FICE Switzerland - International Federation of Educative Communities

FICE, the Féderation Internationale des Communautés Educatives, is an expert network of organizations and people from all parts of out-of-home care: from direct work with children and young people, from research and teaching, from professional associations, from authorities and from aid organizations. The participation of affected young people as experts “from experience” is important at FICE, for example in events and projects. FICE was founded in 1948 in the Pestalozzi Children's Village in Trogen by 11 children's villages and soon included 80 in 11 European countries. Leaders, employees as well as young people worked together to develop the best possible work for and with the young people. Soon, country networks were formed, such as FICE Switzerland in 1951. Today, FICE Switzerland remains committed to good quality in Alternative Care for Children and Adolescents, for example in foster families and residential care. Additionally, it is committed to children in risk situations, and to the implementation of the UN Rights of the Child. FICE Switzerland is known, among other things, for its promotion of expert exchange at national and international levels, and for its leading role in the participatory development of innovative approaches. Examples include the Quality4Children quality standards for out-of-home care for children and young people, as well as the Creating Futures Approach for participatory organizational and quality development in youth homes that empowers at all levels. FICE Switzerland is run on a voluntary basis and supported by 70+ collective and 30+ individual members. Delegates from FICE Switzerland also make significant contributions to the FICE Europe Network and to FICE International (President and Treasurer) on a voluntary basis, in collaboration with the further FICE networks from more than 35 countries on five continents. Donations to FICE Switzerland are tax deductible at the federal and cantonal levels.