ADVENTURES IN COOKING 83

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United Natwns
and Jnternational &xchange Programmes

By PRIscILLA BOWEN-COLTHURST

This Convenership was born out of the realization of our kinship
with the countrywomen of all nations. The work is divided into three
subjects, that of personal contacts through correspondence between mem-
bers of B.C. Women’s Institutes and members of similar organizations
in other countries — “Letter Friends”, and Exchange Programmes between
organizations in other lands and our own W.I.’s, and thirdly our study
of the United Nations and help given through the Specialized Agencies
of United Nations — UNESCO and UNICEF: United Nations Educational
Scientific Cultural Organizations, and United Nations International Chil-
dren’s Emergency Fund respectively.

Pen friends date back to 1950 and records at that time soon included
links with England, United States, Australia, Wales, France, Sweden,
Germany, and New Zealand. Homemakers, young and old throughout the
world enjoy exchanging news about their homes, about their families, life
in each others’ countries, and the places they have visited, as well as
problems faced and tackled. Many have been able to visit through cor-
respondence in a very real way and some have been fortunate enough to
actually travel to the home of their “Pen-Pal”’. In all cases a closer under-
standing and a feeling of sincere friendship and concern for each other
has grown.

Many B.C. W.I.’s have formed links with W.I.’s in other countries.
During World War II food parcels were sent from B.C. W.I.’s to W.I.’s
in Great Britain, and gifts of books, calendars, pictures, table cloths, etc.
were enjoyed in return.

When the Associated Country Women of the World Conference was
held in Toronto in 1953, much interest was shown in International Ex-
change and as a result at the Federated Women’s Institutes of Canada
Convention which followed, a new Convenership was set up to include
United Nations, Exchange Programs, Letter Friends.