New Beginnings 

Mahatma Gandhi, realised the need to awaken the women of India to their nation’s needs. Vibrant women freedom fighters took it upon themselves to accept the challenge. The founding of AIWEFA in 1929 was their legacy.

A group of women of All India Women’s Conference (AIWC) , a premier women’s organisation, championed the cause of their unfortunate sisters by improving access to education and struggled hard to overcome social disabilities.

In 1930, the Pachmari session of AIWEFA declared that the education of women had to be relevant to their needs, sometimes different from that of men. The importance of scientific outlook in women was acknowledged and the need was felt to give a thrust to develop women’s inherent capacities to enable them to apply “The Science of Living” to their education.

With Lady Dorothy Irwin as the Patroness, ‘AIWEFA will be a real benefactor to the women and girls of India and the dreams of its founders will come true.’ (Secretary’s Report, 1929)

The objectives of the Association were to administer the funds to promote the education of women and girls in India, institution of propaganda for propagating such education in the country, the increase and supply of better trained teachers, having particular regard to the inclusion of training of domestic subjects, encouragement and production of better text books and attractive and suitable literature in vernacular languages, the promotion of children of kindergarten age and the promotion of courses in Home Craft, Fine Arts, Domestic Science, Physical Culture and other suitable subjects.

From the above gradually evolved the shape of an All India Institution, which ultimately led to the founding of Lady Irwin College for Women on November 11, 1932, with 11 students, at No. 11 Barakhamba Road, New Delhi under the Director-ship of Ms. Hannah Sen.

1932 – 1950:

AIWEFA managed college affairs till 1950 on academic and financial fronts .It was with some struggle that University of Delhi agreed to affiliate the college as its constituent in 1950 and award the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Education degrees.

1950 – 1970:

The college expanded in numbers of students and staff, degrees offered, activities and infrastructural development. At the AIWEFA Annual General Meeting of 1969, it was resolved that “ a separate society in the name of the Lady Irwin College Society be constituted and registered as per University rules and regulations.”

It was further resolved that the land, buildings, and other assets of the Lady Irwin College , so far vested in the All India Women’s Education Fund Association be transferred to the “ Lady Irwin College Society.” Eventually it was done in June, 1971.

1970 – 1995:

Infrastructural development and academic expansion of the college continued at a rapid pace in the next two and a half decades.

1995 – 2005:

In 1996  a “Pachayati Raj Sammelan” was held by AIWEFA to advocate the introduction of three tier system for Panchayati Raj before its implememtation by the Government.

In 1998, A conference “ Women on the March” was organised by AIWEFA in solidarity with UN Women’s International conference on the same topic.

1999: AIWEFA was granted Special Consultative Status by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations.

1999-2001: Legal Awareness programmes were conducted for women in 18 villages of Haryana with support from Ford Foundation.

In 2002, the then AIWEFA President Ms. Veena Singh attended ‘ A World Summit on Sustaiable Ddevelopment (WSSD)’ held at Johnnesburg, South Africa.

The AIWEFA rededicated itself to the goals set by its founders. The vision had to be expanded to include information technology and scientific improvements in all, industrial, agricultural and traditional artistry. In 2005, AIWEFA celebrated its Platinum Jubilee and reemphasised the need to bring in scientific temper in the way of life. The main celebrations were held on March 22 and 23, 2005 through a two day Workshop, Seminar and Exhibition.

2005 – 2007:

This time, the college had both undergraduate and postgraduate education in Foods & Nutrition, Human Development , Childhood Studies, Fabric & Apparel Science, Development Communication & Extension and Resource Management & Design Application. Doctoral programmes have been ongoing for the last four decades. The department of Education offers a Bachelor’s degree in Home Science Education and in 2007 it introduced the one year Bachelor of Special Education-Mental Retardation (MR) programme. The college also celebrated its Platinum Jubilee in 2007.

AIWEFA has the responsibility to provide the names of the members for the Governing Body of the Lady Irwin College to the University of Delhi annually by electing them at its Annual General Meeting.

AIWEFA’s activities in the rural and urban communities have intensified; AIWEFA’s advocacy and lobbying for mainstreaming gender has gained momentum with its regular workshops, interactions and networking. AIWEFA participates in various national and international fora including the United Nations.

2008:

The college was conferred the status of CAS i.e. Centre for Advanced Studies in Home Science by the University Grants Commission.

2011:

The college started the Semester System and is continuing it as per  University of Delhi guidelines.

2012-2013:

Nine Solar Fairs were held in Gurgaon villages and 2 National Seminars on Green & Solar Energy were held in New Delhi.

2014:

The 85th Foundation Year Celebrations started.

2015:

AIWEFA had several programmes under 85th Year Celebrations.

2016:

AIWEFA had National Consultation for CSW60 at New Delhi on 9 March 2015 and a parallel event “ A World We Women Want” at UN HQs. New York on 15 March 2016.

2017:

  • National launch at Delhi of Global South Website” A World We Women Want: Economic Empowerment”
  • Organised the event “A World We Women Want” at CSW61, at New Yorkon 13, March 2017.
  • School and College workshops on ” Promoting Intergenerational Bonding”.
  • College workshop on “Awareness and Prevention of Drug Addiction”.
  • Project : Promotion & Development of Handicrafts from locally available resources” at Port Blair with the Government of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Khadi & Village Industries Board.
  • Organised the 15th  AIWEFA-Nina Sibal Memorial Award function on 2 August 2017.

2018:

  • Organised the 16th  AIWEFA-Nina Sibal Memorial Award function on 2 August 2018.
  • National Conference “Ensuring healthy lives and promoting wellness in old age” held  on 1st & 2nd November,  2018 at Lady Irwin College, New Delhi.
  • School and college workshops on “Promoting Intergenerational Bonding” at Delhi / NCR.

2019:

  • National programme “Khadi Goes Global” on 21 February 2019, at National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum , Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
  • Organised the  International event “Khadi Goes Global” at United Nations headquarters, New York, the CSW63 events in March 2019, included a Side Event in partnership with the Permanent Mission of India and the KVIC sponsored Khadi fabrics were promoted at the Artisan Fair and Parallel Event.
  • Organised the 17th  AIWEFA-Nina Sibal Memorial Award function on 2 August 2019.

2020:

  • COVID-19 videos on AIWEFA YouTube channel.
  • AIWEFA speak on INDIGENOUS WOMEN’S NARRATIVES IN TIMES OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC webinar on 23 May 2020.
  • “Impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on People with Disabilities” webinar series on Research and Education; Educational and Rehabilitation Outreach; Visual Impairment; Mental Health. The webinars drew upon the experience of the 11 AIWEFA Nina Sibal Awardees who work with disabilities.
  • XVIII Nina Sibal Memorial Award ceremony was held virtually on 2nd August 2020

2021:

  • A National Webinar Series of 5 webinars was organised by AIWEFA on Covid 19 Community Connects  between 29th January 2021 and 13th February 2021, with support from NISD.
  • A virtual event named “ A World We Women Want: Gender-Just & Violence- Free ” under the aegis of CSW65 of United Nations was organised by AIWEFA in partnership with the Permanent Mission of India to the UN on 18th March 2021.
  • X IX Nina Sibal Memorial Award ceremony was held virtually on 2nd August 2020