United Nations Delegations Spouse's Club - UNDSC

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United Nations Delegations Spouse's Club - UNDSC

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Social club for spouses of the United Nations delegate missions’ representatives established in 1964

10/25/2026

Thursday, October 22nd 2026

A beautiful morning of music, culture, and community 🎵🎶🎼
Today, the Permanent Mission of Singapore to the United Nations was delighted to host the United Nations Delegations Spouse's Club - UNDSC for a special musical morning concert.
The event featured the incredible talents of Singaporean conductor, vocalist, and pianist Mr. Philip Cheah, who filled the room with joyful and inspiring melodies. 🇸🇬🎹 Numerous guests joined us for this wonderful gathering, where they also enjoyed a sweet taste of home with an assortment of traditional Singaporean “Kuehs” and hot tea. ☕️🍰
Thank you to everyone who attended and made this morning so memorable!

10/16/2026

In October, the United Nations Delegations’ Spouses Club (UNDSC) began its new 2026/2027 season. We are delighted to see our community grow each year. We warmly welcome our new members and invite spouses of Permanent Representatives to the United Nations to join our community. Membership is open exclusively to them.

We would also like to remind you that membership fees for the 2026/2027 season are still being collected. Our dedicated Treasurer, Ranju Batra, is always happy to provide membership forms and assist with any questions about payment. You can also complete your form and pay your membership fee at our next Tea Meeting.

10/13/2026

When the dress code is agreed without diplomatic negotiations!

Lovely Komila Lapasova of Uzbekistan 🇺🇿 and Netraya (Mim) Chaivaivid of Thailand 🇹🇭, spouses of their countries’ Permanent Representatives to the UN, show how beautifully cultures can connect.

Their outfits echo the distinctive patterns of ikat, a centuries-old textile tradition deeply rooted in the diverse cultures of Asia. Created by carefully binding and dyeing threads before weaving, ikat is known for its soft, feathered edges. In Uzbekistan, this art is poetically called “tying clouds.”

Fashion diplomacy in action! ✨

10/10/2026

On October 6, at the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations, we did more than meet and discuss plans for the new UNDSC season. We also discovered the vibrant traditions, flavors, and art of sunny India.

Our Club President, the esteemed Ms. Nandita Parvathaneni, invited us into the fascinating world of Kalamkari, the traditional art of painting on fabric, where patterns and images tell stories. With knowledge, warmth, and remarkable attention to detail, Ms. Nandita introduced us to India’s cultural heritage, showing herself to be a wonderful and highly accomplished cultural ambassador for her country.

Our special guest was the renowned Pen Kalamkari artist Niranjan Jonnalagadda, who traveled from India especially for the occasion. He spoke about his family tradition and the importance of preserving it, as well as the intricate process behind each work: from preparing the fabric and creating natural dyes to painting with a special pen known as a kalam. Behind every delicate line are years of experience and knowledge passed down through generations.

The artist’s unique works became special prizes in our traditional raffle, and the lucky winners took home a piece of this art, along with warm memories of the gathering.

Our introduction to India continued around the table. Spicy Andhra Chicken, tender Butter Chicken, fragrant Zeera Rice, as well as Gajar Halwa and golden Gulab Jamun opened up the many different flavors of Indian cuisine.

Aromatic masala chai brought an added sense of warmth to our conversations, while mango lassi offered a refreshing touch. Even the small gifts, bright fabric bags, continued the story of India’s love of color and beautiful details.

The room itself added a special atmosphere to our gathering, adorned with works by Maqbool Fida Husain. One of the most prominent figures of Indian modernism, he also had a strong connection to New York throughout his artistic career.

In her remarks, Ms. Nandita reminded us of the Indian philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” meaning “The world is one family.” She emphasized that the first step toward making this idea a reality is to understand one another, to learn about our cultures, customs, and unique identities. This is precisely what our UNDSC community is about: after every tea gathering, we know one another a little better.

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank Ms. Nandita Parvathaneni, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, and the entire Mission team for their warm welcome, thoughtful organization, and care. We are deeply grateful for a day that will remain in our memories like a unique Kalamkari painting, filled with the colors and warmth of India.

10/08/2026

On October 6, we opened the 2026/2027 UNDSC season in a warm spirit of friendship and shared purpose, under the leadership of our new President, Nandita Parvathaneni. Our first Tea Meeting brought us together at the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations, housed in a historic building on East 43rd Street in the heart of Manhattan’s Turtle Bay.

Our gracious hosts, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni and his charming wife, Nandita Parvathaneni, welcomed us with warmth and generous hospitality, setting the tone for a memorable beginning to the season.

The gathering brought together an unprecedented number of guests, with more than 90 attending. We were delighted to welcome distinguished ambassadors, Club members, spouses of Permanent Representatives to the United Nations, members of other organizations. Their presence made this opening meeting a particularly warm and memorable occasion.

After the summer break, it was especially lovely to see one another again, exchange hugs and share news. In her opening remarks, Nandita recalled the purpose that has united our Club’s members for more than six decades: “promoting, through social teas and other events, the understanding of, and appreciation for, the cultures and customs of the various peoples represented at the United Nations”. The Club’s activities also draw attention to important social and cultural issues and give us opportunities to help others together.

Her words about the responsibility and significance of this work resonated deeply with all of us. Nandita aptly observed that through our small acts of cooperation, fellowship and friendship, we have laid the foundations for mutual understanding and collective action, helping our nations shape the path of the United Nations. As she put it: “It may not be the newspaper headlines, which by the way we do not crave, or it may not be at the level of Heads of State or Government, who by the way are supportive, we have made a mark in our unique way.”

