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Celebrating our families   ‘Mon fanmir, mon leker’ |14 May 2022

International Day of Families is annually observed by the United Nations across the world on May 15. The day is commemorated to highlight the important affairs central to the welfare of families, such as health, education, gender equality, rights for children, and social inclusion among others. Seychelles, through the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Family, has decided to have its own theme which is ‘Mon fanmir, mon leker’.

With the pandemic, many families did suffer in the country and suddenly some found themselves without a job or even have to do two to three jobs to make ends meet. It is a fact that many of us are going through and we are hoping for the best to come…soon!

‘Mon fanmir, mon leker’ is a theme with deep meaning. I recently read on social media, like many of you, how a child was left aside because a mother decided to choose a man over the child. How true is that? I hope the relevant authorities will find out. 

In most of the events we have been covering, we kept hearing about the importance of families, strong families even, in order to save and protect our children and youth from bad influences. Are these being translated in our community? To have strong families our institutions in the country, including the civil society, should be strong, framed with laws and support.

Dear readers, many families are suffering for various reasons. Seychelles is small and we can save our families by supporting and loving each other. Adults should be more responsible and be the role models our children need. We should stop tolerating misbehaviours and find solutions to bring sanity to some of the adults who unfortunately have left their ‘families’ for other ‘pleasures’ of life.

Though most societies and cultures recognise the family as a necessary and fundamental unit, many changes are occurring to threaten its well-being and the happiness of its members. The family is a microcosm of the world, and its unity must be preserved if the unity and peace of our planet is to be realised.

Let us ponder on this quotation: “A family ... is a very special kind of 'community'....The members of a family all have duties and responsibilities towards one another and to the family as a whole, and these duties and responsibilities vary from member to member because of their natural relationships. The family being a human unit must be educated according to the rules of sanctity. All the virtues must be taught the family. The integrity of the family bond must be constantly considered and the rights of the individual members must not be transgressed. The rights of the son, the father, the mother, the daughter, none of them must be transgressed, none of them must be arbitrary. Just as the son has certain obligations to his father, the father likewise has certain obligations to his son. The mother, the sister and other members of the household have their certain prerogatives. All these rights and prerogatives must be conserved, yet the unity of the family must be sustained. The injury of one shall be considered the injury of all; the comfort of each the comfort of all; the honour of one the honour of all.”

Seychelles NATION wishes all its readers a Happy Day with your families and may you become stronger and stronger, day by day.

 

 

Vidya Gappy

 

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