The Senegal Project is the culminating project in a unit on cultural foods in an 8th grade family and consumer sciences (FCS) course. Initially, students take a quick world tour by studying and cooking foods from Mexico, Italy, China, and India followed by a "more depth and less breadth" study of Senegal, a country with a culture vastly different…

Development of social capital was explored from a scientific evaluation of adult and teen parents (N = 102) who voluntarily participated in a parenting program. Most were unmarried, young, low-income, and Mexican-American. A strengths-based, culturally specific method was utilized to recruit and retain participants. After training, parents had…

Several definitions of service learning exist. For this initiative, the authors used Torres and Sinton's (2000) definition that students are learning about social issues and applying new knowledge to real problems in their communities. This project entailed a partnership of committed citizens of different groups (middle, secondary, and university…

International activities of FCS professionals take many forms, most often at the grassroots level making a difference in the daily lives of people and their communities, far from their own communities. A 2 1/2-year project, supported by the Monsanto Fund and an International Federation of Home Economics (IFHE) project grant, developed school…

Women can choose among many options with regard to ready-to-wear (RTW) clothing; for example, they can purchase imported or domestically produced garments, or they can select custom-made or second-hand garments. In Ghana, women have traditionally preferred imported RTW garments to RTW garments produced within the country. In this study,…

Family and consumer sciences professionals' contribute to the well-being of individuals, families, and communities through work in and support of international efforts. However, limited literature is available on professionals' challenges when working in such settings. In this article, the author offers one professional's insights into working…

"Bridging the Gap: Intergenerational Appreciation" is an educational partnership between community residents and high school family and consumer sciences (FCS) students in the Cornwall-Lebanon School District in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. The program provides 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students opportunities to be actively involved with the older…

Inasmuch as social deficiencies breed malcontent, it is not difficult to understand the resulting dissonance in physical, social, emotional, and relational well-being not only between individuals but also within and between communities and groups and between nations. The proverbial "haves" and "have-nots" continue to be opposing forces in society…

The International Studies Branch, International Education and Graduate Studies Service of the United States Department of Education provides family and consumer sciences (FCS) professionals with many international experiences. This article highlights the Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Program, a program sponsored by the U.S. Department of…

In this article, the author states that working with colleagues in another country always provides a challenge, even if it is nothing more than time zones and a different culture. To ease communication, it is important to know as much as possible about the other country beforehand, including learning about the population, literacy rates, birth…

Empowering women and allowing them to provide community leadership in a rapidly changing and increasingly complex society is essential. Offering a sound family science curriculum is one way to facilitate empowerment of women in a developing country. Conceptualizing, planning, and developing strong programs became an opportunity to review existing…

Given the international nature of the textile, apparel, and retail industries, success for some companies, at least in part, may depend upon hiring "people whose minds are open to the world" (Goodman, 2005). Study abroad is one way of developing students' world perspectives and cultural understanding. An interdisciplinary approach to study abroad…

Family and consumer sciences (FCS) is a global network of professionals who are focused on improving the quality of life for individuals, families, and communities. For FCS professionals who would like to explore FCS with an international opportunity, the Fulbright Program may be a way to accomplish this. The Fulbright Program is the preeminent…

This article describes "Ghanaian Area Studies in Diversity-Globalization," a Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Program that took 18 New Mexico classroom teachers to Ghana, West Africa, in 2003 to bring a global perspective to the classrooms of New Mexico. This Fulbright project was designed for participants to gain a greater understanding of…

Home economics is a dynamic field that imparts knowledge intended to help people adapt to their environment by making effective use of human and material resources. Hence, the profession values global concerns for the environment, human rights, health, and well-being. In Nigeria, home economics teachers must also consider the role they play in…