In response to the strong interest among members in hosting these meaningful gatherings, the Club will, for the first time, hold up to two Tea Gatherings a month, offering even more opportunities to discover one another’s cultures and traditions.

It was a great pleasure to hear the warm and heartfelt words of welcome from Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni. We also heard meaningful words of welcome from Vice Presidents Emine Yildiz of Türkiye and Alya Leuca of the Republic of Moldova, as well as from Club Treasurer Ranju Batra of the United States.

Our gathering was also enriched by an introduction to the art of Kalamkari and the culinary traditions of India. We will share more about this part of the day in our next post.

Dear Nandita, thank you for such a thoughtful and warm start to the season. We wish you joy in your work and fruitful collaboration with the entire team.

09/13/2026

This summer, members of the UNDSC Board came together for a warm farewell gathering for our dear colleague and Board member, Maja Žbogar. In August, Maja and her husband, Ambassador Samuel Žbogar, completed their diplomatic mission in New York and returned home to Slovenia.

During her time on the Board, Maja was an active and caring member of our organization. She helped organize our tea gatherings and supported our annual bazaars. She warmly opened the doors of the Slovenian Residence for a Board meeting, thus creating a truly welcoming and friendly atmosphere.

We sincerely wish Maja and her family joy, inspiration and many bright moments in this new chapter of their lives. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors and hope the road ahead brings many beautiful experiences and discoveries.

09/10/2026

Today, September 10, 2026, the members of the UNDSC Board gathered to honor the memory of our dear Geraldine Kunstadter, a longtime member of our Executive Committee, devoted humanitarian and remarkable philanthropist.

We are deeply grateful to our President, Nandita Parvathaneni, and to the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations for their warm hospitality and for bringing us together to remember Geraldine, her extraordinary life, and her many years of dedication to the UNDSC community.

Geraldine will be deeply missed, but her kindness, generosity, and commitment to bringing people together will remain with us.

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In Loving Memory of Geraldine Kunstadter

Geraldine Kunstadter, an international humanitarian and trailblazing philanthropist, who was an Executive Committee member of UNDSC for many years, passed away on August 23, 2026, at the age of 98.

A dedicated global benefactor, she pioneered small-grant international funding to generate outsized impact, traveling extensively to oversee initiatives globally, as well as supporting non-profit organizations across the New York City area.

Raised in Marlborough, Massachusetts, Geraldine studied Electrical and General Engineering in 1945. She later transitioned into civic diplomacy, devoting nearly two decades to supporting newly arrived foreign diplomats and their families as they integrated into the local community.

She was also an active member of the United Nations Delegations Spouses Club (UNDSC), serving as a crucial part of its activities and community outreach.

Throughout her life, Geraldine remained a passionate advocate for global diplomacy, higher education, rural development, and cross-cultural exchange.

Her inspiring presence in UNDSC will be deeply missed. May her soul rest in peace.

07/23/2026

We are pleased to announce the new Executive Committee of UNDSC, effective July 1.

President: Nandita Parvathaneni (India)

Executive Committee members:
Emine Yildiz (Vice President, Türkiye), Alya Leuca (Vice President, Republic of Moldova), Geraldine Kunstadter (United States), Ranju Batra (Treasurer, United States), Fabiola Torres (Paraguay), Komila Lapasova (Uzbekistan), Fadwa Gallal (Libya), Amele Tarakinikini (Fiji), Maja Zbogar (Slovenia), Jae Sook Lee (ROK), Loriana Fabian (Italy), Svitlana Melnyk (Ukraine), Hala Jabir (HCUND)

Congratulations to the new team, and best wishes for a successful term!

06/14/2026

United Nations Delegation Spouse’s Club held another gathering in celebration of the successful UNIB 2026. This amazing event was organized by Mrs Ranju Batra and Mr Ravi Batra welcoming all UNDSC Executive Board members.
The gathering was yet one more opportunity to express gratitude to Mrs. Cecilia Milambo for her Presidency term and her excellent teamwork over a two years. We welcomed the next President Nandita Parvathaneni
Event was full with happiness and gratitude to all ladies for a wonderful work.

06/09/2026

Today, a special cheque presentation ceremony was held at UN Headquarters in New York. The President of the United Nations Delegates Spouses Club (UNDSC), Mrs. Cecilia Milambo, together with members of the Executive Board and the United Nations International Bazaar (UNIB) Committee, officially presented to UN OCHA the funds raised through UNIB 2026.
As decided by the UNDSC, the proceeds of this year's International Bazaar were dedicated to OCHA's Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which provides life-saving assistance to people affected by humanitarian crises around the world.
The ceremony marked one of the UNDSC's most significant achievements in recent years. In her remarks, outgoing UNDSC President Mrs. Milambo emphasized that months of dedicated teamwork by the Executive Board and the UNIB Committee, combined with the generous contributions of numerous Permanent Missions in New York, made this remarkable accomplishment possible.
On behalf of UN OCHA, and in the absence of Under-Secretary-General Tom Fletcher, Ms. Alice Armanni Sequi addressed the gathering. She expressed OCHA's sincere gratitude to the UNDSC for its generous donation and commended the Club's outstanding work, dedication, and impressive achievements.
Incoming UNDSC President Mrs. Nandita Parvathaneni highlighted OCHA's vital role as a global hub for humanitarian coordination. She reaffirmed her commitment to continuing and strengthening the cooperation between the UNDSC and OCHA and expressed her readiness to build an even closer partnership in the years ahead.
Through UNIB 2026, the UNDSC successfully raised and donated $ 80,000 to support OCHA's humanitarian efforts worldwide.

Address

301 Park Ave
New York, NY
10022

Website

http://undwcnewyork.org/about-us/

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