International Federation for Home Economics – Sunday 18th – Friday 23rd July 2010

The International Federation of Home Economics (IFHE) is the only worldwide organisation concerned with Home Economics, Family Ecology and Consumer Sciences.  It is an International NGO having consultative status with the United Nations (ECOSOC, FAO, UNESCO, UNICEF). Approximately 1500 individuals and 150 organisations in more than 50 countries all over the world are members of IFHE. 

The next IFHE Council meeting will take place in St Angela’s College, Sligo in July 2010 and will be hosted by the IFHE Ireland Organising Committee.  Previous meetings have taken place in South Africa, Finland, Japan and Ghana. The Council and associated conference will attract approximately 200 - 300 participants both nationally and internationally over a six day period. This will be an opportunity for professionals to continue and build on their interactions, discussions and collaborations concerning Family, Consumer, Environmental and Educational issues which will lead to improvement in the quality of everyday life for individuals, families and households worldwide. Visitors will have many opportunities to experience the local and regional amenities and enterprises through organised tours and site visits. There will be a variety of specially designed pre-council and post-council tours available for the delegates. This will be a considerable tourism boost for Sligo and the North West region and will clearly benefit the many restaurants, hotels, bed & breakfasts and retail businesses in the area.

Keynote speakers for IFHE Council 2010 include:

• Dr Martin Caraher: Associate Dean/Reader in Food & Health Policy in the Centre for Food Policy at City University, London
• Dr Kate Fletcher: Reader in Sustainable Fashion at London College of Fashion.
• Dr Dympna Devine: Senior Lecturer in the School of Education, University College Dublin

We are delighted to announce some exciting national competitions also coinciding with IFHE Council 2010 which fall under the categories of Cooking and Crafts/Textiles.

Our Good4U Smartchef Competition offers junior and senior level students throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland a chance to use there creative cooking skills to produce snacks or meals using Good4U products.  The grand final will take place during IFHE Council 2010 with celebrity chefs and plenty of prizes.

Our Sew Cool Competition allows young people at junior and senior level to submit their work through various categories including Design and Craftwork Projects, Textile Craft Products and the Young Embellisher Category.  Finalists will have their work displayed and judged at IFHE Council 2010 with individual prizes as well as school prizes up for grabs.

For further information please visit our website www.ifhe2010.com