NGO in General Consultative Status with the ECOSOC of the United Nations
64 Countries where IFFD works
JANUARY-FEBRUARY-MARCH 2014
About IFFD and figures Family Enrichment activity began in the mid-sixties with the development of support programs for parents based on the case method: a useful way of promoting dialogue about real situations which avoids imposing our own ideas or dismissing other people’s. After more than 30 years experience of carrying out these courses, the International Federation for Family Development was founded in Orlando (Florida), as a union of non-denominational, non-profit, independent and private Family Enrichment Centers. The headquarters is in Spain, which is where the first courses started.
1,728 Family Enrichment moderators
629 Family Enrichment courses
22,950 Participants in Family Enrichment courses
The primary mission of IFFD is to support parents in their child-rearing work, helping them develop their full potential as main educators for their children. Other goals of the organization are to provide expertise and knowledge regarding the family in national and international forums; to promote research studies; and to organize world congresses that focus on the needs of the family, in order to make these needs known to different social partners.
4,403 Family Enrichment cases
Artistas nÂş 2, 2 28020 Madrid (Spain)
www.iffd.org
Family Enrichment in the World Family Enrichment Programs
Families and Societies Project is the most
Our training programs employ the same methodology used by the most prestigious business schools around the world, known as the ‘case method. This method has been properly adapted to our courses and helps transmit to parents the knowledge, skills, and attitudes they need to be able to execute their roles as parents. The courses are based on programs designed according to the different development stages that children pass through. FIRST STEPS, for parents with children from 0 to 3 years old and/or young couples planning to become parents. This course will help you discover the main pedagogical frameworks and the basic habits that infants should acquire.
Public Affairs
important research on the family project carried out within the framework of the European Union. Launched on March 8 in Stockholm, it has the support of twenty-five universities from fifteen countries. IFFD is involved as a representative of civil society.
The first annual meeting of the Families and Societies project, which brought together all the partners thereof, was held in Tallinn, Estonia, from January 8-10. Acacia School, Brussels, Belgium. First Letters course. Mid-January, 14 couples.
On January 28 and 29, two seminars organized to
present the first results of the Families and Societies project took place in Brussels. The seminars were organized by Population Europe (of the Max Planck Institute) in collaboration with the Population Centre of the University of Oxford, the European University Institute, the International Federation for Family Development, and the European Economic and Social Committee. Among those attending were representatives of the European Commission, Parliament, and the European Economic and Social Committee, as well as representatives of various organizations and governments. Heinz Becker, Austrian MEP, made a vibrant plea to overcome the ideologization of the themes of family and to work together to cope with the current problems.
FIRST LETTERS, for parents with children from 6 to 7 years old. The course will help parents reconcile a unique upbringing with the in-fluence of friends and family. It is now time to introduce to children the family style that each marriage creates and help channel their be-havior on the basis of the human vir-tues. FIRST DECISIONS, for parents with children from 8 to 11 years old. In this course, parents analyze the importance to live according to a scale of values, how to transmit and how to help them acquire these values.
Turin, Italy Pre-Adolescence course, February 15 Faes Argonne School, Milan Adolescence course, Mid-February
On January 23-24, an event organized in preparation for this year’s Twentieth Anniversary of the International Year of the Family took place at Strathmore University, Nairobi. Conferences involved, among others, Renata Kaczmarska, Coordinator of the Family Program of the United Nations; the Chairman of the Constitutional Committee; the Member of the High Panel for New Development Goals in Kenya, Betty Maina; Jamila Mohammed; and the Lady Justice in Kenya.
PRE-ADOLESCENCE, for parents with children from 11 to 14 years old. In this course, parents analyze the caus-es and effects of such changes and they study the most appropriate guidelines to maintain a firm and down-to-earth relationship with their children, without limiting their natural discovery of the world. ADOLESCENCE, for parents with children from 14 to 16 years old. In this course, parents discover the value of their adolescent children and discover how to efficiently communicate in moments of crisis. In addition, they will analyze the social tendencies that im-pact the development of their adolescent’s fragile personality.
Saint Petersburg, Russia Moderators training, 18-19 January. 10 couples Moscow, Russia Matrimonial Love session, 1 February
MATRIMONIAL LOVE II course is designed for all married couples who want to strengthen their marriage and deepen their personal growth. Marriage is a life project to be undertaken with responsibility, freedom and love. PERSONAL PROJECT. Big decisions, that will affect the rest of their lives, are taken at this moment. In this course, the young participants analyse and discuss the most relevant aspects of the topics that make up their future.
Events in Preparation for the 20th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family
Family Enrichment Courses Presented to the Economic and Social Committee (UN) as an example of a best practice.
Renata Kaczmarska, the director of International Relations of IFFD and some brazilian politicians and academics have been part of an event to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the International Year of the Family, organized by the Instituto Brasileiro da Família in Sao Paulo on 24 March. The launching of the 20th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family in Argentina was marked by a full two-and-a-half day schedule with activities and meetings that were designed to reach all levels of Argentine society, including primary and university level education, politics, non-governmental and civil organizations, private enterprise, etc (26-28 March)
Twentieth anniversary of the International Year of the Family focuses on exploring faThe preparations for the
mily-oriented policies and strategies aiming mainly at confronting family poverty; ensuring work-family balance and advancing social integration and intergenerational solidarity.
IFFD Briefing in United Nations The second edition of the IFFD Briefing was held at UN Headquarters on February 18, 2014. It is celebrated every year during the Session of the Commission for Social Development, taking advantage of the participation of Delegates and visitors from many governments around the World. During the ceremony, the Civil Society Declaration was officially presented, as were this year’s IFFD Awards. The Government of Singapore was represented by Adele Li, for his efforts in the implementation of family policies and involvement in the celebration of the Twentieth Anniversary of the International Year of the Family. Carlos Enrique García, Permanent Ambassador Representative of El Salvador to the United Nations and Vice-Chairman of the Committee for Social Development, was accompanied by his family.
Carlos Enrique García with his family and Marina Robben
Adele Li and Jim Morgan
IFFD’s statement at the High-level Panel discussion on the Family in Observance of the Twentieth Anniversary of the International Year of the Family, during the Commission.
The whole delegation of IFFD also participated in other activities during those days: Ignacio Socías was one of the speakers at the Doha Briefing, organized by the Doha International Family Institute on February, 13, as well as in the special event on The Family as a Social Driver of Development held on February, 20, in the Ecosoc Chamber, together with Cristina Napolitano. He was also the speaker on behalf of IFFD for the Family Panel celebrated as part of the Plenary Sessions of February, 18, on the occassion of the 20th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family.