INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF EDUCATIVE COMMUNITIES
About us
FICE-International was founded in 1948 under the patronage of UNESCO in Trogen (Switzerland). It maintains contacts with UNESCO, UNICEF, Council of Europe and ECOSOC. It is also a member of the NGO-Group - Child Rights Connect and member of ENSACT.
FICE-International has members more than 30 countries – FICE sections – from Europe, Africa, America and Asia.
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VISION
FICE-International’s vision is to create networks across continents worldwide to support actions and all those working with at-risk children, children with special needs and children and young people in out-of-home care. All activities aim to respect the personality, interests and needs of the child or the young person.
FICE-International stands for:
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Children in out-of-home care
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Children with special needs
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Children at risk
FICE’S MAIN AIM IS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE OUT-OF-HOME CARE DEVELOPMENT
FICE:
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recognizes the individuality of children, young people and their parents.
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supports the family as the basic social structure for the upbringing of children.
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will never try to enforce a child to conform with pre-determined norms.
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advocates for an optimum development support for children and young persons who cannot live at home.
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seeks to find solutions to match the child safety, confident relationship environment and perspectives.
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bases its work on the UN-Convention on the Rights of the Child.
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rejects any ethnical, sexual, lingual, religious, political or social discrimination.
In order to achieve its aims the FICE-International:
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works through its national sections. Its members work as educators in homes, foster care families or out-of-home care trainers.
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the FICE-International encourages professional exchanges between national sections.
Structure
The General Assembly (AG)
The General Assembly is open to all members of FICE.
The General Meeting:
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has the ultimate control over decisions
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decides on the admission of new members
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elects the honorary officers of FICE-International
It usually meets once every two years at the beginning of FICE’s main two-yearly International Congress. Every country which is a full member of FICE has two votes at the General Assembly.
The Federal Council (CF)
In between General Meetings, decisions on FICE policy and business are taken by the Federal Council. This is made up of two voting representatives from each country which is a Full Member of FICE, though Associate Members may also send representatives and individuals from countries where there is no member organization may be invited to participate at the discretion of the President.
The Federal Council usually meets twice a year, in the spring and autumn, and the meetings rotate around the various member countries. The CF is in effect the main forum for the debate of FICE business, and the place where it develops its international identity.
It discusses matters such as:
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the admission of new members
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programs of international activities
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international projects
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constitutional issues
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items to be put to the General Assembly
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finance
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reports from UNESCO, EU and ECOSOC
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reports from National Members
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policy issues concerning children and young people
The business meetings are usually accompanied by visits to services for children and by a day seminar organized by the host member for workers from their country, but often using the opportunity of the Federal Council’s presence to involve an international range of speakers.
The Executive Committee (CE)
CE stands for Comité Executif, the French version of the Committee’s title.
In between Federal Council meetings, the President, Secretary General and Treasurer meet from time to time:
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to prepare the CF’s business
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to take interim decisions on action required before the next meeting.
At the President’s discretion, other people such as Vice Presidents may be invited to participate in the CEs.
The Audit Committee
The Federal Council has one Subcommittee, made up of three CF members, whose role is to scrutinise the accounts on behalf of the CF.
Our team
Anna Schmid
Peter Van de Pol
Patrick Reason
Bettina Terp
Rosa Núñez
History
FICE was founded under the auspices of UNESCO in 1948, at a time when schools, children’s homes and children’s villages had been set up to meet the needs of millions of children displaced or orphaned by World War II.
Many of the children had travelled a long way from their homes in the course of the War, as refugees or transported by Government decision. They were no longer in settled communities, but mixed with children from other countries and cultures, with other languages. It was felt that an international network would help people learn from each other and be able to support each other in their challenging task of creating a positive future for the children.
After World War II many of the European countries have developed economically. The problems presented by children and young people have changed as well, and in response FICE has grown and developed. Originally know as the Fédération des Communautés d’Enfants, it changed its name about twenty years ago in order to reflect changes in emphasis, but it kept the same initials for the sake of continuity of identity.
Throughout its history, there have been FICE National Members in other continents, and Congresses have been held in Africa and North America. Although still largely-Eurocentric, FICE has members in other continents and wishes to develop further so that its membership truly reflects the worldwide services for children and young people.
The Honorary Officers of FICE
Presidents
Hermann Radler, Austria, 2016 - 2018
Dashenka Kraleva Bulgaria 2010 – 2016
Monika Niederle Austria 2006 – 2010
Theo Binnendijk Netherlands 2000 – 2006
Robert Soisson Luxembourg 1994 – 2000
Dr. Steen Mogens Lasson Denmark 1988 – 1994
Prof. Heinrich Tuggener Switzerland 1982 – 1988
Raoul Witzberger Belgium 1975 – 1982
Louis Francois France 1970 – 1975
Rene de Cooman Belgium 1950 – 1970
Peggy Volkov United Kingdom -1950
Robert Preaut France 1948 – 1950
Federal councils:
October 2024 Split, Croatia
September 2023 Belgrade, Serbia
April 2019 Bucharest, Romania
April 2018 Trogen, Switzerland
March 2017 Kisumu, Kenya
August 2016 Vienna, Austria
April 2016 Almelo, the Netherlands
September 2015 Sofia, Bulgaria
May 2015 Belgrade, Serbia
November 2014 Barcelona, Spain
April 2014 Frankfurt, Germany
October 2013 Bern, Switzerland
April 2013 Sofia, Bulgaria
October 2012 Sofia, Bulgaria
May 2012 Israel
October 2011 Bucharest, Romania
April 2011 Prague, Czech Republic
December 2010 Stellenbosch, South Africa
May 2010 Tallinn, Estonia
2009 Ohrid, Macedonia
May 2009 Soro, Denmark
October 2008 Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
2008 Helsinki, Finland
October 2007 Tel Aviv, Israel
September 2006 Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina
September 2005 Alba Julia, Romania
September 2004 Glasgow, Scotland
May 2004 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
October 2003 Roskilde, Denmark
April 2003 Moscow, Russia
September 2002 Berlin, Germany
April 2002 Budapest, Hungary
October 2001 Bucharest, Romania
FICE Reports
Statutes
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FICE International Annual Report for 2023
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FICE International Annual Report for 2022
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FICE International Annual Report for 2021
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FICE International Annual Report for 2020
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FICE International Annual Report for 2019
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FICE International Annual Report for 2018
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FICE International Annual Report for 2017
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FICE International Annual Report for 2016
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FICE International Annual Report for 2015
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FICE International Annual Report for 2014
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FICE International Annual Report for 2013
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FICE International Annual Report for 2012
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FICE International Annual Report for 2011
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FICE International Annual Report for 2010