Annual Activity Report of Service and Research Institute on Family and Children,

(SERFAC) for the Year : January 2014 to December 2014.

Preamble:

Service and Research Institute on Family and Children (SERFAC) is an original initiative and institution committed to its Vision and Mission of ‘Revitalising the fabric of society, protecting the person through all stages of life, eradicating poverty, enhancing the protection of children and the elderly, fostering the mutual dignity of women and men, and restoring social and security safety nets for the well being of all citizens in family, community, nations and globally’. It does so, through its family centric approaches which are innovative, proactive, far reaching and long lasting. SERFAC strives to establish contacts and engage in net working with different stake holders at different levels of society. SERFAC also strives to provide new opportunities for members to meet, share experiences and insights, learn from one another and collaborate to further the awareness on the need of strengthening the twin institutions by building ‘Stable Marriages and Healthy Family Lives’ within different geographical, social and economic contexts. While doing so SERFAC encourages humanity to join hands at all and every level so as to strengthen the most basic unit of society which is indispensible for its own well being, and of its individual members and the larger human community.

Though engaged in collective activity, advocacy and experiences, calling attention to the urgency for protecting women and children from abuse, reducing domestic violence and family breakdown, eradicating poverty and strengthening monogamous marriages for the last twenty nine years, SERFAC still continues to be a pioneering institution breaking new ground, exploring new paths, walking untrodden ways and taking risks to be relevant and realistic. SERFAC believes that such a proactive attitude and approach is essential to augur well for the need to build healthy relationships at all levels in the society, which in turn will minimise the increasingly severe, insidious and contagious social problems that constitute today’s global crises

Despite its endeavours to draw attention to the need of strengthening the family institution and enabling it to carry out its natural functions of nurturing and caring of its members, the absence of which has far reaching and on-going intergenerational consequences affecting relationships between husband and wife, parents and children and other family members, in work, education, economic, religious, health and technological arenas. SERFAC’s work on and for families is not given due recognition in India and equally the work for family is not given due consideration around the world.

Noting the absence of these essential elements ‘nurturing and caring of its members’ in current thinking SERFAC consistently draws attention of all sections of society to the vital contribution a healthy family can make to individuals, communities, societies, cultures, religion, business, peace, tolerance, mutual harmony , economic resurgence and to the urgent need of taking cognisance of these issues if social reconstructs are to take place for the recovery of human dignity, transmission of culture, recovery of civilisation and human development all of which are keys to addressing contemporary family, community, national and global crises.

Overcoming the setbacks, road blocks and the odds, SERFAC continues to maintains its focus and steady momentum proving that ‘Family’ is a potent vehicle for the many ills that affect humanity today, and it advocates the need for sound policies, programmes, services, implementation of laws are to be effected regarding the institution of family.

SERFAC is convinced that such forms of uncompromising action and engagement must eventually have a positive impact, open windows of insight and opportunity for all institutions of Governance and leadership,

social and religious, to understand the limitations of materialism and technology, realising they are tools and aids and not solutions to human problems and today’s global crisis.

The problems and crises of contemporary society and dilemma that humanity has created for itself, are all human issues that call for a human approach in admitting the genesis of the problem, taking collective ownership for the global turmoil that has engulfed the entire world community, which is in a state of prolonged insecurity and immeasurable levels of stress.

During January to December 2014, SERFAC organised events, participated in and engaged in diverse meetings to strengthen and to enhance the visibility of its platforms promoting dialogue and commitment to draw attention to ‘Family, the basic social unit’ which is constantly exposed to rapidly changing social, political, economic, scientific, technological and religious systems which are all linked and inter linked to a continual globalising world order. Therefore the health of a family is indisputably the thermometer for assessing the social health of a family, community, nation and the world.

Outstanding recognition: The activities of SERFAC have found a place in The Annual Report of the Secretary General of the United Nations, New York and which is presented to the General Assembly at its annual meeting held in September each year.

It is against this backdrop this report is presented and high lights are:

1.Written Statement submitted by SERFAC to the United Nation’s The 53rd Session: Commission for Social Development: “Rethinking and Strengthening Social Development in the Contemporary World,” New York, January 2015.

The focus of the statement was “Our contemporary world is bewildered at the severity of the Global crisis-manifest in de-humanising poverty, growing injustice, economic disparity, rampant corruption, states of continual war in many parts of the globe, trafficking of women and children, cross border terrorism, global net works of drug cartels and weapons, all of which can be summed up as a breakdown of all human security, social safety nets and democratic systems, violations of culture with increasing cultural confusion and collapse of civilization. In brief, families reflect the fabric of the larger society.

The statement went on to say that unless there is concerted effort to demystify the term ‘development and sustainability’ by rethinking and strengthening genuine human development and sustainability efforts, the threat to humanity will continue.

