History of AIEJI (International Association of Social Educators)
Introduction
The "Social Educator" profession, initiated in France in 1942, had its greatest evolution of development after the second world war as several European countries faced the reconstruction of their society including the problems of dealing with thousands of children whose parents were either killed, prisoners of war, or temporrary missing during the general chaos of the time. As traditional treatment patterns were abandoned and new child care services were designed to meet the physical, mental, psychological, social, and spiritual needs of young people emerged - that of the "social-educator". The denomination varies from one country to another: In France, "Educateur Specialise", in Germany, "Socialpedagogue", in Denmark and Sweden, "Socio-Pedagogue", in Belgium, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, "Educateur-Social", in Norway, "Barnevernpedagog" etc,
History of the International AssociationIn the late 1940s the Cultural Division of the French High Commissioner's
Office in Germany gave the assignment to H. Van Etten and H. Joubrel
the responsibility to organize an international meeting on problems
in the education of troubled children and youth. The purpose of the
meeting, held in April 1949, was to promote in the aftermath of the
war better understanding between the French and Germans working with
troubled youth. While originally the scope of the discussion involved
only the German and French individuals, several representatives from
other countries were later invited.
A second meeting took place in 1950 in Bad-Durckheim, with a third following
in Freiburg-im-Breisgau. In each of these meetings, the French Association
of Educateurs brought enthusiasm to the discussions which in turn motivated
participants from other countries to found similar organizations in
their own country in support of the educateur philosophy as evidenced
in France.
By the time that the fourth conference was held in Germany on 1951,
it was becoming clear that such international meetings were helpful
in addressing the needs of young people. For this reason, in the German
Mountains near Schluchsee, the participants organized the International
Association of Workers for Troubled Children and Youth (AIEJI),
and elected a Dutch educator D.Q.R. Mulock Houwer, who was then the
director of the "Zandbergen" Schools in Amersfoort to become
president. The infant association then had its headquarters in the Netherlands.
The participants at Schluchsee not only organized and developed the
association now known as AIEJI; they also created the international
logo of the association which is recognized throughout the world today.
The road signs frequently seen in the Black Forest area pointing out
wild animal crossings struck participants at the international meeting.
They thought that the leaping doe. Later promoted to a gazelle with
the addition of two horns on its head, evoked perfectly the springing
movement of the brand new AIEJI. They put it with the Latin motto "In
Liberate sursum". The world map which serves as a background
was added latter.
Since 1964 until 1978, Henry Joubrel from France, held the presidency
of the international association.
In the last General Assembly held in Brescia, Italy on 1997, the name
of the association has been changed from "International Association
of Workers for Troubled Children and Youth" to:
"International Association of Social Educators".
A new logo was designed, that is keeping some elements of the original
one, but introduces a more dynamic and modern character.
The International association holds a world congress every four years
and a more regional type seminar every two years.
The first world congress was held in September 1953 - Amersfoort (Netherlands),
with a main topic:"Cooperation between training centers for institutional
personnel and the institutions themselves".
The second world congress was held in July 1954 - Brussels (Belgium),
with a main topic:"The essential aspects of the work of a specialised
'educateur".
July 1956 - Fontainebleau (France), with a main topic:"The nature
of the relationship 'educateur'-troubled youth".
June 1958 - Lausanne (Switzerland): "Continuing education for educateurs
of troubled youth"
June 1960 - Rome (Italy):"The educateur of troubled youth and his
mental hygiene"
September 1963 - Freiburg im-Breisgau (Germany):"The basic educational,
the specialization, and the ongoing training of educateurs of troubled
children and youth".
July 1970 - Versailles (France):"The social role of the educateur
of troubled children and youth".
May 1974 - Geneva and Lausanne (Switzerland):"The educateur and
the new behavior of young people in difficulty".
April 1978 - Montreal (Quebec, Canada):"The future of maladjusted
children".
May 1982 - Copenhagen (Denmark):"Between segregation and integration:
The right to difference".
May 1986 - Jerusalem (Israel):"Social and economic options in favor
of youth in difficulty".
