DUSHANBE, November 19, 2015, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan participated in the NATO Charity Bazaar 2015 that took place in NATO Headquarters in Brussels on November 15.
According to the Tajik Embassy in Brussels, Tajikistan’s Permanent Mission to NATO has organized Tajikistan’s stand at which products of Tajik craftsmen, souvenirs, Tajik national women’s’ dress, dishes, as well as books on history and culture of Tajikistan and tourism booklets were represented.
Hundreds of guests, including high-ranking representatives of the European Union and NATO as well as regional and international organizations active in Brussels and representatives of European media outlets, visited Tajikistan’s stand, the source said.
Tajikistan joined the NATO Charity Bazaar in 2014.
The NATO Charity Bazaar (NCB) is NATO”s largest annual social event for employees and families featuring gifts, crafts and cuisine from the NATO member nations and Partners for Peace.
NCB started in 1968 as an adhoc group of military delegation wives wanting to do social activities as well as raise money for charity. Originally called the NATO Wives Bazaar, the group became an official Belgian non-profit organization in 2005 and changed its name to the NATO Charity Bazaar in 2010 with its primary function to raise money for charity. NCB works to raise money all year through Bake Sales and such but its premiere event is an annual Christmas Market type extravaganza held at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
NCB is an all volunteer run organization with a representative and assistant representation from 36 NATO member nations and Partners for Piece as well as a management board.
Annually, the Association invites all member nations of the Alliance and its Partners to join in an International fair for charities called the “NATO Charity Bazaar”.
Well over 100,000 Euros are collected each year, and entirely distributed to charities. 35% of the funds are donated to Belgian charities in acknowledgment of Belgium as the host nation of NATO Headquarters, and 65% is going to International charities.
