Foundation fosters warmth in children's ties with parents

The Family Development Foundation (FDF) implemented a series of initiatives and community services under its ‘Effective Parenting Skills’ programme to empower parents with the requisite tools and strategies to strengthen their deep and meaningful bonds with their children.

This programme also aims to increase family stability and enhance public understanding of how crucial it is to integrate roles and responsibilities within families to foster a happy and cohesive community.

The FDF remains steadfast in its commitment to adopting and implementing progressive strategies to guarantee the long-term viability of families and society.

Noura Mujahid, Head of the FDF’s Effective Parenting Skills programme, said: “The programme’s major goal is to create a stable, healthy home environment that fosters children’s personality development.

"As children’s interactions with their parents and siblings have a significant impact on them, this programme also promotes healthy communication and emotional ties within the family.”

Mujahid further emphasised that nurturing a safe and healthy family environment requires positive communication and engagement between parents, children, and other family members.

She pointed out that having open and positive conversations with parents creates a feeling of warmth and friendship, which helps children grow as individuals and prepares them to be active members of their families and society, thereby ensuring the sustainability of the community.

Since promoting constructive communication between parents and children is essential to establishing enduring family bonds, Mujahid emphasised that FDF places a high priority on cultivating and encouraging critical abilities and behaviour that support the stability and cohesiveness of families.

The services and initiatives offered by the FDF highlight the vital role that parents play in raising their children while encouraging a sense of safety, self-assurance, positive social interactions, and honest, productive communication within the family.

Recently, in his capacity as Ruler of Abu Dhabi, President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has issued a law amending the mandate of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) to provide guidance, awareness and support for families, and social services related to the elderly, enhancing the development and stability of family structures in the emirate.

Under its new mandate, FDF is responsible for preparing and developing preventive guidance and awareness programmes for the elderly, providing them with social services and supportive family services for their benefit, as well as living assistance systems, including home care services, and support and training for caretakers of the elderly.

According to the new law, FDF is mandated with a liaison role for various government entities to provide volunteering opportunities for the elderly to engage in activities and events, grant them privileges and facilities that meet their needs, and develop and manage social clubs for the elderly to support their physical and mental health and wellbeing.

The new mandate of the FDF covers creation of databases of the elderly and their caretakers, and conducting studies and research on various key affairs related to families and the elderly.

Earlier, H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), directed the establishment of a series of exhibitions for productive families. These exhibitions, organised by the GWU in collaboration with its strategic partners from federal, local, private, and civil sectors, aim to support female employees who have their own businesses.

The series of exhibitions will feature events showcasing the products of the female employees within each hosting institution.

The goal is to provide these women with additional growth opportunities and success tools in the market, thereby aiding in the development of their businesses and enhancing their contribution to the economic progress and diversification witnessed by the UAE, which is recognised globally as the best place to start and grow a business and the most supportive environment for entrepreneurship.

Noura Al Suwaidi, GWU Secretary-General, said that the purpose of launching the series of exhibitions for productive families is to identify promising national female talents, provide necessary support, and equip them with practical knowledge in entrepreneurship. This initiative aims to help their businesses develop and grow, enabling them to continue their careers in the workforce with confidence and strength.