IFSW General Meeting, Geneva, Switzerland, 10-12 July 2002
About Andy
Dr. Andrew "Andy" Mouravieff-Apostol, IFSW’s Secretary General from 1975 to 1992 and later Honorary President died in Geneva August 13, 2001.
Andy’s lifetime spanned close to a century. He was born in Cannes, France February 7, 1913 of Russian /Ukrainian parents. The family was abroad when the 1917 revolution in Russia broke out it was impossible for the aristocratic family to return home. Not until the time of the perestroika in the late 1980’s, Andy could return to his former homeland for visits. Andy started his career as a journalist and worked as a foreign correspondent in England before and during World War II. During the war he also served in the Free French military forces. After the war, Andy left journalism and took up a position with the World Council of Churches and later with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. He served in many countries, but mainly in South America, where he met his future wife Ellen. The couple settled in Geneva, where Andy until his death worked as a professional interpreter at the United Nations and other international bodies.
From 1975 to 1992 Andy was IFSW Secretary General, and was elected lifelong Honorary President when he retired in 1992. For IFSW, Andy was the cornerstone. He communicated with social workers of all countries with warmth, knowledge and diplomacy and became like a father for the international social work community.
Honouring Andy
To honour Andy’s memory and to stimulate to the further development of international social work, we propose that a medal is struck in his name. More detailed regulations will need to be developed, but the main outline should be:
- At IFSW General Meetings/ World Conferences, starting in 2004, a medal with an accompanying diploma shall be presented to an individual or organisation that over time has made a significant contribution to international social work.
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- Member organisations, officers and members of the IFSW Executive Committee and official IFSW international representatives can make nominations.
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- A committee shall be established, consisting of Ellen Mouravieff-Apostol, the IFSW President and one more person designated by the IFSW Executive Committee. The IFSW Executive Committee shall also designate others as members of the Committee if someone is unable to serve. The Committee shall consider nominations received and make the final decision. The IFSW Secretariat serves as Secretary for the Committee.
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- The IFSW General Meeting authorises the IFSW Executive Committee to develop guidelines for the Medal in Memory of Andrew Mouravieff-Apostol
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