Introduction to Women Empowerment
and Development Society in
Asia and Africa (WEDS.AA)
Women Empowerment and Development Society in Asia and Africa (WEDS.AA) was approved and registered in March 2020 by the government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the people’s Republic of China, it was officially registered in Malawi in April 2022, and representative office in Beijing was officially registered and established in November 2024.
WEDS.AA has long adhered to the values of “Benevolence, Legacy, Mission, and Dedication,” striving to promote the advancement of women and actively encouraging their participation in various social activities. It unites compassionate individuals from all countries and sectors to jointly discuss women’s development initiatives, build platforms for exchange and mutual learning, and share the benefits of women’s development. WEDS.AA also carries out international philanthropic activities in fields such as education, healthcare, and women’s employment.
Through advocacy and education on women’s development and rights, talent training, academic exchanges, and the organization of various themed events, WEDS.AA helps women, particularly those in Asia and Africa, enhance their capacity to adapt to the changing times, thereby improving their social status and well-being.
WEDS.AA boasts a diverse membership from different countries and regions, all of whom contribute to the public welfare of women and children in Asia and Africa. These members include politicians, scholars, entrepreneurs, and social activists, who support the work of WEDS.AA through charitable donations, collaboration opportunities, and resource connections.
Dr. Zhao Meiling, President of WEDS.AA, has rich experiences in foreign-related activities and communications. Our Honorary Chairpersons of WEDS.AA are H.E. Joice Banda-former President of Malawi and Liberian President’s wife Kartumu Yarta Boakai. Our Honorary Vice-Chairpersons of the WEDS.AA are Ms. Azerb Mesfin, wife of Meles, the former Prime Minister of Ethiopia as well as Ms. Pansy Ho, Member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and Chairperson of the Hong Kong Federation of Women. Our senior Advisors are H.E. Ariunzaya Ayush, Secretary of the Mongolian People’s Party, H.E. ING KANTHA PHAVI M.D., Minister of Women’s Affairs of Cambodia, Nomvula Mokonyane, First Deputy Secretary-General of the African National Congress of South Africa, Dr. Thet Thet Zin, president of the Myanmar Women’s Affairs Federation, Dr. Marcellina, Principal of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School in Tanzania, and and H.E. Martha, Member of Parliament of Namibia. WEDS.AA, ensuring that its charitable initiatives are better aligned with the actual needs of Asian and African countries and more effectively address the challenges faced by women and children in the region. LEUNG Mei-fun, a member of Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of The People’s Republic of China, serves as a Vice President of the WEDS.AA. As a seasoned legal expert, she provides guidance on development of WEDS.AA from a legal perspective. Wang Chunlu, Love Ambassador of WEDS.AA and a world short track speed skating Champion, integrates the spirit of courage and perseverance into the cause of women and children’s welfare, actively practicing WEDS.AA’s tenets.
Since its inception, the WEDS.AA has advanced women’s development through a variety of activities. It has successfully organized four Asian-African Women’s Development and Cooperation Forum and established WEDSTAR Scholarship at The Education University of Hong Kong to support students from the Global South. The WEDS.AA has consistently focused on areas such as international pandemic response, women’s development, education support, and poverty alleviation. It has implemented philanthropic projects in countries including Egypt, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Benin, Russia, South Africa, Mozambique, Gabon, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Cambodia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with total donations amounting to nearly 100 million RMB.
In 2025, the WEDS.AA launched WEDSTAR International Public Welfare Project, an initiative to build green, healthy, and smart schools. In the first phase of this project, the renovation and upgrade of Siddhartha Gautam Buddha (Gumba) Basic School have been completed, and a handover ceremony is being prepared. In March 2026, WEDS.AA jointly launches WEDSTA—the AI Painting International Co-creating Project with over 20 Asian and African nations.
