On March 14, 2018, nationwide family forum “Happy family – strong Ukraine” took place in the Ukrainian house in Kyiv. The forum is aimed to attract attention to problems of Ukrainian families and children, consolidate effort of state and public representatives, including church, in order to elaborate a state family policy founded on Ukrainian traditional values.
The leadership of the country, state officials, parliamentarians, scientists, journalists, educationists, members of the public and local self-governments, representatives of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and religious organizations from all regions of Ukraine were invited to participate in the Forum.
“A family is a cradle of humanity, an environment for nursing love and fundamental virtues, which influence all future life of a person. Considering its importance for the nation and all humanity, the family needs attention, care, support and protection”, said in his welcoming remarks Bishop Bohdan (Dzyurakh), Secretary of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC.
During the Forum, UGCC delegation was represented by Bishop Dmytro (Hryhorak), Chairman of the UUGCC Synodal Committee of spouses and the family, Commission of UGCC on family issues together with heads of Eparchy Commissions of Sokal–Zhovkva and Buchach Eparchies and Odesa Exarchate. Delegates of Caritas Ukraine and local centres chaired by the Vice president of the foundation, Father Andriy Nahirniak also took part in the forum.
Maksym Bondarenko, Coordinator of the network of family support centres of Caritas Ukraine was one of Forum’s moderators. He presented Caritas experience in this sphere in “Responsible parenthood” group.
“At present, Ukrainian family needs a father as never before. The key element of activities provided by our Centres is support of the whole family and encouragement of men to stay together with their children. We urge them to resume contact and be with their family. I do believe that by assisting families we make our contribution into shaping a culture of the responsible parenthood, which is the most important career for a man”, commented Maksym Bondarenko
During the Forum, the Resolution was adopted together with a calendar plan of family events for 2018 aimed at development of the institute of family in Ukraine.
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“Establishment of Family support centres as a model for integration of IDPs and host communities in Ukraine” was co-financed under the development cooperation program “Polish assistance” of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland. The publication expresses the point of view of the author and cannot be taken as an official position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland.
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