100 YEARS OF THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION FOR HOME ECONOMICS

The International Federation for Home Economics (IFHE) will celebrate its 100th anniversary when it meets in Lucerne, Switzerland, July 24-28, 2008, for the XXI. IFHE-World Congress,  Home Economics - Reflecting the Past – Creating the Future. It is fitting that IFHE returns to Switzerland for this centennial Congress, as the Federation was established in 1908 in Fribourg, Switzerland, following an international conference under the patronage of the Council of State of the Canton of Fribourg. Invitations had been sent to governments and organizations in all countries with known programs in home economics, with 750 individuals from 20 countries attending. Written reports on the state of home economics in each of these countries were published in a 780-page volume.

The purpose of the first IFHE Congress was to bring together individuals who were involved in the teaching of home economics in order that they might exchange ideas and discuss problems of a similar nature nationally and internationally and to attract public attention to the importance, value and dignity of the work of women in the home. Both those planning and those attending the Congress believed that education in the management of the family’s resources was an important force for improving standards of living. Over it’s 100-year history, home economics and the International Federation have maintained this central mission: to advocate for and to strengthen through education the economic, social and psychological well-being of families and households and thus improve the well-being of the larger society. The emergence of home economics was influenced by movements for the education and emancipation of women, and women’s education and women’s issues continue to play an important role in the profession. However, those in home economics also recognize and promote the importance of education for home and family life for both women and men.

The International Federation for Home Economics is an international Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and has consultative status with United Nations agencies including ECOSOC, FAO, UNESCO and UNICEF, and also with the Council of Europe. Representatives of IFHE (volunteers) are based in New York, Geneva, Vienna, Rome, Paris, and Strasbourg, and on behalf of IFHE, attend committee meetings and weekly briefings and participate in working groups. As an NGO, IFHE also provides technical and expert advice and assistance, prepares educational materials, conducts workshops and training programs, conducts research, and helps develop home economics and related programs in various parts of the world. Examples of IFHE international collaborations include: conducting the World Survey of Home and Family Education within Formal Education with UNESCO; participating in several FAO Working Parties on long-term planning in home economics in Europe; providing an invited response to the UNICEF report An Assessment of Projects for the Education and Training of Women and Girls for Family and Community Life; collaborating with FAO on the Expert Consultation on the Planning for Better Family Living population programmes (with partial funding from the United Nations Fund for Population Activities and the American Home Economics Association); and organizing workshops and seminars in various countries on themes such as appropriate household technology and literacy. The Federation also prepares and presents official IFHE Statements at a range of World Conferences such as the World Food Conference in Rome (1974) and the Nairobi World Conference on the United Nations Decade for Women (1985).

IFHE was one of the first NGO’s to submit a Resolution to the United Nations recommending that they designate an International Year of the Family. This Resolution became a reality when the UN General Assembly proclaimed unanimously that 1994 would be the International Year of the Family (IYF). The theme selected for the IYF was Family Resources and Responsibilities in a Changing World, a theme consistent with the mission and focus of home economics and of IFHE. Home economists in all parts of the world responded to the challenges of the IYF by expanding and intensifying their work both as practitioners working directly with families and households and as advocates encouraging the development of policies to support and enhance the quality of lives of individuals, families and households. IFHE was awarded a special Testimonial of IYF Patrons by the Coordinator of the International Year of the Family, in recognition of its “…exemplary activities in support of the International Year of the Family, including the adoption of policy and planning statements on IYF, promotion of global exchange of ideas on family issues, extensive information dissemination and initiation of local action.”

Through its Member Organizations and Individual Members, IFHE represents an extensive and committed network of home economics and related professionals throughout the world working in a variety of settings on behalf of individuals, families, and societies. The IFHE Secretariat has always been located in Europe (first in Switzerland, then in France, and currently in Germany), but the leadership of the Federation has been international, with Presidents coming from several different countries: Switzerland, Belgium, United Kingdom, Australia, Austria, United States, Canada, Germany, and Korea. Other Officers of the Federation, members of its Executive Committee, and members of various IFHE Committees and Commissions have come from an even wider range of countries in all regions of the world, attesting to world-wide interest in and commitment to the work of the Federation. Currently membership in the Federation includes 118 Member Organizations and 1374 Individual Members from 77 countries in all regions of the world.

When home economists from around the world meet in Switzerland for the 2008 IFHE World Congress, they will exchange information and ideas, discuss issues and perspectives, share new developments in programmes and resources, present research findings, and forge personal friendships and professional collaborations as they have done in each of the preceding twenty World Congresses since 1908. As they celebrate the 100th anniversary of IFHE, however, the Federation and its members will also reflect upon the accomplishments of the Federation during the past 100 years, sometimes achieved under difficult circumstances, and engage in the important deliberations required as the Federation moves forward in its century-old mission to strengthen and support the profession of home economics as it educates and acts as an advocate for families and households throughout the world.

Margret Arcus

IFHE History Committee

October 2005

History - Guide for Preparing IFHE History - 100th Anniversary Book

Dear IFHE Members:

Attached will be the IFHE History Committee Packet Guide for Preparing Your History for the 100^th Anniversary Book (first introduced at the Helsinki Council, 2002).

The Guide inludes ideas for composing and writing your Country and Regional History, which are to be submitted electronically on MICROSOFT WORD, on a 3 1/2 disk.

We plan to have a draft of 100 Year OLD History prepared by June 2006.

We will include Countries who honor the deadline. We want your country included, only you can help us achieve this goal.

Sincerely,

Nancy B. Leidenfrost, History Chair

10100 Crestberry Place

Bethesda, MD 20817

USA

Phone: 001-301-530-3441

E-Mail: CandNLeid1@aol.com

For more information see:

http://p1841.typo3server.info/fileadmin/ifhe_administrator/About_ifhe/Our_100_Year_History_N__Leidenfrost.pdf

Guide for Preparing IFHE History - 100th Anniversary Book