About the IWI

IWI logoWelcome to the International Women’s Institute Basel

Founded in 2015 as a place for women in Basel, Switzerland, and the surrounding areas, including the nearby towns in France and Germany, to make new friends and share and discover unknown talents.

Our founding members created this group, were inspired by the Women’s Institute in the UK, and wanted to recreate something similar here in Basel. The Women’s Institute (WI) is a British community-based organisation for women. The British WI movement was formed in 1915 in Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, Anglesey, Wales. It had two clear aims: to revitalise rural communities and to encourage women to become more involved in food production during the First World War. Today the WI is known for providing educational opportunities, reconnecting with traditional crafts, socializing, and campaigning for women’s issues.

The aim of the International Women’s Institute is to replicate and expand that effort in Basel to give our members a time-out opportunity in a fun, relaxing environment so we can share and learn new talents, skills, and knowledge in crafts, baking, cooking, and many other areas. At our events, we have fun and laughter and gain new experiences. New events are being added all the time and are updated regularly on our members-only Facebook group. 

In short, members can expect to:

  • make new friends and socialise
  • great community spirit and charity support
  • share and discover new International talents, skills, and knowledge
  • reconnect with traditional crafts
  • A time-out opportunity in a fun, relaxing environment.

Our members come from diverse backgrounds and from many different countries (UK, USA, The Netherlands, Malta, and India, to name a few), we meet once a month for members’ meetings (meetings held in English), and we host many other activities/events throughout the year. New members are always welcome.

The International Women’s Institute Basel is not officially affiliated with the WI in the UK.