Since March 21, 1982 IFHE has continued to recognise March 21 each year as World Home Economics Day (WHED). The purpose of the day is to publicise and promote IFHE and the Home Economics Profession.
Since 2002 a specific theme has been identified for World Home Economics Day. This occasion is a brilliant opportunity for each member, member organisation or professional Home Economist to hold an event or special activity.
In the last years World Home Economics Day gained more and more attention worldwide. To highlight the theme IFHE publishes a Press Release in September each year. Based on this background information Home Economics Professionals prepare the celebrations of World Home Economics Day in the different regions of the world. Additional topics of high relevance to the professionals in the countries or regions can be pointed out during the celebrations.
World Home Economics Day 2023
Theme: Waste Literacy
The world’s enormous waste problem won’t be “solved” by just dumping it. We need to come up with better ideas to minimize waste generation and preserve natural resources. Waste Literacy, the knowledge about waste reduction and sustainable consumption, is an essential building block to achieve a sustainable future. Waste Literacy is a central element of education for sustainable development, to which home economics makes a fundamental contribution.
Whether through solution-based research, education or community outreach, home economics experts impart knowledge on how to responsibly manage resources at household and consumer level. This knowledge plays an important role in changing our everyday behaviour. See the informative position paper of IFHE-Germany on Waste Literacy and the IFHE official announcement for World Home Economics Day 2023.
World Home Economics Day 2022
Theme: Building resilient homes & Families
Homes are the most important haven & asset in peoples’ lives, and are more and more affected by climate change and the pandemic. This year’s World Home Economics Day (WHED) focus is on what it takes to make homes safer and more resilient. Housing and indoor environment is a home economics discipline spearheading education & research on building resilient households. We use WHED to highlight the profession’s important contribution to building a resilient future, educating on aspects of personal and environmental health such as air pollution, waste management or sanitation, safe child care environments, mental health, and more.
World Home Economics Day 2021
Theme: Age friendly homes and communities
WHED 2021’s thematic focus is on ageing. Populations around the world are rapidly ageing and this demographic transition will impact on almost all aspects of society. A Decade of Healthy Ageing 2020-2030 was declared by World
Health Organisation to underline the theme’s importance.
Home Economics research and education address individual households, institutional homes, and communities as the environment where older people can age safely. It promotes healthy ageing in an environment that meets physical demands, is free from poverty, allows for personal development and where the elderly can contribute to their communities while retaining autonomy. Home Economists focus on accessible and supportive living environments for older people with varying needs and capacities, including the “elderly of tomorrow”.
Please send images and reports for WHED to our email address.
Acknowledgement: International Federation of Home Economics website – www.ifhe.org