Family Futures

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dvancing

ocial

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Image: Aslı Yaza

Empowering families is one of the most effective ways to tackle social and economic risks

The Family Education Programme works by contract-

ing with organizations which have the capacity to organize

and implement its trainings in their own field. Currently, a

number of organizations provide various information and

training to families. The following organizations can directly

implement Family Education Programme practices or become

partners in organizing training.

The main facilitators of the Family Education Programme

are NGOs which are in the forefront of social organizations

that can reach people effectively. They can provide individuals

and families with more systematic training. Other important

stakeholders for the programme include public and private

counselling and research centres, social services and Child

Protection Agency counselling centres, cultural centres, state

institutions and organizations, institutions providing education

at K-12 level, institutes of non-formal education, institutes of

higher education, religious institutions, health institutions,

trade associations, unions and other similar organizations.

Moreover, professionals from diverse fields of social and

medical sciences such as psychology, social work, law, soci-

ology and pedagogy have received ‘Facilitator’ certificates to

organize Family Education Programme sessions. It is also

possible for individuals to get in touch with the programme

online and through partner organizations. All Family

Education Programme sessions and the materials provided

for the facilitators are free of charge in this respect.

The Family Education Programme Facilitator Training

Programme is provided to volunteers who are willing to learn

the Family Education Programme and specialize in the fields

of its management and training. Professionals who join the

programme are equipped with skills to educate families and

individual adults, to guide training in various cities through-

out Turkey and to organize training programmes.

The Family Education Programme aims to provide life skills

that are necessary for all family members. The target group for

most of the programme chapters is the whole family and thus the

whole of society. However, the programme’s training specifically

focuses on people who are married or preparing for marriage.

Special training programmes were also developed by facilita-

tors for areas that necessitate special training. In coming up with

these specialized training programmes, the stage of the individu-

al’s family and marital status are the main determinants.

Adult family members who are within the scope of the

defined programme categories can apply for training. Family

members are categorized as follows: single adults; people who

are preparing for marriage; married people with no children;

married people with children; married people whose children

have left home; and single parents. Individuals who are at

the legal age where they can get married but who are not

in the process of doing so are categorized as single adults.

Those who have decided to get married or who are engaged

are categorized as people who are getting ready for marriage.

In conclusion, as a country that has a transitory economic

structure and fluctuating market conditions, Turkey is facing

global and local economic and social risks causing crises and

failures. It is clear that one of the most effective ways of tack-

ling these risks is to empower families and their members with

respect to their capacity to absorb, compensate, solve prob-

lems and provide care services. In this context, the Family

Education Programme is designed to help and empower fami-

lies to accomplish their capacity of compensation, problem

solving and care provision.