1979 was the United Nations International Year of the Child with a world-wide focus on children. The British National Foster Care Association decided to organise an international event for all those involved in foster care. Using governments, UNICEF and other networks they invited people to this conference at Oxford University, England. There was an enthousiastic response with people attending from 17 countries around the world.
At the closing of the ceremony the cry went up : “We must do this again!â€. A small group of people from Europe worked together to plan the formation of IFCO in 1981 at the next conference in The Netherlands.
From the beginning all people involved in the development and provision of foster care have been encouraged to be part of IFCO with a significant voice for young people.
IFCO’s logo shows four postage stamps as mail was the only means of communication at this time. A regular magazine was established and produced and mailed worldwide to a growing membership. For 21 years IFCO was run entirely by volunteers with annual conferences being organised by Foster Care associations in individual countries, Conferences have been held in The Netherlands, Belgium, New Zealand, England, USA, Greece, Ireland, Germany, Norway, Canada, Hungary, The Philippines, Australia, Finland, Argentina and the Czech Republic. Delegates from more than 80 countries have attended IFCO conferences to network and learn from each other about the development of family-based alternatives to institutional care for the millions of children who live apart from their families.
The conference in 1994 ( Berlin) and 1998 ( Hungary) were significant events for those countries in Eastern Europe who were working to change their child care systems. Following a large IFCO World Conference in The Netherlands in 2001, it was decided to try to establish a representative office. With the help of The Hague City Council and the Dutch fundong bodies and volunteers, this was opened in 2003.
From this office a small staff team coordinates the work of all those involved in IFCO’s activities, as well as coordinating foster care development projects worldwide.
Volunteers have always been important for IFCO – Why not become a member and see how you can help?