Creating stronger families

Families in Paraguay are being given the opportunity to attend workshops to foster better relationships between parents and children.

Eusebio, a father of two teenagers living in the department of Caaguazú, arrives exhausted and sweaty after a long walk, to participate in the "Strong Families" workshop. Clara, a lively girl aged 16, shows her satisfaction at seeing him; she and her brother having worked hard to convince their father to participate. Today, the workshop will address the topic, "Setting rules at home."

Norma raises her hand and timidly says, "it is important to praise our children when they do something well. It makes everything is better for them and are encouraged to be better every day. When I am with my daughter, I often tell her the good things she does, not just the bad."

Eusebio, Josefina, Pedro and Norma are committed parents. They are keen to find a formula to better understand their children, so they came with curiosity and high expectations to the "Strong Families" workshop, promoted by Plan.

Effective dialogue between parents and children is always difficult to achieve, particularly when it comes to contentious or potentially embarrassing issues. Plan's project aims to promote communication skills between adolescents and their parents, creating favourable conditions to go deeply into the theme of sexuality, sexual and reproductive health, with an emphasis on HIV/AIDS prevention.

Training sessions were conducted over nine weeks, involving adolescents and their parents or guardians in separate and joint activities. Some of the topics addressed during meetings were: Using Love and Limits, Setting the rules at home, Use of Consequences, Building Bridges, Protection Against Substance Abuse, and Sexual and Reproductive Health, among others.

One of the fathers, Silvino, said, "Through my participation in this workshop, my treatment of and dialogue with my children improved a lot. It helped us learn more about each member of our family and listen to our own children, especially Alex who was the quieter one."

José said, "I was not used to showing affection to my family, but after participating in sessions I am putting into practice what I learned and I can express my feelings to my wife and my children"

Frida, a girl aged 16, had never felt able to express her affection for her father, until she took home the task of using the phrase "I love you" to a family member. The next week, she told the group, "I felt just great. My dad did not react, but I noticed how excited he was and I know that dad talked about it with mum."

"I learned so much about how to improve relationships with my family and develop better communication with my children. Now my daughter is a member of the Regional Team and she gives the same lectures to other youth and parents. I think it strengthens her and makes her grow as a woman. Now it is easier overcome family problems and agree", said one mother.