The statement emphasised that ‘development and sustainability’ cannot be equated to or achieved in the way the western world conceives it in economic terms. Development and sustainability must have at its core and centre the well being and integrity of the human person.

The call therefore is not in mere rethinking but in radical thinking which is effective, long term and long lasting i.e.by restoring family life which nurtures upright men and women, financiers, industrialists, corporates, religious leaders and politicians who are attuned to the common good. The realisation that families continue to be responsible for proper utilisation of resources, raising of children, by providing the emotional, spiritual, financial and material support for their growth and development must receive priority attention.

The statement concluded: Such an approach to development requires fresh thinking and a new vision-a call for investment in family-centred practises and policies, collaborative partnerships and an empowerment paradigm that ensures that the family is a powerful vehicle for the transmission of its own values and destiny.

2.Written Statement submitted by SERFAC to The United Nation’s 59th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women: “ Beijing Declaration on Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women in the Post 2015 Development Agenda, New York, March 2015.

The focus of this submission was: “Education of women and girls are a major social investment, a great factor for the development of a nation and improvement in the Human Development Index. Women’s health, their reproductive health and their ability to earn revolve around the education of women, their dignity and development of their full potential. It is said ‘the best and most effective contraceptive for women is Education’

The statement went on to say:”The need to bring about equality between men and women is urgent, indispensible and needed more than ever. It starts in the home - starts with the need for synchronising of the family systems in economic, political, technological, social and religious settings, because women are natural managers and teachers and must be allowed to full fill these key roles in conjunction with men”.

The statement further stated: “It is in the establishment of such values that justice, human rights and fundamental freedom particularly of women that true peace will prevail. This will enable the women to develop their potentials to the fullest and give their maximum contribution to the post 2015 agenda, both as partners, agents and beneficiaries of development and thereby ensure a more secure human world for women, children and family as a social unit.”

3.Embedding Family oriented and Family centric approaches to larger audiences of stake holders:

Meetings and discussions were:

April 2014:

a) Mr. Vijay Arura, Chairman, Indian Chamber of NGO’s, New Delhi, on the need for net working among likeminded Ngo’s in India, highlighting the pioneering work of SERFAC with the hope of expanding services by training NGO’s in Family Centric Social Work.

b) Dr. V. Gireesan Ph.D, Professor and Head Department of Social Work, Rajiv Gandhi National Institute for Youth visited SERFAC for discussions on possible collaboration with RGIYI, for collaboration with the department and sessions to be held at SERFAC for their students.

June 2014:

Dr. V. Swaminathan, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology and Head: Department for Social Work, Madras University, on the inclusion of ‘Family’ as a subject to be included in their forthcoming Social Work programme in February 2015.

July 2014:

a) Missio, Aachen ,b) Missio ,Munich: c) Kindermissions werk,Aachen,d) Kirche in Not,Konigstein, e) Arch diocese of Koln, all Donor agencies from Germany: Donor Agencies and high lighting the work of SERFAC

f) Ms. Sunita Menon, Counsellor, on collaborative organising of seminars on ‘Child Protection’ in schools

in Chennai

October 2014:

Meeting with Dr. Latha Pillai, Director of Rajiv Gandhi National Institute for youth on possible collaboration with SERFAC

November 2014:

Ms. Anuradha Parakkat, President –Take Away Academy, Chennai on new avenues SERFAC can explore funding from CSR for its ongoing activities and projects.

4. Events:

February 2014: A day’s meeting of the National Advisory Board of SERFAC:

The Inaugural meeting of the National Advisory Board and was Chaired by Mr. Pooran C.Pandey, Executive

Director, UN Global Compact Network, India, who is Chairman of the Advisory Board and Members :Dr. Lalit Kumar, Senior Advisor, Planning Commission Government of India, Col Prakesh Tiwari, Head CSR , Jindal Steels Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, M. Sudhir Sinha, Head CSR, Cipla, Mumbai, Prof. Eugenie Pinto, Retired. Principal Queen Mary’s College Chennai, attended. Dr. Reeta Sonawat ,Professor and Head, Dept. of Human Development, SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai ,was unable to attend.

The meeting commenced with a walk around and visit to the different buildings on campus. This initial exposure to the genesis and layout of the Campus set the tone to the meeting that followed.

Encapsulating the many ides, suggestions, experiences and advice given during the interaction and discussions, Mr. Pooran C. Pandey called for attention to the need for convergence and leveraging for effective strategising: We need to map the process with all we have in the well laid out campus and use its facilities to the maximum, build on the strengths and make SERFAC ‘A Centre of Excellence and Specialised Institute on ‘Family.’

Given the mandate of SERFAC, maintaining its identity and integrity of its objectives three core areas were highlighted:

1. Research, should constitute 80% of SERFAC’s work

2. Institutional Engagement with Academic , Government and international institutions and entities.

3. Publications: While the International Press has recognised the value of SERFAC’s publications, more publications need to be brought out from SERFAC.

