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.“A K ' ALIWM’. 15th TRIENNIAI. CONFERENCE NAIROBI. KENYA. OCTOBER 11-21. 1977 THEME: BUILDING FOR TOMORROW Mrs. Herb Mitluske In the torn-seven years since ALTWXV. was founded. this was the first time a conference was held on the African continent. While in Kenya we spent time among the friendly. independent people who were quick to respond to ges- tures ot'gooduill and proud to show us their unbelie- \ab|\ beautiful country. The pace of Kenya these last fifteen years has been geared to receiving world \isttors. From the nomad tribesman tn the desert regions. to the ci\il servant in Nalrobi. Kenya‘s people are encouraged to maintain their own traditions as well as respect those of their \ts‘llors. Nairobi. meaning city in the sun and known as city ofSunsltine is literally a crossroads of the world. 3 cos- mopolitan centre, There we saw a beautiful modern {it} with hide. tree-lined avenues. bazaars. pavement cafes. superb hotels and modern high rise buildings. It is a "with it" city vibrant with new ideas reflecting the zest of a new developing nation. We met in the magnificant Kenyatta Conference Centre. the place famous for the finest t‘aeilities for large or small international conferences. The Plenary Session Hall has a seating potential for 4.000 and with tables it can still accommodate 3.200. There are vari- ous other meeting rooms and an amphitheatre which are all equipped with simultaneous interpretation sysâ€" tems. public address systems. microphone and tape recording facilities. Pressing the button and waiting for your light to come on before you could speak to the committee meeting members. was a new experi- ence for most of us. A special treat for many was having lunch in the revolving restaurant on the 28th floor enjoying at the same time the exciting panoramic view of Nairobi. Whenever you wanted to be certain to meet some- one. the usual instruction given was. “Meet me beside the elephant“ a huge. stuffed one on the ground floor. It came to be known as “Meeting Place Temba" (Ele- phant). The working language of the conference was Eng- lish. However, outside we did learn a few words in Swahili. the native language. ACWW STATISTICS lSl Constituent Societies 26 Associate Societies 1 l 1 Corresponding Societies located in 74 countries around the world. with a mem- bership nearing the 8%: million mark. ACWW has 4.584 contributing members and 1.313 life members 20 INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE CHILD luau l’roclaimtng the International Year of the t 2.,“ the UN. through the Executive Director of UN|i i i Henry R. Labouisse called upon Government participate in the preparations for the lYt‘ Ill. national Year of the Child) and to set tip on IIlt‘ tional level. special committees. He pointed um .1 necessary to incorporate interested NGO's. (Non t ernmental Organizulionst as they could make an portant contribution to the activities of govt-mine; bodies. In 1975 it was decided to form ajoint committt i NGO‘s having a status with ECOSOC. LINK‘H UNESCO. Over 140 interested NGO's met at lltc ‘ in New York to form the N00 committee for the l‘ The participants unanimously elected a L'U-tlfllli mg group composed ofb organizations that Will h:. It“: as a leading body between the meetings ol committee. (to meet once a your and to be active to end of |979). Among the 6 member group is the .elated Countrywomcn of the World. In order to prepare for this special year NOLi't use the period preceding “The Year" to: Examine existing child welfare practices. Evaluate health. education and recreation grams. Encourage governments at all levels to Il‘lL‘li support for children‘s programs at home and abroai If we believe there is a future for every child must work toward a permanent increase in tlte lcvc services benefiting children. All countriesirich or pooriare encouraged Iview their programs for the well-being of the Li drengespecially young children. Also to promote recognition of the vital lint tween programs for children on one hand and L nomic and social progress on the other. FOUNDATION STONE LAYING CEREMOM Mrs. Jane Mumbi Kiano. National President The Maendeleo ya Wanawake. one of the ht)st cieties spoke at the Foundation Stone Laying o mony for the new Maendeleo building. The building will house the headquarters for organization as well as the Women‘s Training (‘en "It is hoped the women and girls will not only let skills which will improve life styles but will return the rural areas to train others.“ Contributions have been received from indn: uals. the Republic of Kenya as well as the (low merit of Belgium. Her Excellency. Mama Ngina KL yatta. the first lady of the Republic of Kenya l! ‘- constantly encouraged the members of the organl tion in their fundâ€"raising efi‘orts. Belgium has clonal l toward the completion and equipping of the train: ‘1 centre. A5 a Constituent Society of ACWW, because cl this building and its facilities, their aim is to help MN: standards ofliving for all women and girls in Kenya In