News to UseNews to Use

Issue 20

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

Also with this issue:

Fact Sheet 16:

Kitchen Planning

-

Student’s

Workbook

Editorial 1

Food Sovereignty 2

My Home Economics Journey

4

HEiA Executive Committee: Who are we?

5

Dissertations by B.Ed (Hons.) Nutrition, Family and Consumer Studies Students

8

Active Role for Malta and ‘Home Economists in Action’ at Financial Literacy Conference in Brussels

10

August 2010 Editorial

Dear Colleagues and HEiA members, I hope you are all enjoying your summer holidays and getting some well-deserved rest. This is our 20th edition of the newsletter News to Use and, as always, it aims to keep us Home Economics and Textile Studies teachers up-to-date with the latest knowledge, research, trends and hot topics relevant to our profession. This newsletter starts with an interesting article written by Angele Deguara from Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust (KKG) about food sovereignty. After reading this article, you will probably make a greater effort to integrate food sovereignty messages in your lessons with your students, or to make some changes in your own personal lifestyle. In the next article, Stefania Calleja, who is a prospective Home Economics teacher and student rep on the HEiA Executive Committee, writes about her Home Economics experience which started some years back when she was a Form 3 student. As promised in the previous newsletter, we are including Part 2 of ‘Who Are We?’ so that you can get to know better five other current HEiA Executive Committee members. In this issue, we have also included a series of tables which offer you an update of the dissertation projects carried out by B.Ed (Hons.) Nutrition, Family and Consumer Studies (NFCS) students between 2007 and 2010. Related to this, Fact Sheet 16, is actually a Student’s Workbook about Kitchen Planning which can be used with Form 5 students and which was originally produced as part of a B.Ed. (Hons) dissertation by Karl Mifsud. The final article of this newsletter is a copy of a press release which was circulated to the local press highlighting HEiA’s involvement in the Dolceta project. Keep your eyes open for a Dolceta Conference announcement which will be coming soon. Finally, I would like to end this editorial by sharing with you a personal experience which made me feel proud to be a HEiA member and a Home Economics teacher. A few weeks ago I had a short conversation with a University Professor from the Faculty of Education about our subject. To cut a long story short, he highlighted how impressed he was with our subject since it was able to evolve so much and is giving valuable input in various areas, not only to our students, but also to the community at large. In fact, he actually mentioned the great work which HEiA compiled for the Dolceta project. I was over the moon at hearing this praise. I hope you all find this newsletter useful and inspirational, and I wish you all the best for the rest of the summer holidays.

Elena (Chief Editor) Dr. Suzanne Piscopo (Co-editor)

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Without a doubt, food sovereignty would be the last thing on our mind when we are out shopping at the supermarket or enjoying meals with family or friends. The past two decades or so have seen the Maltese nurturing a culture of consumption and “choice”. We have become used to supermarkets displaying a vast range of products, mostly imported, including a vast range of “fresh” produce which would have taken days to arrive in Malta from thousands of kilometres away. We have become used to finding all kinds of fruit and vegetables all year round, unlike in the past when the Maltese were used to buying fresh fruit and vegetables in season from local producers. Nowadays, these nicely packed, perfect-looking specimens have largely replaced the tastier, seasonal local products which are still being cultivated by

Maltese growers. This situation is even worse in poor countries, where heavy American and European subsidies lead to the dumping of products such as rice in countries like India where rice is abundantly cultivated. Farmers cannot compete with the import market prices and therefore they are thrown into a vicious circle of poverty because if they don’t sell their own produce they cannot afford to buy imported products. Our agricultural practices and food choices have also led to the erosion of the rich biodiversity which many food-producing countries in the global south used to enjoy. Nowadays the trend is for monoculture and other production practices which only benefit the huge multinational companies which dominate the world food and agricultural market. Hardly any thought is given to the destruction of the eco-system, traditional agricultural practices and the rights of the farmers who produce our food, many of whom are in the global south.

In the end it all boils down to the factors on which we base our choices. We can choose cheap, mass-produced, nicely packed products without giving a care as to who is paying the price for our irresponsible choices, or we can make ethical choices based on social and ecological principles. Given the way our supermarkets and shopping centres continuously bombard us with weekly offers and unbeatable prices, it is no wonder that we have become bargain hunters.* * Note by SP: There is nothing inherently wrong with bargain hunting. What is wrong is when we buy in excess of needs, so there is a lot of waste, and when we do not try to identify the source of our food in order to ascertain whether our choice is socially and ecologically responsible.

