Friday 15 May is International Day of Families, and Social Development Minister, Ms Edna Molewa, invites all South Africans to join with the rest of the world to celebrate the importance of families. The United Nations designated the 15 of May as International Day of Families to mark the importance of families in communities across the world.
"The theme for this year’s celebrations is “mothers and families, challenges in a changing World,” allows us to focus on the challenges faced by families in our country, particularly women as the pillars of family life,” Minister Molewa said.
The Department of Social Development and government as a whole, Minister Molewa said, recognise the important contribution families make to our country’s well-being by caring for and protecting children, supporting youth in becoming responsible citizens and caring for older persons, people with disabilities and other vulnerable members of society.
Strengthening families remain a priority of government especially during these hard economic times. Government interventions and programmes such as the Social Security Grants, Early Childhood Development (ECD), Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and other social development services are aimed at building strong families.
"On this day, we want to acknowledge significant contributions of non-governmental and faith based organisations who work tirelessly to keep families together and reuniting families," Minister Molewa added.
Enquiries
Zanele Mngadi
Cell: 082 330 1148
Issued by: Department of Social Development
15 May 2009
