Family life education
Elwy, E.
1977 training for agriculture and rural development: 97-99
1977
DOI: 10.2307/30190749Document Number: 519407
Recent studies of women's and family programmes within the general context of integrated rural development carried out by the FAO Near East Regional Office in seven countries of the region indicate that past activities have been concentrated on practical skills in sewing, embroidery and food preparation. Little attention has been given to child care, nutrition, family life and population education, or management of family and community resources, and agricultural production activities. Most of these shortcomings were due to lack of well-trained home economics personnel. The FAO office recently conducted a training course in Baghdad, the first of a series in the region, aimed at upgrading the performance of personnel responsible for planning, implementing and supervising rural extension programmes, concentrating particularly on previously neglected aspects. Participants, 2-4 from each country, carried out practical exercises in programme planning. They become aware of the scope of rural home economics extension and its links with agriculture and other relevant subjects. Among the elements contributing to the course success were use of an integrated approach to rural women's needs, active responsibility of participants for women's programmes, use of Arabic as the common language and close involvement of participants in practical and group work.