Global wellbeing and the link between education and social development, as well as home economists’ role in achieving wellbeing, were central themes at this year’s International Federation of Home Economics congress held recently in Melbourne, Australia.
Suzanne Piscopo from the University’s Faculty of Education took part in the congress, which takes place every four years.
During a Victorian Department of Health-sponsored symposium Dr Piscopo was on a panel of international speakers who gave presentations about health interventions.
She focused on a pilot project she recently developed and coordinated in Maltese primary schools called Healthy Eating with Fonzu. The project comprised the production and testing of two resource packs for teachers to use to promote healthier living among young children.
Dr Piscopo also gave a presentation on the potential role of the Mediterranean diet as an educational tool, as well as recent studies whereby this diet was used to help promote healthier lifestyles.
Vandana Shiva, founder of Navdanya International, and Gwang-Jo Kim, director Unesco’s Regional Bureau for Education in Asia-Pacific were the congress’s main speakers.
A book entitled Creating Home Economics Futures: The Next 100 Years was launched at the congress. It the book, 34 international contributors reflect on the global nature of the profession and outline what the future of Home Economics might look like in view of socio-political, economic, technological and environmental trends.
Dr Piscopo and Karen Mugliett, another academic from the Faculty of Education, co-authored a chapter in the book entitled Capacity-Building in the Home Economics Profession: The Maltese Experience.