Top Monaco Princely News: International Forums and Initiatives
The Princess of Hanover visits AMADE Mondiale Initiatives in the Congo
HRH The Princess of Hanover traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo to launch the ‘Dignity for Women’ initiative and visit several programs by Monegasque NGO AMADE Mondiale. She visited the ‘Centre Vivre et Travail Autrement’ (VTA), an institution dedicated to protecting and reintegrating young girls who have been pushed out of their homes, suspected of being “witch children”.
HRH The Princess of Hanover visited the capital town of Gbadolite to inaugurate the first manufacturing unit for the ‘Dignity for Women’ program. The initiative is in collaboration with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and aims to give young refugee and displaced girls access to personal hygiene products, promote their access to education and prevent sexual abuse. The production unit employs 100 women who are involved in manufacturing Maka Pads, a sanitary napkin which is 95% biodegradable and made from locally sourced and recycled materials like papyrus.
Prince Albert II opens the AS Monaco Omnisports Club House
Prince Albert II ceremoniously cut the ribbon for the new AS Monaco Omnisports Club House, an event which Louis Biancheri, President of the Monaco Sports Association, had been dreaming about for some time now. The new club house is located a few steps away from the Stade Louis-II, at the foot of Espace Saint-Antoine.
“I believe this new structure responds to the needs we have been discussing for a long time, to the evolution of an association which has built its history, its roots, its richness over 90 years of existence. A new place to exchange and meet for the 4,500 members and 20 sports sections,” said Prince Albert II during his speech at the opening ceremony.
Prince Albert II attends European Athletes’ Assembly
On Friday 20 October, Prince Albert II attended the last day of the European Athletes’ Assembly forum. The Monegasque Olympic Committee was chosen to organize this international meeting in the Principality, which brought together a hundred athletes, with the participation of Tony Estanguet and Sergey Bubka.
The forum concluded with the election of the new office for the European Olympic Committees and new President Gerd Kanter from Estonia, 2008 Olympic champion and 2012 bronze medalist.
Prince Albert II at the 12th Oktoberfest at Café de Paris
On Saturday evening, Prince Albert II opened the 12th Oktoberfest in the beautiful Café de Paris, on the Place du Casino. Oktoberfest organizers invited Weihenstephan, the oldest brewery in the world, to serve beer during the festivities. The lively Bavarian event had a Monegasque twist: an exceptional menu created by Franck Lafon, head of the Café de Paris restaurant and Jean-Pierre Boutonnet, chef at Bräustüberl, a restaurant in Freising, Germany.
Prince Albert II attends ‘Au cœur des mots’ writing competition
Amidst breaking reports of sexual harassment and abuse in today’s society, the ‘Au cœur des mots’ writing competition could not have come at a more pertinent time. Organized by ‘Femme Leaders Monaco’ partnered with Prince Albert II, the contest aims to integrate youth into the equality debate. This year’s theme was to write about a heroine from one’s daily life. Twenty-six schools around the world participated and texts from Benin, Burundi, Iran, Lebanon and Togo won this year’s awards.