Food Sovereignty

Karl Mifsud shearing a sheep

When Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust, together with a number of local co-operatives, NGOs and organisations launched the “Kieku L-Ikel Jitkellem” (If food could speak) campaign, this is precisely the mindset it sought to change. The campaign was based on the principle of food sovereignty, a concept originated by Via Campesina in 1996 which refers to “the right of individuals, communities, peoples and countries to define their own agricultural, labour, fishing, food and land policies, which are ecologically, socially, economically and culturally appropiate to their unique circumstances. It includes the true right to food and to produce food, which means that all people have the right to safe, nutritious and culturally appropiate food and to food-producing resources and the ability to sustain themselves and their societies”. The campaign officially came to an end during this year’s Fair Trade festival - Worldfest - which Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust hosted at the Upper Barrakka Gardens on Sunday 16th May. The Worldfest is an annual celebration of Fair Trade which is based on principles of social and ecological justice and which this year sought to encourage consumers to make a difference with the food choices they make. This year the annual Worldfest forum addressed the theme "Għażliet Personali; Impatt Globali" with the participation of the public. Dr Karen Mugliett and Dr Suzanne Piscopo, both Nutrition, Family & Consumer Studies (NFCS) lecturers at the University, were among the guest speakers on the panel.

Angele Deguara Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust

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NOTE from Suzanne Piscopo: Visit the Koperattiva Kummer ċ Ġust website at http://www.l-arka.org/about/kkg to find out more. Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust also runs a shop Il-Ħanut l-Arka in Valletta which sells a variety of fair-traded products. For more on Sustainable Consumption and particularly Food and Drink, do not forget to visit Dolceta at www.dolceta.eu. For more on Food Sovereignty visit Via Campesina at http://viacampesina.org/en/ and click on Main Issues.

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My Home Economics Journey

The first step in the path which started off my

Home Economics journey was sprinkled with an

element of luck since I was in the first group that

could opt for Home Economics as an Optional

subject in Form 3 rather than Form 4.

Along my first three years of experience of the

subject, Home Economics became one of my

favourite subjects. I still remember how much

effort and dedication I put into my studies in

order to achieve a good grade in the final national

exam. However, at this stage, I had not yet

matured enough in the passion for the subject that

I would want to be in a classroom helping

students have their own Home Economics

experience.

The summer after I completed my O-Levels, I

had to choose the subjects which I wanted to

continue studying at post-secondary level; a

decision which stresses all 16-year-olds who pass

through it since this decision determines the

career path one would like to follow. After some

consultations and serious thinking, I scrapped

away my former idea of becoming a psychologist

and changed my route to Home Economics and

teaching.

It was when I started to study Home Economics

at Advanced Level that I became passionate about

the subject. The two years just flew by and soon it

was time to sit for the exams. Unfortunately, a

low grade in another subject made me ineligible

to start the B.Ed. (Hons) NFCS course at the

University of Malta. This meant that I would

either have to choose another course, or wait a

year for the next intake during which I would

have to strive harder to improve my grades.

I opted for the

latter. During that

year, apart from

studying, an

opportunity turned

up for me to work

as a Home

Economics Supply

teacher which I

accepted. I must

admit that it was pretty disappointing for me that I

did not get into University immediately, but now I

look at it in a different perspective. I feel that the

months I spent working as a Supply teacher made

me stronger and helped me to form a clearer idea

of the teaching profession.

The enriching experience at the school was over in

June. A month later the exam result was out. I had

done well! So in October I could finally carry on

with my Home Economics journey. I am now half

way through the B.Ed. (Hons) NFCS university

course and I would like that one day I be part of

someone else’s Home Economics journey. My

journey so far has consisted of both uphill

challenges and more gentle slopes. I have no

regrets that I have embarked on this journey and

am so keen to pave the long distance ahead.

Stefania Calleja

B.Ed. (Hons) NFCS 2008-2012 group

For more info on the B.Ed. (Hons) NFCS course contact: karen.mugliett@um.edu.mt For more info on the M.Ed. HFCS course contact: suzanne.piscopo@um.edu.mt

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Name: Name: Name: Name: Suzanne Piscopo

Birthplace: Birthplace: Birthplace: Birthplace: London, England

Age: Age: Age: Age: I’m reaching the age where people usually start hiding

their age....

Feels Like: Feels Like: Feels Like: Feels Like: An age which i don’t mind sharing – 44 ☺

Current Job: Current Job: Current Job: Current Job: Lecturer

Dream Job: Dream Job: Dream Job: Dream Job: Freelance nutrition, consumer and

sustainability educator (school and community talks, tv,

radio, books, website etc). Or managing my own eco-tourism

company.

