Domestic workers have always formed a significant group of the Brazilian workforce. According to the National Household Sample Survey (PNAD) conducted by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) in 2020, there are 4.5 million domestic workers, 12.8% of which are aged 14 to 29. Women represent more than 92% of the people engaged in domestic work, of which more than 65% (3 million) are black women. The typical domestic worker is a young unschooled woman originating from the countryside or an impoverished urban area. Working hard and long hours from a young age onwards, earning very little money in return, these young women all too often remain unschooled and unable to escape the tangles of unregulated domestic work. Given this precarious situation, it is no surprise that domestic workers have been a focal point for the Brazilian YCW (JOC Brasileira) ever since its foundation. On the occasion of the International Day of Domestic Workers, KADOC lets the IYCW archives and the Brazilian YCW speak about the issue of domestic work in Brazil.

It has been two months since the IYCW archives were moved to KADOC, and since we have made good progress. In total, more than 1500 archive boxes were moved, which amounts to more than 160 meters! Here’s how we deal with such a large archive:

The process starts by putting the boxes on empty shelves in our depot. This allows us to gain an overview and match boxes that belong together, e.g. all boxes concerning International Councils. Then we apply ever more structure to the contents. For example, we first assemble all documents on the International Council in Beirut 1969 and then devise them into files or dossiers according to the subject; pieces concerning the preparation of the council, the subjects debated during the council, the elections, etc. Luckily, some sections already have an inventory made by members of the International Secretariat, which offers us a valuable guideline.

Configuration of the I.C. official opening at Saint Peter's Square in Rome

After the outbreak of the pandemic in 2019, the IYCW has postponed the celebration of the XVth International Council. However unusual the current situation is, the postponing of an important event is no first in the history of the IYCW. This article takes a look at the preparations for the World Assembly and International Council in Rome 64 years ago, events that could have taken place earlier if it wasn’t for a global crisis: the Second World War.

1957 is a year engraved in IYCW (International Young Christian Workers) memory, and for good reason. The official recognition of the statutes by Pope Pius XII in Rome marked the beginning of an independent and autonomous IYCW. At the same time, the Italian capital was buzzing with life as some 30 000 young workers from across the globe gathered for the World Assembly. Many eyes were fixed on Rome; the IYCW was about to show itself to the world.