Message from the IFUW President
26 November 2009
Dear Friends,
 Springtime is a good time for renewal and looking to the seasons ahead. It is spring going onto summer in my part of the world and for many IFUW members in the southern hemisphere. Flowers abound in the garden - rhododendrons, azaleas, native yellow kowhai, hebes and peonies. Celebrations are happening as the students finish their exams and some look forward to graduation.
By the time you read this, I will be in India, a totally different environment, for another celebration - the 40th birthday of the Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund (VGIF). They have planned an excellent programme of sharing and learning together with the Indian Federation of University Women’s Associations (IFUWA). One highlight will be a forum on Women, Water and Food Security.
VGIF has provided funding for many IFUW national affiliate projects helping women and children over the forty years. These grants have helped make possible literacy training, clean water wells and latrines, micro-credit loans, sustainable farming and nutritional training, to name a few. VGIF has also generously assisted IFUW with funding for training projects at our triennial conferences. We have recently applied to VGIF for funding for grants to assist members from countries with a low GNI to take part in training at the 30th IFUW Conference in Mexico in August 2010. The focus of the training will be “Towards a Multigenerational Approach”.
We are appreciative of VGIF’s support over the years. It is a time to celebrate their accomplishments and look ahead to continuing our close partnership in the future.
One of our members in Turkey recently mentioned that there are now five new groups of younger unemployed graduates in her country offering support and friendship. Women now make up more than 50% of the graduates in many countries. With the recession and world financial crisis, these new graduates face difficult challenges of unemployment, reduced job openings and fewer work place training options. IFUW can reach out to these young graduates. Initiatives like the one in the Turkish Association can offer young graduates an opportunity to share issues, receive mentoring and encouragement, and find a place to express their concerns as the new generation of graduate women. I encourage all NFAs to think of ways to link with the new graduates and would like very much to hear some of the results online or at the 2010 Conference.
In the meantime my garden has rain and the daisies in the lawn are closing for the day.
With warm wishes
Louise
IFUW President
26 November 2009 |