Summer or Winter: Summer or Winter: Summer or Winter: Summer or Winter: Summer

Motto: Motto: Motto: Motto: Be happy and do your best to make others happy too.

Favourite Quote:Favourite Quote:Favourite Quote:Favourite Quote: "I awake each morning torn between a desire to save the

world and a desire to savour the world. This makes it hard to plan my day."

E. B. White

Cannot Live without: Cannot Live without: Cannot Live without: Cannot Live without: Trying to have a positive outlook on life.

Loved by: Loved by: Loved by: Loved by: Hopefully at least a handful of people....

Hated by: Hated by: Hated by: Hated by: Possibly all those smokers I’ve asked to stop smoking in public

places...

If you had to be left stranded on an island what three home economics items If you had to be left stranded on an island what three home economics items If you had to be left stranded on an island what three home economics items If you had to be left stranded on an island what three home economics items

would you like to have beside you? Why?would you like to have beside you? Why?would you like to have beside you? Why?would you like to have beside you? Why?

A variety of seeds to start growing some fruits and veg and herbs.

A book on how to use natural ingredients for making soap, toothpaste,

shampoo, moisturiser.

A book on how to weave grass mats- for sleeping on, for covering myself at

night and to make smoke signals so a passing boat or plane might rescue me.

XXII. IFHE World Congress

16 - 21 July 2012

Melbourne - Australia

"Global Wellbeing"

For more information: http://www.ifhe2012.org/

Name: Name: Name: Name: Ruben Dimech

Birthplace: Birthplace: Birthplace: Birthplace: PietÀ

Age: Age: Age: Age: 23

Feels Like: Feels Like: Feels Like: Feels Like: Partying all the time !!!

Current Job: Current Job: Current Job: Current Job: Student/Cabin crew

Dream Job: Dream Job: Dream Job: Dream Job: Teacher/ Lecturer

Summer or Winter: Summer or Winter: Summer or Winter: Summer or Winter: Definitely SUMMER

Motto: Motto: Motto: Motto: Put a smile on someone’s face.

Favourite Quote: Favourite Quote: Favourite Quote: Favourite Quote: A bad workman always blames his tools.

Cannot live without: Cannot live without: Cannot live without: Cannot live without: Family; Friends & friendship…

Loved by: Loved by: Loved by: Loved by: Most people around me

(I believe).

Hated by: Hated by: Hated by: Hated by: Enemies?? Don’t know…

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Name: Name: Name: Name: Stefania Attard Vella

Birthplace: Birthplace: Birthplace: Birthplace: St. Julians

Age: Age: Age: Age: 31

Feels Like: Feels Like: Feels Like: Feels Like: Going abroad for a never ending holiday

Current Job: Current Job: Current Job: Current Job: Home Economics teacher

Dream Job: Dream Job: Dream Job: Dream Job: Full time actress

Summer or Winter: Summer or Winter: Summer or Winter: Summer or Winter: Winter

Motto: Motto: Motto: Motto: Live life day by day and come what may

Favourite Quote:Favourite Quote:Favourite Quote:Favourite Quote: “Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events,

have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall

be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today,

and I’m going to be happy in it.” Groucho Marx

Cannot Live without: Cannot Live without: Cannot Live without: Cannot Live without: My family, chocolate and my mobile

Loved by: Loved by: Loved by: Loved by: My family and friends

Hated by: Hated by: Hated by: Hated by: Hopefully… no one ☺

If you had to be left stranded on an island what three home economics items If you had to be left stranded on an island what three home economics items If you had to be left stranded on an island what three home economics items If you had to be left stranded on an island what three home economics items

would you like to have beside you? Why?would you like to have beside you? Why?would you like to have beside you? Why?would you like to have beside you? Why?

The first aid box, seeds of different plants, and a box of matches.

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Name: Roberta Vassallo

Birthplace: PietÀ

Age: 28

Feels Like: 20☺

Current Job: Home Economics Teacher

Dream Job: Have various dream jobs, however I am very happy with my current job

Summer or Winter: Summer

Motto: Live the day, as if it is your last day ☺

Favourite Quote: In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: It goes on. (by Robert Frost)

Cannot Live without: Family & Friends

Loved by: Family & Friends

Hated by: Hopefully nobody, but who knows ☺

If you had to be left stranded on island what three home economics items would you like to have beside you? Why? Food – for survival Matches – Good tool for survival Laptop with internet - To keep myself updated

Name: Karl Mifsud

Birthplace: G’Mangia

Age: 29

Feels Like: I am in my mid teens…☺…Loving every bit of them!