July 1990 - New York (USA):"Young people in conflict: Building
their tomorrows together".
September 1994 - Potsdam (Germany):"Educative action and crisis
throughout the world-a challenge for profession and research".
June 1997 - Brescia (Italy):"The socio-educational function in
a multicultural world".
June 2001 - Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain):"Ethics and quality of
socio-educational action".
Several regional seminars were organised in the last ten years. One held in Montreux (Switzerland), in 1991, the other held in Jerusalem (Israel), in 1999.
The primary memberships were National Associations, but since the last 15 years individual members and associated members have been accepted too.
As today, thirty Countries who are affiliated to AIEJI, either by a
National Educators association ore by other type of memberships. They
are:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Democratic Republic of
Congo, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, Honduras, India,
Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Luxembourg, Nicaragua, Norway, Palestinian
Authority, Paraguay, Portugal, Salvador, Spain, South Africa, Switzerland,
Togo, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela.
The goals of the Association, in liaison with national and international organizations are:
1. To unite educateurs of troubled youth from all countries, whatever
their
functions and beliefs may be.
2. To contribute to the training and to the continuing education of
educateurs of troubled youth.
3. To contribute to the organization of the profession of educateur
of
troubled youth
4. To gain respect for and to develop methods of education which have
as principle respect of the individual.
5. To contribute to the studies of the protection of youth as a national
and
international problem and to facilitate for its member's contacts and
exposure to educational experiences taking place in various places
around the world.
6. To be for all a source of documentation in the field of social-education
and protection of children and youth.
These noble ideas can be beautifully demonstrated by a citation from
Henry Joubrel's word:
"How many effective frustrations are a cause of inadaptation: how
much time we must put in to really help a person in difficulty; how
much is a youngster (like an adult) different from what he appears to
be, even in the test's light and life in a group". In: Jouvrel,
H. (1985). Temoin et Acteur de l'Evolution de l'Action Educative
et Sociale, Paris: Publications of AIEJI.
The association strives to reach its goals by:
a. encouraging the creation of social educator association in countries
in which there are no such associations.
b. Organizing encounters, colloquiums, seminars or international congresses
of a general, inter-regional or regional nature.
c. Serving as an intermediary between its members and possibly for the
benefit of other persons, in the organization of visits of institutions
and services for protection of persons in the members' countries of
residence.
d. The possible publucation of circulars, a bulletin or magazine, of
different work, by an exchange of documentation concerning social education,
through collaboration on practical or scientific publications in the
field.
e. Aiming to create a documentation center on social education or by
adding to international documentation centers devoted to this subject.
f. Working together with the United Nations and its specialized institutions,
particularly with UNESCO, as well as with other international or national
organizations, whether inter-governmental, governmental or not, concerned
with social education.
g. Any other means.
Administration
The current President is Mr. Arlin Ness,
President of Starr Commenwealth Schools in the USA
13725 Starr Commonwealth Rd.
Albion, MI 49224, USA
Tel: +1.517.629.5591
Fax: +1.517.629.2317
E-Mail: nessa@starr.org
The Treasurer is Jean-Marc Roethlisberger
Chemin d'Entre-Bois 1
CH- 1018 Lausanne, Switzerland
Tel: +41-21-6431151
Fax: +41-21-6462402
E-Mail: mdj@bluewin.ch
The General Secretary is Lars Steinov
Enghaven, Enghavevej 12
DK-1674 Copenhagen V, Denmark
Tel: +45-33-257844
Fax: +45-33-259844
E-Mail: steinov@enghaven.dk
First Vice-President is Dr. Emmanuel Grupper
Haslosha Str., 2 P.O.Box 9419
61090 Tel Aviv, Israel
TEL: +972-3-6898758 ; FAX: +972-3-6898759
E-MAIL : emang@kfar-olami.org.il
Second Vice-President, Mrs. Heike Beerman
Blomenburger Allee, 14
24238 Selent
Germany
Tel: +49-43-84608; Fax: +49-43-84601
E-Mail: Heike.Beermann@t-online.de
