| | SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT |
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1994 INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE FAMILY |
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The Logo for the International Year of the Family is an representation of a heart sheltered
by a roof, linked by another heart, to symbolize life and love in a home where one finds
warmth, caring, security, togetherness, tolerance and acceptance. The open design
is meant to indicate continuity with a hint of uncertainty. The brushstroke, with
its open line roof, completes an abstract symbol representing the complexity of the family.
The Family is the basic unit of society.
It is the primary source of nurturing and
is a vital means of protecting human values, cultural identity and historical continuity.
The family educates, trains, supports and motivates its individual members, thereby
investing in their future growth and serving as a fundamental resource for development.
As a result of economic changes, the family as a cohesive unit is breaking down
in many parts of the world. As it dissolves, so dissolves its ability to support
its members. The Goals of the International Year of the Family (IYF) are to increase awareness of the extensive and integral value that the family provides and to develop and assist programmes which protect and strengthen it. The IYF will stimulate local, national and international actions as part of a sustained long-term effort. To accomplish its objective of supporting the family in its diverse forms throughout the world so that it may fulfill its important functions for the benefit of all society. (International Year of the Family, Social Development Division, United Nations Office, Vienna, Austria) |
| THE FAMILY PACK
("La Festa Dell' Arcobaleno", Santocchi Paola and Todini Graziella, Italy -- "Visions of a Better World") |
The Brahma Kumaris, as part of their activities for the International Year of the Family produced the Family Pack which provides excellent assistance to families interested in improving or developing relationships and communication. It can be used by any group of people who, for whatever reason, consider themselves to be a "family". |
| "It is my hope that the Family Pack shall be read and shared by many families,
and that its intentions shall be widely honored. 1994 was proclaimed the Year of the Family by the General Assembly of the United Nations,
in recognition of the support needed for families all over the world. I congratulate
the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University on taking this excellent initiative in
support of families and the Year."
(Excerpted from a letter by Henryk J. Sijaksji, Coordinatior for the International Year of the Family. UNPCSD, Secretariat for the IYF.) As part of the Living Values: An Educational Program a book called Living Values Parent Groups: A Facilitator Guide was created. As a child's fist and perhaps most important teacher, parents impart lifelong values to their children from the beginning. This Living Values guide offers a comprehensive program to help parents and caregivers encourage and develop social and emotional skills in children. which incudes facilitated sessions designed to develop understanding and skills needed to encourage and positively develop values in children. |
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©2004 BKWSU |
