in specific projects. For two years these funds were dedicated to the library of the DuwaJuniorSchool in Negombo, Sri Lanka, which was affected by the Tsunami Tidal waves. The library was rebuild, refurnished and provided with more than 600 books.
Since 2007, WACA is contributing with its Relief Fund to the efforts by supporting FIKELELA, a non-profit organization in Cape Town that provides an active response to the HIV+/AIDS pandemic in South Africa.
As you can see, we do valuable work. It's not just a group getting together for fun.