Illustration by Saptadipa Mallick
What comes to your mind when you think of the word ‘family’?
With each individual’s unique family background and different upbringing, we will each have our own emotions and memories when prompted with this keyword.
Perhaps you will think back to your younger ages and remember a moment (which hopefully was joyful and positive) that particularly stuck to your mind. But the power of family goes beyond snippets of memories: It is where you first learned how to live, interact with others, and also shaped your perceptions of the world.
Most children develop their social and emotional skills within the safety network of the family and home environment, which also later become the foundation of their coping skills and self-management skills to go back to when facing difficult situations in life. Thus, parents and caregivers have the greatest influence on helping their children to be happy and, above all, to grow up safely.
A positive familial relationship and support are important protective factors against substance use as well as other risky behaviours. Every child deserves a safe and happy upbringing, and family and caregivers can have a big impact on that!
On the occasion of the upcoming International Day of Families on May 15th, we would like to share the poem "Micro-level Prevention", written by a creative youth.
Ms. Rodaina Mohamed (from Egypt) is a contributor to the UNODC Youth Initiative Magazine ‘Butterfly wings’ and also a former Youth Forum participant. Through her poem below, Rodaina muses about the importance of a safe childhood for the welfare of children through creative metaphors and expressions.
Take a couple of minutes to read Rodaina’s poem below and also ponder the meaning ‘family’ has to you!
Click here to read more articles from the ‘Butterfly Wings’.