The Meeting concluded with the call to remake SERFAC by drawing a road map for the next 5-10 years.

UN Global Compact Network India partnered with SERFAC in the following seminars:

March 2014:

A two day’s India and India’s neighbourhood Countries seminar ‘Exchange of Ideas and Actions on Best Practises and Finding Solutions on Child Protection vs Prevention of Child Abuse was organised and held at SERFAC. 22 participants representing 11 organisations IN India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia participated. Their deliberations focussed on the role of all stake holders: Family, community, institutions, businesses and governments in contributing to violence by not taking adequate cognisance of increasing problems and called them to change the course of events for children by making available resources, trained persons and systems to create positive environments in family and institutions for children to grow up.

The working groups focussed on:

a) Addressing violence in family and different institutions.

b) Scaling up existing approaches by identifying gaps, weaknesses in systems and need for research on the role of different institutions in protecting the children and preventing harm to them,

c) Plan of action for 6 months to address the issues discussed and develop advocacy and policy plans for your institution) net work with each other and SERFAC will serve as the nodal agency.

May 2014:

A two day seminar: ‘Education for Social Change’ was attended by 33 participants mainly from South India. 14 selected research papers which related to the topics of education, children, family and community were presented by professional psychologists, college professors, researchers, research scholars and individual social workers.

The research papers were:1. Educating the child/family/community for social change.2.Ensuring children’s participation for social change 3.Need based activities for children for social change 4. Stemming child abuse and its urgency for social change 5.Promoting and protecting Child Rights as an urgency for social change 6. Education outreach for the unreached children for social change.

The valedictory session was presided over by Dr.V.Swaminathan, Ph.D, Professor of Psychology, Madras University , highlighted that the need of the hour was qualitative research and understanding of current situations. Quantative figures and statistics were available, but correlations and deductions were lacking. Another lack is in the Educational system and would be necessary to revamp the system so as to bring about the process of ‘enabling Social Change’.

July2014:

A two day workshop on “Exchange of Experiences in our search for solutions on the rights of the child and child protection” were held in Delhi. Twenty four participants from North India and Nepal attended a two days workshop, New Delhi for ’Exchange of experiences in our search for solutions on the rights of the child and child protection’. The outcome report of the sessions seriously noted that the institutions meant to protect children and give them security were the first to violate the child’s rights and they suffer brutality in and by these institutions. The report further noted that the abuse of children is universally looked at in isolation . Hence the efforts to protect the children from abuse must take into account its causes, consequences, interconnectedness with other family, community, national and world situations.

Therefore to effect visible change: there needs to be a pro active approach, taking into account domestic situations, intergenerational linkages and linkages with social, economic, political, religious and environmental factors and the engagement of perpetrators who search for the most vulnerable victims, circumstances and time.

September 2014:

A two days National seminar on the ‘ Impact of Violence on Social Institutions’ was held at SERFAC, and was attended by Forty two participants from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Pondicherry, New Delhi and Maharastra and included Professors, Associate and Assistant professors, research scholars, students and Ngo representatives. The structure of the seminar consisted of main topics with sub topics addressed by researchers. The main topics were 1. The cycle of Violence 2. Exposure to Violence during the life span 3.The co-relation between technology and behaviour 4.Prevention/protection and being proactive.

The three working group sessions discussed :

a. The reality of violence and highlighted the major issues

b. Identifying and naming the nexus between various social institutions and systems that stimulate violence with suggested action to weaken /break the nexus

c. Identifying and scaling up existing positive systems and drawing a road map for the next 3-5 years.

5.Research:

Two Research studies were/to be initiated:

1.A survey : On Work –Life Balance/ Employer-employee survey.

A questionnaire was designed to interview Employers and Employees in 10 industries located in the industrial zones of Sriperampudur (near Chennai) for the sole purpose to have an insight into the work profiles ,work life balance and family life of both groups and try to frame a positive balanced work life balance profile for these industries. The objective was to identify/enquire into possible precipitating factors of unrest in these Industries, and such efforts of feedback survey will be helpful in identifying sore areas and festering wounds and help can be offered which in turn will minimise /eliminate employees’ dissatisfaction and unrest and enhance productivity, improve family and work life. The Managements of these industries were not favourable to the project which is now “kept on hold” till a more opportune time becomes available.

A second attempt to conduct this Work- Life Balance: Employer –Employee at the industrial/business units in the Tambaram –Chrompet -Pallavaram areas, but met with similar response of reluctance and apprehension from the employers/management of these industries.

