One Family Experts Train Bulgarians on Positive Parenting
Media Release 7 July 2011
Irish experts on parenting for one-parent families bring those skills to Bulgarian families at risk, free of charge
One Family, Ireland’s leading organisation for one-parent families, will train 20 Bulgarian NGO’s in Positive Parenting in Sofia from 11-13 July. The training will prepare trainers to better support Bulgarian families in caring for their children.
‘Our Positive Parenting Training for Trainers is designed to support Bulgarian mothers and fathers to become even better parents,’ says Paula Lonergan, One Family Training Manager, ‘We are helping to reverse the sometimes challenging attitudes to parenting that previously existed in Bulgaria. Our training is all about encouraging parents’ strengths, rather than introducing a system of punishments or labeling those who have struggled to parent well in the past as irresponsible or weak. The training has extra support for people parenting alone or sharing parenting and families in transition. This is why it is so suitable and relevant to families needing support in Bulgaria.’
One Family’s Positive Parenting Training supports parents to overcome difficulties and improve relationships inside the family. Lonergan continues, ‘Our focus is always on improving the lives of children and we support parents to do their very best, often in difficult circumstances. This course should have a positive impact on the quality of family supports in Bulgaria and on children’s lives.’
One Family is delivering this training free of charge, as part of the campaign for its 40th anniversary. One Family Director Karen Kiernan explains, ‘This is our opportunity to give something back to the community. Despite our financial cut-backs we will not charge for this training. We wish to share our expertise in honour of our founders and the challenges they faced 40 years ago as lone parents in Ireland.’
One Family is delivering the training in partnership with The National Network for Children in Sofia. After the training ends there will be Positive Parenting specialists in eight Bulgarian cities – Sofia, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Targovishte, Sliven, Kyustendil, Gotse Delchev and Velingrad. All participants will receive certificates from His Excellency John Rowan, Ireland’s Ambassador to Bulgaria, during a special reception at the Irish Embassy in Bulgaria next week which will also be attended by His Excellency Emil Yalnazov, Bulgarian Ambassador to Ireland, delegates from the Ministry of Labour, the State Agency for Child Protection, the State Agency for Social Assistance and many other NGOs.
For more information contact Hilary Fennell, Communications Manager, 087 2359515
