Last February 13, 2014, our Association had the opportunity to participate in a Press Conference at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York. In it, our Elvira Sanchez participated in the presentation of the Peace and Cooperation School Award that this year is focused on Families.

Speakers: Ms. Radina Boneva, UN Representative, Peace and Cooperation; Mr. Joaquin Antuna, President & Founder, Peace and Cooperation; and Ms. Elivira Sanchez, World Association of Early Childhood Educator (AMEI-WAECE).

What we said...

"Launching of the 2014 Peace and Cooperation School Award "The family-Rights and Future"

Family as stated in Article 16 Point 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights “…is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

Pause for a few seconds and ask yourself, "Why do you work so hard?" What motivates you to do so day after day? Most of you may reply, my family, and may provide reasons to support their answer.

Since the dawn of civilization, humans have tried to cohabit in groups, tribes or families for physical, emotional and communal support. Over the ages this concept of family has undergone various transformations and changes, yet the essence of being in a family has survived throughout the world.

Family is very important as it shapes our development and personality. The family protects your dignity and takes care of your well being. Family also gives us teachings that guide us throughout our lives and this are the values we carry everywhere we go. In addition, your family comes to your aid during hard times.

The family is the most important unit of society. Families are our most intimate social environment.

But, what is a family? All of us inherit our physical attributes from our parents. Families are our most intimate social environment. They are the places where we begin the vital processes of socializing our children and teaching them how to survive and thrive in the world. Values such as patience, self-control, honesty, responsibility, solidarity, tolerance, sincerity, obedience, flexibility, generosity, understanding and commitment, that were instilled in you by your family, differentiates you from the rest.

The word family has multiple meanings in dictionary. It is ‘a social unit living together’ or ‘parents and their children, considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not’. In a broader term, relatives can also be added to this group. But it is much more than that.

Families provide children with a sense of belonging and a unique identity. Families are, or should be, a source of emotional support and comfort, warmth and nurturing, protection and security.

Today fully half of all families do not meet the definition of nuclear family. We have stepfamilies; single-parent families; families headed by two unmarried partners, either of the opposite sex or the same sex; households that include one or more family members from a generation; adoptive families; foster families; and families where children are raised by their grandparents or other relatives. Each has its distinctive advantages and challenges.

In any case (or in any type of family) family is the first learning place of an individual in this world. Starting from childhood till old age, he learns everything from his family. As soon as the man steps in this world, the first individuals he comes across are his family members (obviously excluding the hospital staff). He sees his family members walking and starts trying that. He sees them speaking and he tries to copy them. Gradually he learns the basic communication among individuals in the family. He also learns how to love, how to behave, how to come along in life, all from his family. This develops a sort of affection among all family members. They are always there to help each other.
Every par¬ent knows it takes hard work to keep the family going as an effective, adaptive, and functional unit.

The family systems works like a chain. Younger people learn from elders while elders depend on their kids for a lot of things (especially on emotional issues). When kids grow up, get married and have their own children, the whole cycle is repeated again.

PODCAST AVAILABLE http://webtv.un.org/watch/peace-and-cooperation-school-award-press-conference/3197971591001/