Kyoto Revisited:
A report on the 20^th World Congress of the International Federation for Home Economics, August 1-7, 2004

By Mary Andrews, Michigan State University

KYOTO was fantastic! For those of you who could not attend, you missed a very well organized, orchestrated and attended world congress. It was held in the Kyoto International Conference Hall, a rambling ultra-modern conference facility at the outskirts of Kyoto. The setting was idyllic with rambling sidewalks around lakes and ponds nestled in rolling forest covered hills. The conference hotel was right next door, but a convenient and efficient metro service brought it within reach of everyone, even those living downtown near the railway station. And that, too, was a marvel of efficiency and high tech construction—the largest railroad station in Japan and a maze of transportation facilities and shopping/dining options. Surprisingly, Kyoto was an easy city to navigate. All signs were in both Japanese and English and everywhere shop keepers, metro attendants, wait staff spoke some English. And passerby’s smiled and helped when they saw your map and quizzical expression!

One of the most memorial features of the Congress was the large number of Japanese professionals and students who volunteered their time to help out. Each element of the congress from housing to workshops and tours to alternative activities like orgami lessons were carefully planned, managed and attended by volunteers. Dr. Ikuko Ezawa, President of the Japan Society of Home Economics and Toyoko Sakai, Chairperson of the Steering Committee of the 20^th World Congress can be very proud of their hard work and endearing hospitality. 

The program was varied yet integrated. The Keynote opening address and various plenary sessions were challenging and provocative—asking us as professionals to reflect on the changing times and use our strengths to serve families and communities with the skills needed for the future. Similar to previous Congresses, an international book fair and marketplace provided intriguing wares. And the family night will be long remembered as participants got a chance to visit with local Japanese families and partake of their family and neighborhood hospitality.  It was surprising to see how comfortably and esthetically furnished their apartments were and how functional were there small kitchens and work spaces. A special International Year of the Family Symposium was nestled into the program to provide an opportunity to celebrate this world-wide effort that calls attention to the needs and assets of families. The research sessions and posters were excellent—representing the growing sophistication and complexity of issues and designs being incorporated into our research agenda worldwide. A new feature of this congress was the “Promising Practices” displays highlighting significant action programs. Innovation and compassion could be the bywords of those displays as home economists responded to varied issues with spirit and commitment.

But as is the case with all conferences, it was the peer interaction that was so valued-- friends meeting friends, committee’s doing face-to-face business after long periods with only e-mail communication, professors meeting former students and marveling at their new roles, and compatriots seeing each other in new settings and enjoying the immediate intimacy of companionship. An international network such as IFHE is a wonderful professional support system. It provides a sense of belonging and a commonality that links our work from country to country and from discipline to discipline.

Following are some pictures of attendees. Seeing Kyoto from their perspectives provides a cross-section of images and experiences—a kaleidoscope of Japan!

 

 

 

 

Regional News: Each of the five regions of the IFHE world is represented by a regional vice president and a regional representative. Those five regions are Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and the Pacific. Congratulations to Janice Archibald (Granada), <janarch@solutions2000.net> incoming Americas Regional Representative to IFHE and to Geraldene Hodelin (Jamaica) <gerihod@utech.edu.jm> outgoing representative for her four years of service to the organization. Sherry Betts (AZ) continues for an additional two years as the Vice President for the Americas. Sherry chaired a regional meeting during the congress with excellent representation from our three major areas—the Caribbean, Canada and the USA. A lone voice from Brazil was present.  Marbel Cordini noted that although she is no longer President of the Brazil Home Economics Association, she had been asked to attend the Congress because she is one of few who speak English! Although not new, the group present voiced a strong commitment to get organized to reach-out to our Latin American colleagues. The Americas Region needs to expand representation from our Spanish speaking colleagues.

A regional structure has been a topic of discussion at Bonn during the past year. A Regional Structure Committee is in-place and will be reporting out soon. Each region will be challenged to organize goals, objectives and terms of reference for roles and responsibilities of elected officials. Regional plans and structures can vary, but need to be established.  Sherry noted that an invitation will be forthcoming to the entire region to attend a UN Commission on the Status of Women meeting in early March in New York. This could serve as one means to bring people together across the region. Other strategies are to strengthen “twinning projects or linkages”, host study tours within the region, and to gather for regional meetings in conjunction with either the Caribbean or Brazil bi-annual meetings. Suggestions and volunteers are welcome. Voice your interests to Sherry Betts <sbetts@ag.arizona.edu>

Those of us from the Americas were especially proud of Geraldene Hodelin (Jamaica) and Tahira Hira (Iowa).  Geraldene and Tahira did a magnificent job as co-presenters at the plenary session on the topic of "Bridging the Divides in Changing Societies: The potential and challenges for Home Economics"....a view from the north and the south. The plenary was very well received by everyone. Another contribution from the region was the beautiful quilt that Carolyn Blount organized with pieces supplied by IFHE members from around the world. The quilt was raffled-off during the Congress. We were all very proud of these contributions from our Region.

For more reactions to Japan and the Congress, read commentaries from members who were there!

Pre-Congress Study Tours:  A number of study tours and technical excursions were organized before, during and after the Congress. Two study tours were organized by IFHE-US members. Go to the following website to view a report of the study tour: “Eating your way across SE Asia: A professional Study Tour and Gourmet Cooking School” that was organized by Mary Andrews. For a report on the Study Tour to Japan organized by Janett Gibbs, click here.

Do you know any of the following people? The meeting of old friends from across the globe...