THE Bermuda Family Council was established under the auspices of the Ministry of Health & Family Services in 1988. Its aim then, as it is now, was to serve as an advisory body to the Ministry and facilitate initiatives of benefit to Bermuda families.

With 2004 celebrated as the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family by the United Nations, the Council decided to organise a day-long conference on May 15, the day designated by the UN as the International Day of Families.

"The Ministry of Health mandated the BFC to support all areas of the family life, from childhood to seniors, and to recommend solutions for specific areas of concern with the objective of strengthening families," explained Eileen Brown, chairperson of the International Year of the Family Conference Committee. "In honour of International Family Day, we wanted to do something that would bring families together."

A range of activities aims to do just that. Separate programmes are in place for youths and adults in the morning. The afternoon has been organised so that the family may spend it together. A few of the many planned activities will see families tour the Biennial Exhibit at the Bermuda National Gallery, walk on a guided expedition through Paget Marsh and learn how to become more self-sufficient by growing vegetables in their own gardens.

Infant massage, face painting, performances by United Dance Productions, an introduction to the Bermuda Sloop programme, tennis drills, displays by the Outward Bound group, and a tour of the Ann Frank exhibit at the Bermuda Society of Arts are only a few other activities on offer.

Parents are encouraged to register family participation in advance as there is limited space available on certain courses. Admission to the event includes participation, lunch and free transportation to and from any activities not held at the BUEI.

In addition, participants will be issued a passport challenge ? invited to visit each of the 16 vendors on site, learn about their programmes and have their 'passport' validated to mark their attendance. Some of those on hand to talk with families will be representatives from the National Drug Commission, PRIDE (Bermuda), the Physical Abuse Centre, Parents Anonymous of Bermuda, the Bermuda Sloop Foundation, the Coalition for the Protection of Children, the Family Learning Centre, Bermuda Police Services and the Fathers' Resource Centre.

"Part of what we're aiming to do is to give people tools on how to raise their families," explained Mrs. Brown. "We want to make as many people as possible aware of the many programmes that are available.

"Everyone says the community is responsible when children do wrong, but parents also have a stake in it. If we can reach out to one parent, if they pass these tools on to their children, then we can help many. Because of that, everything on the day all our activities are geared toward the family."

Mrs. Brown is executive director of Parents Anonymous, a group which offers free support and guidance to parents. Through her work with that organisation, she is well placed to understand the hurdles faced by many families and recognises the importance of having parents and children spend time together.

"A year ago, Parents Anonymous of Bermuda received correspondence, inviting a representative to participate on the Bermuda Family Council and I was then asked to chair a sub-committee," she explained. "Our objectives are similar. Parents Anonymous also deals with strengthening the family."

As part of its proclamation dedicated to the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family, the United Nations lists the following as its objectives:

(a) To increase awareness of family issues among Governments as well as in the private sector.

(b) To strengthen the capacity of national institutions to formulate, implement and monitor policies in respect of families.

(c) To stimulate efforts to respond to problems affecting, and affected by, the situation of families.

(d) To undertake at all levels reviews and assessments of the situation and needs of families, identifying specific issues and problems.

(e) To enhance the effectiveness of local, national and regional efforts to carry out specific programmes concerning families, generate new activities and strengthen existing ones.

(f) To improve collaboration among national and international non-governmental organisations in support of families.

The United Nations General Assembly is to honour the event with a special session devoted to the family as a unit.

As stated on its web site: "The observance of the tenth anniversary during 2004 will culminate in the holding of one plenary session of the Assembly on the topic of families. It will be devoted to a reaffirmation of commitments made and the identification of further actions, including encouraging the incorporation of effective family policies and programmes into national development strategies; and encouraging regional institutes to promote and undertake research and development of policies related to family issues."

Guest speaker at next Saturday's event is Kinaya Sokoya, executive director of Parents Anonymous of Washington, DC. As part of her extensive work experience, Ms Sokoya developed an African-centred psycho-social programme for youths and adults as well as a successful rite of passage programme for males and females between the ages of eight and 13.

The theme chosen for the event is Family Lifesavers. It focuses on all the wonderful aspects of being part of a family unit ? warmth, acceptance, tolerance, security, togetherness and caring. Those characteristics are also part of a symbolism conveyed by the emblem of the International Year of the Family in 1994: "Linked by another heart, to symbolise life and love in a home where one finds warmth, caring, security, togetherness, tolerance and acceptance."

"We brainstormed and came up with Family Lifesavers," Mrs. Brown explained. "By the term 'lifesaver' we mean things that help us to communicate. We all need to understand that we live in a diverse environment ? that there are different ethnic groups, different religions ? but we can live together in peace and tolerance; a microcosm of the world."

Each participant will receive a special package including an ecologically-sound tote and baseball cap, a rubber ring, pen, pencil, passport challenge sheet and, of course, lifesaver candies.

All families are encouraged to attend; every family is likely to gain something through participation even if it is only that extra time spent together as a unit, Mrs. Brown said. She believed an event such as the International Family Day would be especially welcome when one considered the negative publicity often given to children in the community.

"The country is eager to see something like this. For every 12 (bad apples), I believe there are hundreds of children who do positive things. I just wish all those positive things could be highlighted."

To attend the International Family Day activities at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute, parents should submit registration forms and a payment of $25 per family to the Bermuda Union of Teachers offices, located at 72 Church Street. Events begin at 8.30 a.m. and run through 4.30 p.m. For more information, please telephone 239-3459 or 292-6515.