Current Job: H.E. and D&T Teacher at the Liceo Hamrun

Dream Job: Working in a Royal Household as Chef or Private Tutor!

Summer or Winter: When I was younger I loved summer to bits…I loved going to the beach and swimming hours upon end…Nowadays I prefer winter and the Feel of Comfort it brings..:)

Motto: Be Prepared!

favourite Quote: True friends are Like Diamonds, Precious and Rare, False Friends are Like Autumn Leaves Found Everywhere

Cannot Live without: Wife, Family, Friends…and a Good Interesting Recipe book.

Loved by: Wife, family, friends

Hated by: ALL those that never thought and Still Think that I am Capable of doing and Achieving Things! If you had to be left stranded on an island what three home economics items would you like to have beside you? Why? The Latest Pictorial Kitchen Bible: This would make life a little bit easier for me to decide on which proper vegetation and Meat to feed upon, A Piece of Red Textile Material as to make anyone’s life who is looking for me Easier to reach me A box or two of long Matches as for me to be able to cook and keep warm at night!

Dissertations by B.Ed (Hons.) Nutrition, Family & Consumer Studies (NFCS) Student s

2006 – 2010 Year Group

Energy And Water Conservation In The Home: A Teachers' Resource Pack Abdilla Charlene

Teaching Home Economics Through The Primary Curriculum: Focusing On Wise Food Choices And Healthy Snacks

Abela Karen

An Evaluation Of The National Standards In Local Child Day Care Facilities Azzopardi Maria

Home Economics Themes In TV Magazine Programmes: A Content Analysis And Impact On Mothers

Caruana Sylvia

Textiles Technology In Maltese Secondary Schools: Developing A Resource Pack For Teachers And Students

Fedele Siobhan

Environment- Friendly Practices Within The Maltese Local Councils Micallef Beverly

Set Inductions: An Activity Manual For A Selection Of Form 4 Lessons Mifsud Maria

A Study Of The Current Fashion Trends Among Form 1 And Form 5 Students

Marylise Muscat

The Influence Of Home Economics And Textiles On The Well-Being Of A Group Of Females

Ramunno Erika

Nutrition Resources For Secondary School Students Schembri Marlene

The Influence Of Art On Students' Creativity In Textile Studies: A Local Analysis

Zahra Elizabeth

Promoting Fruits And Vegetables In Maltese Primary Schools: An Investigative Approach

Zammit Christine

2005 – 2009 Year Group

Food Hygiene Practices In Maltese And Gozitan Households Azzopardi Yanica & Cauchi Amanda

Nutripack: A Case Study On The Use Of ICT Resources In Home Economics Theory Lessons.

Bonnici Roberta & Ruth Gatt

Coeliacs And Vegans Dining Out: An Exploratory Study And The Development Of An Educational Intervention

Caruana Romilyn Jo & Micallef Anastasja

Using An Interactive Technological Approach In The Teaching Of Child Development In Home Economics.

Dalli Pauline And Darmenia Karen

A Nutrition Intervention Programme With A Group Of Year 5 Pupils To Improve School Lunches

Farrugia Sharon

Definitions And Perceptions Of Home Economics In Malta: Focus On The Public And Academic Spheres. Gerada Glorianne

Primary Nutrition Education Across The English Curriculum For Year 1, 2 And 3

Schembri Pasqalia

Eating Patterns Among Form 3 Female Gozitan Students And Their Mothers: A Trans-Generational Study Theuma Elise

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2004 – 2008 Year Group

Healthy Living! Developing And Piloting A Health Education Programme For Year 6 Students

Bonnici Ann Marie

Organic Farming : An Investigation On The Awareness And Knowledge Of Maltese Secondary Home Economics Students And Teachers Borg Joanne

Awareness Of Food Labels Among Form Four Junior Lyceum Students Caruana Charlene & Caruana Romina

The Home Economics Contribution In Resolving The Waste Management Problem

Farrugia Olivia

Producing A Food And Nutrition Textbook For Form 1 Maltese Home Economics Students

Galea Bernice & Vella Rodianne

Teaching Kitchen Planning Through ICT. : Addressing Differential Learning Techniques

Mifsud Karl

The Home Environment In The Home Economics Syllabus And Maltese Contemporary Interior Design

Tabone Dennis

Eating Habits Of Gozitan University Students Living In Malta Xerri Miriam

2003 – 2007 Year Group

A Home Economics Students' Activity Book For Form 1: Focus On Choice And Management Of Resources

