Programme Director
Pastor
Councilors present
Head of Department
Officials from respective Departments present
Members of the Community
Ladies and gentlemen

Families are the basic unit of every community and society. Government implements programmes that provide support to families such as health care, education, housing, social grants, income generating activities such as public works programmes and many others. At the same time, families face several challenges such as the impact of poverty and unemployment, drugs and substance abuse, crime, domestic violence and violence against women and children.

Dames en here, vandag kom ons bymekaar om erkenning te gee aan die belangrikheid van die familie eenheid in ons samelewing. Dit is ongelukkig so dat die waarde van die familie in die afgelope jare erg gedaal het en dat ons vandag ‘n krisis in die oë staar. Dit is nie net hier in ons land nie, maar ook reg oor die wêreld.

Die eenheid wat ons ken as ‘n familie bestaan glad nie meer en dit is juis daarom dat die Verenigde Nasies se Algemene Vergadering die 15 de Mei elke jaar as Internasionale Dag van Families verklaar het.

Ek wil voor ons verder aangaan eers ‘n baie ernstige beroep doen dat  ouers om ten alle tye weet waar julle kinders is. Die afgelope dae is die nuus oorval deur gebeure waar kinders wreedaardig vermoor is. Dit is nie net kinders nie maar jong dames wat aan die hande van hul mans en metgeselle mishandel word. Dit gaan sover dat die einste man wat die vrou moet behoed en bewaar die een is wat haar lewe neem en die vermetelheid het om haar lewelose liggaam te skend en te verbrand.

As gemeenskap en in spesifiek mans verwerp en veroordeel ons hierdie wandade ten strekste. En vandag as ‘n man, vader, ‘n oom, ‘n leier en ‘n lid van die gemeensakp en samelewing staan ek voor in die ry om te verklaar dat hierdie wandade nie in my naam gepleeg sal word nie. Nooit maar nooit kan en mag ons net toestaan en kyk da tons kinder swat so weerloos is mishandle en vermoor word nie. Dit moet stop en dit moet nou stop. 

Ladies and gentlemen, during the commemoration of International Day for Families, the main focus will once again be on celebrating and recognizing the family as the basic unit of society, maximizing the participation and commitment of all sectors in strengthening family life, and ensuring that families have access to services.

The theme of 2017 is "Families, Education and well-being" and focusses on the role of families and family orientated policies in promoting education and overall wellbeing of their members. In particular, the day is to raise awareness of the role in promoting early childhood education and lifelong learning opportunities for children and youth. But we cannot do it alone. We, as Government need the cooperation of not only the parents, but the entire family unit as a whole.

Dames en here, die verantwoordelikheid berus dus op ons om toe te sien dat die belange van kinders bevorder en beskerm word. Kinders behoort in ‘n stabiele en veilige omgewing groot te word waar hulle algehele welstand bevorder word.

Dienste wat tans deur die Departement en Nie Winsgewende Organisasies gelewer word sluit onder andere in ‘n omvattende mantjie van dienste of” basket of services” soos die algemeen bekend staan. Dit het ten doel om die familie eenheid te versterk en te bemagtig. Spesifieke dienste aan jeug sluit in sosiale veranderinge, lewens vaardighede en mentorskaps programme wat hulle instaat sal stel of om hulle voor te berei vir die volwasse wêreld.

Dames en Here, as ‘n toeloop tot die Internasionale Dag van Families, het die Departement dialoë met gemeenskappe in al vyf distrikte van die provinsie gehou. In hierdie area is dieselfde gesprekke met alle belanghebbende partye gehou.

The dialogue in Postmasburg took place on 10 May 2017 and focused on the following:

• The importance of early childhood education and role of parents with regards to early childhood educational
• The importance of primary , secondary and tertiary education  and
• The important role of youth development / sustainable development in community of Postmasburg.

The dialogue revealed that

• Parents' of pre – school children should be more engaged in the educational stimulation of their children and enable them  to attend Educational Development Centres;
• some parents lack involvement  in their children's  general wellbeing, progress made  at school and show little interest  in their children's after school activities;
• that parents' should act as role models for their children and society by upholding morals, values and culture;
• there is a need  parenting skills and support groups for parents which will guide them on how to support their children during their life stage development and how to handle children with challenging behaviour;
• need for marriage enrichment programs to prevent and address marriage problems ;
• need for more training on computer- , business - and  life skills

Solutions

The recommendations made by the group, confirms the importance of coordination and collaboration with stakeholders in the attempt to strengthen and improve the general wellbeing of families. The important role of families in the promotion of  lifelong learning is primary suited to the Department of Social Development  as the leading role player, as stable, healthy and preserved families promote and ensure a conducive environment for lifelong learning. Programs such as Parenting skills, Marriage Enrichment and Family Preservation Services, Moral Regeneration Programs (FBO's) and the promotion of ECD learning in communities as recommended, will contribute to the achieving of the goals set for International Day for Families, 2017.
 

