IFHE-- Region
of the Americas
Founded in Fribourg, Switzerland in 1908, The International Federation for Home Economics
(IFHE) celebrated its XXI World Congress in Lucerne, Switzerland in 2008.
IFHE is an International Non Governmental Organization (INGO) having consultative
status with the United Nations and with the Council of Europe. The goal
of IFHE is the improvement in the quality of everyday life for individuals,
families and households through the managment of their resources. The
IFHE is headquartered in
Bonn, Germany
with five regional organizations--Asia, Africa, Europe, Americas, and
Pacific.
Congratulations to Geraldene Hodelin, Jamaica, Region of the Americas, President of the International Federation for Home Economics (2008-2012)
Dr. Geraldene B. HODELIN is the first Caribbean home economist to be
elected President of the International Federation for Home Economics.
Dr. HODELIN is a two time graduate of the University of Minnesota with
a MA in Home Economics Education and a Ph.D. in Education. Her undergraduate
work was completed at Ryerson University and Centennial College of Applied
Arts and Technology in Toronto. She is recognized as a distinguished educator
in Jamaica and up to August 2007 was the Dean of the Faculty of Education
and Liberal Studies at the University of Technology, Jamaica. Currently
she is Associate Professor and Director of the recently established U
Tech Academy located in Trelawny.
Partnership for Disaster Relief update, June 2011
Regional Structure
Each of the Regional organizations are led by a Regional Vice-President
and one Executive Committee Member 
Representative.
When possible, individuals are named as country contacts to facilitate
communications. In the Region of the Americas, Joanne Pearson (USA) serves
as Regional Vice President (pictured at left) and Mabel Cordini (Brazil)
serves as EC Representative (on the right below).
Regional Meetings are held during associated Council and Congresses, and can be called as independent meetings within the region. Communications are routed through various country level associations.
Connecting with Home Economists in Latin America
The region of the Americas covers an expansive area going from Canada on the north to Argentina in the south. Currently the membership in IFHE is limited to portions of the entire region--namely Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbadoes, Brazil, Canada, Columbia, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, and the British Virgin Islands.
One of the goals of the region is to expand the network of home economists/family consumer scientist in the region. However, since titles vary greatly from country to country, of special interest is contacts with professionals with similar training or work roles. Mouth to mouth communications is urged as professionals make contact with each other. Dues in the Federation are reduced for professionals from less economically developed nations, therefore membership in IFHE is encouraged. Also a special database is being developed to list professionals in the region with similar training. Such a database can encourage communications and the exchange of ideas. To participate in the database, contact Joanne Pearson <pearsojm@jmu.edu>