1.Research study to be undertaken: Impact of Media-the draft concept note has been prepared and the Consultative committee has been set up. Dates of meeting in 2015 are to be scheduled

6. Representation of SERFAC at local, National and International Events

April : Prepared a paper “Empowering Families-A Pathway to Development” organised by The Doha

International Institute and Research Centre for Family Development, Qatar Foundation, and was held a at Qatar.Paper presented was titled: Family Breakdown-Incubator for Social Ills. The main sections of the paper focussed on: a) the Social prism b)Poverty –A Family Issue and Road block to Development c)Understanding the Role of Family in Human Development d) A New Paradigm-A Family Centric Model e) Family is future.

October:

Speaker at UN Global Compact India and Aide et Action Cross over Series: How can CSR Transform the World? Invest to educate the excluded-Insights and Practises in India.

November:

Speaker at a Theological Symposium organised by Don Bosco Theologate, Chennai, India on: Biblical Stance vis a vis The Corrosion of Family Values

7. Enhancing the Visibility of SERFAC: Communication with/to a global audience:

E news letter was circulated/sent every month ( Family Focus and Children’s Voices) to over 3000 receipients around the world, most of whom are collegues,like minded professionals working for Family and related issues, well wishers and individuals met over time at various sessions, conferences and programmes in India and abroad.

The news letter is also sent to the Family Focal Point of the United Nations, several Government departments working on Women and Children, governments in Europe , Africa, USA, Canada, South America, Australia and Asia and that have established Departments for Family and to The Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences (FABC)secretariat in Singapore, and to Bishops in India.

Web sites: Two new web sites were designed to high light the new approaches that SERFAC has pioneered in its work ,making it available to global audience. The web sites are: www.familyserfac.org and www.familycentric.org.

Membership in SERFAC: SERFAC has reworked its approach to enrol to widen its scope and reach. Few individuals have joined this membership programme and such an enrolment initiative has to be strengthened in the future.

8. Publications and writings:

1.On the request from Tudor Ross, the publication house for the United Nations for an Article on ‘Poverty’ observing the 20th. anniversary of the International Year of the Family: SERFAC submitted “Can or Will the Family Succeed- A Family Centric Approach to Poverty Eradication” The article, published in ‘Family Futures’ which is available in http:digital.tudor-rose.co.uk/family-futures/99/z./

2. The publication of SERFAC ‘Nurturing Families around the World and Building a Culture of Peace’ was undertaken by SAGE Publications Ltd .The book was released in March of 2014.

3. SERFAC submitted the manuscript ‘Giving Children A Voice: The Transforming Role of the Family’ in September 2014.The book will be released in April/May 2015.

4. Published the Evaluation Report “25 years of SERFAC”. The report consists of both internal and external observations on the establishment, and the organisation and reviewed the workings, successes and limitations of SERFAC during the last two and a half decades and includes the action plans and strategies for the future.

9. Grant Applications:

Earnest endeavours were/are being made to make SERFAC financially sustainable and applied for funding to over 20 agencies. Since work on and for ’Family’ is not given due attention and does not interest the funding agencies and governments alike, SERFAC began to review strategies. In the light of formulating new strategies

SERFAC has developed its Family Centric Social Work projects which consist of Skills training coupled with economics of family and family education with the hope that this new approach will find recognition among Donor agencies and CSR initiatives in India.

10. In house activities:

1. Office: The office kept its usual momentum and decorum. Its 7 staff carried out day to day activities, keeping time frames and quality output, meeting visitors, arranging for programmes and maintaining library and secretarial work. SERFAC strives to maintain a professional but human touch in all its endeavours irrespective of and for what the visitor or service is done and it strives to imbibe the spirit among its staff.

Two hours on Friday/Saturday of each week is scheduled for peer evaluation and work assessment by each staff. The human satisfaction index of the staff is a hall mark to work performance in SERFAC . Each week end a work performance is presented by each staff respectively high lights successes, accomplishment, positive and any negative encounters during the week. After presenting their reports staff are requested to share on experiences on how the work has helped them grow as individuals and as staff community.

The professional update of the staff on the subject under consideration ‘family’ and its reciprocal relationship with the social world, the spirit and workings of SERFAC and the cause involved is regularly maintained through a one hour session on Wednesdays of each week and given by the Founder-Director of SERFAC.

These sessions have been helpful for work accomplishment and building of team spirit among the staff.

Campus:

The peace and serenity of the campus continues to welcome all who enter its premises. Flowers in bloom, cleanliness of premises and freshness of gardens are maintained by the dedicated domestic, garden staff and the security who keep vigil on Campus is indeed praise worthy.

The year concluded on a positive note. Many events and works/tasks were successfully accomplished and left a significant mark in the annals of SERFAC and the year gone by. However we do realise that strategies will need to be diversified further, new avenues for grants and funding to be explored, new members to be invited to continue on the road map chalked for ourselves for the next 5 years.

Prepared by Chennai, India

Dr.Catherine Bernard, MBBS,MS. February15, 2015.

Founder and Director of SERFAC