               Further Plans 2017
 
In collaboration with stakeholders, an Integrated Action Plan will be implemented based on the major challenges as identified by the community. Focus will be on the promotion of an environment in which lifelong learning will be promoted, with emphasis on the role of parents.

Within the context of service delivery, as mandated by the different Departments and stakeholders, the main focus will be to strengthen and preserve families so as to enable them to rebuild their inner strength and to sustain their families.

Die problem wat deur hierdie gemeenskap in die sig gestaar word het nie net ‘n impak op hul sosio ekonomiese werking nie, maar dit striem hul emosionele welstand in so ‘n mate dat hulle motivering om hierdie problem die hoof te bied, negatief beinvloed word.

Ladies and gentlemen, the first step to becoming a "Better World Family" is to decide to become one. It will be an ongoing learning experience with lots of mistakes. You'll need all of the tools you've learned as peace builders. You might decide to set a regular time to discuss and work out family problems and issues. You'll want to make sure that you show your concern and encouragement for each other, regularly. You'll need to let things go and apologize and accept apologies and make amends when apologies aren't enough. You're a team and you want to work it out. You may decide to work together on projects for a better world as a way to strengthen your dedication.
 Soos Deuteronomium 6:7 toon, is daar baie geleenthede wanneer julle as ouers geestelike sake met julle kinders kan bespreek. Of julle nou saam reis, saam takies verrig of saam ontspan, julle sal waarskynlik geleenthede vind om in julle kinders se geestelike behoeftes te voorsien. Julle hoef natuurlik nie gedurig vir julle kinders oor Bybelwaarhede te preek nie. Probeer liewer om gesinsgesprekke op ’n opbouende, geestelike vlak te hou. Sulke gesprekke sal kinders dalk beweeg om meer van die lektuur te lees wat “die getroue en verstandige slaaf”-klas voorsien..
Dames en here, al is jou werk as ’n ouer soms moeilik, selfs uitputtend, kan jy seker wees dat God jou inspanning baie waardeer. God is die Insteller van die gesinsreëling. Sy Woord sê dus dat elke familie “sy naam”—ja, sy bestaan—“te danke het” aan God. Wanneer ons as ouers dan daarna streef om ons rol in die gesin op die regte manier te vervul, eer ons die Soewereine Heer van die heelal . Is dit nie ’n groot voorreg nie?

The Department of Social development has many programmes and interventions to promote the ideal of responsible and healthy families. In collaboration with stakeholders, an Integrated Action Plan will be implemented based on the major challenges as identified by the community, focusing on alcohol and drug abuse which leads to poor family interpersonal relations, poor school attendance, and challenging behaviour of children, child neglect, family violence and mismanagement of income.

Family preservation programmes such as Parenting Skills, Active Parenting of Teenagers, Relationship Strengthening Programmes and Behaviour Management, Ke Moja Programs will be intensified. Therapeutic services such as psycho social support to children, marriage and family counselling to enhance families’ coping skills and their ability to overcome adversities will be included in the basket of services.

We call on South Africans to work hard to re-establish the family unit in society. Many social challenges in South Africa are the result of either weak family systems or non-existent families, altogether. The family is facing a fundamental crisis, which needs to be remedied immediately because the family is the first line of defense to our social challenges.

We understand the impact of these challenges and will continue working with our communities to eradicate these scourges so that families and households can lead secure and comfortable lives.

Ter afsluiting wil elk dit beklemtoon dat ouerliefde is meer as net woorde. Liefde word hoofsaaklik deur dade getoon. Om in kinders se materiële en geestelike behoeftes te voorsien, kan ’n blyk van ouerliefde wees, veral wanneer ouers dit doen op ’n manier wat toon dat liefde die vernaamste aansporing is. Dissipline is ook ’n noodsaaklike blyk van ouerliefde.

In conclusion, ladies and gentlemen, if a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher.

A home with a loving and loyal husband and wife is the supreme setting in which children can be reared in love and righteousness and in which the spiritual and physical needs of children can be met.

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.

Thank you.