International Family Day - Council calls for support for our families |13 May 2016

“We need to be able to maintain, support and uphold our families for the future of Seychelles lies in the hands of all the Seychellois families.”

This comes in a message from the chairman of the National Family Council Robert Moumou on the occasion of the International Family Day which falls tomorrow.

Mr Moumou’s message reads:

“Once again we are commemorating the International Day of the Family. The family remains the core unit of any nation. It is the first school for all its citizens with the parents being the first and lifelong teachers of the children. It ensures the transmission of societal norms, values and cultures from one generation to the next.

“Considering the importance of the family in our nation, we cannot afford as a country to adopt a laissez-faire attitude in regards to our families. We should continuously be revising and creating sustainable programmes and policies which will strategically assist the family in playing its crucial role.

“We acknowledge new laws such as paternity leave and assistance for payment of day care for single mothers. However we also need to address pressing issues such as decline in marriages, loss of parental control over children, increase in single families, economic difficulties of families, abuse of drugs and alcohol, teenage pregnancies and abortions. We need to jointly strategise and come up with incentives, policies and programmes to reverse such trends.

“Nevertheless policies and programmes should never destroy the social fabric of family. They should be culturally relevant and attempt to reverse any deteriorating trend in our society.

“This year’s theme is ‘Families, healthy lives and sustainable future’. Its core call is to request that families ensure that their members are living healthy lives and that they assure and promote the well-being of all family members.

“While the primary responsibility to ensure the health and well-being of children lies with parents, older children should also ensure the health and wellbeing of their elderly parents and any physically challenged family members.

“Employers should consider the concept of flexible hours and employers assistance programme. Businesses should encourage the concept of family packages and incentives for families to travel and socialise together. Each and every one of us is crucial in creating and maintaining healthy families.

“The term sustainability is not only applicable to our environment but also to our families. We need to be able to maintain, support and uphold our families for the future of Seychelles lies in the hands of all the Seychellois families.

“Wishing you all a happy International Family Day.”