Did you know that 15 May is always International Family day?
Once in a while, when we clean house, we are derailed by some stunning findings when we have to decide what we keep and what to throw away. In such an exercise, I recently came upon a speech by Dr Zola Skweyiya at an International Conference on Families on 1 March 2004 and I quote: “Domestic violence and drug abuse are turning family homes into places that are not safe for women and children. This goes against everything we fought for and we have to intensify our campaigns against violence and abuse. What happens in the home has a direct bearing on and implications for our nation-building project.
It cannot be said that we do not already have the legislation, strategies, programmes and projects in place to reduce domestic violence and drug abuse. All sectors of society have to be committed and work in partnership to ensure that sufficient resources are mobilised for the task.”
Despite all these programmes, projects, legislation and strategies that are in place, Famsa is experiencing more hopelessness and lack of safety in our homes, 12 years down the line. So, in the light of International Family Day, what can we do?
Firstly, there is no one on earth that has not been hurt or damaged, to some degree, by the way they were raised. It is your responsibility to find peace and healing from these “scars”.
Secondly do not wait to be the family you want to be or some miracle to happen. You have to make it happen. Learn to communicate in a way that is non-judgemental and brings about change. Anger is a feeling of violence, whether verbal or non-verbal – it is a choice.
Let us celebrate being part of a family by having grace for each other and learning to communicate effectively