IFS Update • October, 2008

Who we are

We are a global movement that connects community organizations that represent and respond to the different needs, strengths and aspirations of families and communities.

Our mission is to build an inclusive global community by empowering, inspiring and connecting people who are working locally for social justice.

IFS Membership• As of October 2008, IFS has 67 community

organization members• Members represent 840 individual organizations • Members are located in 22 nations

Current member list, included in conference packets

24 new organizations joined or re-joined IFS during 2008:

• BARCA-LEEDS, United Kingdom• Bassac, United Kingdom• Center For Community

Sustainable Development, Ghana

• Centrum Swpierania Aktywnosci Lokainej, Poland

• Community Matters, United Kingdom

• East Akron Community House, USA

• Ero Phillips Foundation, Nigeria• FEDOPO, Dominican Rep.• Greater Cleveland

Neighborhood Centers Association , USA

• Institute of Social Pedagogies, Russia

• Master Olofsgarden, Sweden• Neighborhood Centers Inc., USA

• New World Hope Organization, Pakistan

• Phoenix Carita Society, Romania• Phyllis Wheatley Community

Center, USA• Rural Development and Youth

Training Institute, India• Scadding Court Community

Centre, Canada• South Side Settlement, USA• St. James Settlement, China• St. Stephen's Community House,

USA• Stichting Just-Do-It, The

Netherlands• Toronto Neighbourhood Centres,

Canada• West 7th Street Community

Center, USA• West Side Community House,

USA

Updated the look & feel of the IFS brand

• New logo design• Launched new website with dynamic

features, including blogging capabilities • Re-design of all IFS collateral materials• Development of e-newsletter-newsletter

Website redesign sponsored by:

2007 Conference

One year ago we gathered and held a successful conference in Oradea, Romania where 60 people gathered and we learned about community work in Romania

2008 Conference

Planned and partnered with the Finnish Federation of Settlements to gather 170 people here in Helsinki

2010 Conference

• The next IFS Conference will be held in New York City either – Tues, Oct 5 to Sat, Oct 9, or – Tues, Oct 12 to Sat, Oct 16,  2010.

• Activities will take place in the Lower East Side, the historic birthplace of the settlement movement in the U.S.

• NYC is home of a unique partner for this event, New York University, which has worked with several settlement houses

2010 Conference• Participants will also have opportunities to:

– visit other New York City neighborhoods and settlement houses– attend group dinners and targeted program tours in Queens,

Brooklyn and the Bronx– take part in possible home stays and small group dinners at the

homes of NYC settlement staff. 

 • Our location in NYC and

access through IFS’ representative will allow us to develop a morning’s content at the United Nations

IFS Challenges & Opportunities for the Future: Challenges:

•Travel is expensive, with difficulties in obtaining visas

•IFS currently not utilizing all of electronic potential

•Financial status: raising funds in current economic climate is challenging, limited staff capacity

IFS Challenges & Opportunities for the Future:Challenges:

• Language barriers

• Tendency of potential members to focus too heavily on immediate surroundings; not paying attention to international activities

• Difficult to administer an organization internationally (costs of transferring & exchanging currency, shipping)

IFS Challenges & Opportunities for the Future:Opportunities:

• Committed board of directors and staff who share the values of the settlement house movement

• Low competition, we are a unique organization in the world

• Improved communication strategy (improvements to the website, electronic communication, more consistency)

• Internet communication is cost effective and efficient; most members can access

IFS Challenges & Opportunities for the Future:Opportunities:

• Increased interest in global issues

• Culturally diverse organization

• Ability to utilize established “backroom” services

• Strong youth contingent

IFS Challenges & Opportunities for the Future:Opportunities:

• Connections with United Nations/Council of Europe representatives

• Potential for larger members to adopt “sister” agencies in smaller countries to alleviate travel expenses and encourage greater membership

• Increased immigration provides more of a need and opportunity for local organizations to get involved internationally to develop cross-cultural competence

• Congratulations to Miorita Sateanu for being honored by the City of Oradea, Romania on May 22nd, 2008

• Miorita was given the title of Honorary Citizen• Miorita was honored for her hard work and leadership with speeches from the Local Authority President, First Commissar of the Police Department and members of the Women’s Organization of Oradea.

• She leads the Women’s Organization Bihor, whose mission is to defend women’s rights and improve the standards of family life.

Congratulations!

Thank you for being part of the movement.