Attard Ruth & Cefai Denise

The Advanced Level Home Economics Examination: A Trend Analysis And Expectations Survey Camilleri Katrina

The Production And Evaluation Of A Teachers' And A Students' Handbook For Form 1 Home Economics: Focus On Nutrition And Health

Degiorgio Vanessa & Galea Brenda

Using ICT In A Home Economics Lessons : A Short-Term Impact Assessment Zammit Maria Rita

Smoking And Gender Differences In Adolescence Zammit Stephanie

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Dissertations by B.Ed (Hons.) Nutrition, Family & Consumer Studies (NFCS) Student s

PRESS RELEASE 8PRESS RELEASE 8PRESS RELEASE 8PRESS RELEASE 8----7777----10101010

(circulated to the local press)

Active Role for Malta and ‘Home Economists in Action’ Active Role for Malta and ‘Home Economists in Action’ Active Role for Malta and ‘Home Economists in Action’ Active Role for Malta and ‘Home Economists in Action’

at Financial Literacy Conference in Brusselsat Financial Literacy Conference in Brusselsat Financial Literacy Conference in Brusselsat Financial Literacy Conference in Brussels

A conference organised by the European Commission entitled “Financial Literacy: Dolceta”, took place in Brussels on 28 May 2010. It brought together nearly 200 national and EU stakeholders including government and consumer representatives, the banking and financial investment industry, lecturers, teachers, education officials and support services, and the media.

Financial literacy was the main theme of the conference where a new ‘Dolceta’ on-line education tool on financial literacy was presented. www.dolceta.eu/

Malta and Home Economists in Action (HEiA - the local association for Home Economics teachers and graduates) played an active role in the Brussels conference.

Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner John Dalli outlined his priorities for consumer policy in financial services after the crisis: financial education, pre-contractual information and financial advice. A key message was the importance of having available clear, comprehensible and objective information for consumers.

Suzanne Piscopo (University of Malta lecturer and HEiA chairperson) and Miriam O’Donoghue (CDVEC Curriculum Development Unit Deputy Director, Ireland) jointly made a presentation on the Financial Literacy and Financial Services areas of Dolceta, followed by a question-and-answer session with those present.

Dolceta is an ongoing European project focusing on Consumer Education. To date it has 7 sections published on-line offering the general public information on Consumer Rights; Product Safety;

Financial Services; Services such as Energy, Water, Communication, Postal, Transport; and Sustainable

Consumption. It also has sections specifically for teachers on Consumer Education, Sustainable Consumption and Financial Literacy. A new section should be available in Spring 2011 on Food Safety.

HEiA has contributed to the development of the information and teachers’ lesson plans and resources for many of the sections in the Malta version of the Dolceta website. The new section on Financial Literacy was a collaboration between HEiA and the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA).

For more information contact suzanne.piscopo@um.edu.mt

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Congratulations and Best Wishes to

Stefania Attard Vella and family Stefania Attard Vella and family Stefania Attard Vella and family Stefania Attard Vella and family on the arrival of your new family member...Baby Jake.

Wishing You All Lots of Happiness with Your Little One!

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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT EVENTS

CO-SPONSORED OR PARTICIPATED IN BY HEiA

BETWEEN MAY AND JUNE 2010

Public Lecture: 'The Mediterranean Diet: A Tool for Health - A Global Cultural Heritage' Date: May 10, 2010

Venue: National Curriculum Centre, Ħamrun

Speaker: Dr Anna Bach-Faig, scientific coordinator of the Mediterranean Diet Foundation in

Barcelona.

Topic: Current research on the Mediterranean diet and its link with health, monitoring through

dietary indexes, progress towards defining the diet and research on improving food

availability and healthy eating

Sponsors: NFCS office of the Faculty of Education and HEiA

Fair Booth: ‘Sustainable, Local and Healthy Traditional Foods’ Date: May 16, 2010

Venue: World Fest at Upper Barrakka Gardens, Valletta

Topic: Distributed bookmarks with recipes; offered tastings of healthy dips with galletti; sold

freshly squeezed orange juice, fresh strawberries and ftajjar biż-żejt.

Sponsors: Koperattivà Kummerċ Ġust and HEiA

Leaflets: ‘LifeXcel’ – Promoting Healthy Lifestyles and Diabetes Awareness

Date: June 16, 2010

Venue: Ċaċċu Social Club, Qormi

Topic: Distributed a series of leaflets developed by 2006-2010 B.Ed. (Hons)

Home Economics/NFCS students during the LifeXcel event

Sponsors: NFCS office of the Faculty of Education and HEiA

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