Dear member,
Warm greetings to each of you. We hope the year has begun well and that you and your families are safe. Recent months have brought significant weather events across the globe — from floods in East Asia and Africa to hurricanes in the Caribbean and severe winter storms in Europe and North America. During such times, we hold our global community in our thoughts and hope that you have been able to navigate your daily routines safely.
February is often known as a month celebrating love, and at WBFN, we extend that spirit to celebrating one another and the rich cultural heritage that each of us brings to this community. Many of us live far from our countries of birth, discovering the beauty and uniqueness of new places we now call home.
Across our chapters, members have already begun the year with meaningful activities. In Vienna, families enjoyed the elegance of the 2026 Blumenball at the historic town hall—an annual winter celebration bursting with floral artistry—and visited the Museum of Military History. These are fantastic ways of getting to understand the culture of Austria.
In Islamabad, members gathered for a joyful family picnic, strengthening bonds across generations and providing an opportunity for members to learn about the Pakistani heritage from those who call Pakistan home. Here in Washington, we eagerly anticipate our upcoming Potluck Open House, where members can share dishes from their home countries, wear traditional attire, and explore the resources available to them while in DC. Stories like these reflect the strength of our global community, and we warmly encourage you to share your experiences and participate in local events whenever possible.
In January, we also opened applications for our Teen Summer Program in Washington, D.C. The program welcomes teens aged 16–18 from anywhere in the world. As outlined in our strategy last year, we are continuing to expand this offering globally. We have successfully run the program in Singapore for the past two years and plan to host it in Vienna and Delhi this year, with Nairobi and Panama also on our calendar. We encourage you to look out for announcements in these cities.
These teen programs provide a unique opportunity for young people to spend time in World Bank offices, gaining insight into the work of the WBG, exploring potential career paths, and connecting with peers who share similar experiences. The program continues to be highly popular, with many participants leaving not only with a stronger understanding of WBG initiatives but also with lifelong friendships.
Another key commitment in our strategy has been to strengthen Professional Development offerings for our members. Our Professional Development Program (PDP) team has worked diligently to provide learning opportunities at times that are accessible to members around the world. Our first Virtual Career Lab of 2026 began on January 21 and is open globally, with carefully selected timing to ensure broader participation.
We truly enjoy hearing about the diverse activities taking place across our global network. Please continue to send us your stories and photos so we may shine a light on your community and further deepen our appreciation of one another’s cultures.
Finally, if you are in Washington on February 12, we warmly invite you to join us for our Annual Open House at our HQ office.
With warm regards,
Joel and Milka