Remarks by FPCD Executive Director; UN NGO Committee on the Family

Issues in Post-Conflict Development: Rebuilding the Family Structure

The FPCD Challenge

Slide-show and Remarks by Ms. Claudia Abate, Project Coordinator, Monaco Red Cross, Founder and Executive Director of the Foundation for Post Conflict Development

28 October 2010

United Nations Church Center, 777 UN Plaza

Distinguished Co-Chairs And Members of the UN NGO Committee on the Family,

Representatives of the UN Committee on Migration,

Co-Panelist Dr. Alastair Ager,

Ms. Eileen Labiner Gallagher, Thank you for your constant support and making today possible,

Guests and Friends,

It is my honour to be with you today to share an overview of the Foundation for Post Conflict Development’s experience with post conflict development as it relates to the family structure, primarily in Timor-Leste.

This work has been in conjunction with the Principality of Monaco toward solidifying the family unit through Maternal Health, Reforestation and and through the establishment of Youth Centers.

I will present some images of these actions that illustrate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and a commitment to sustainable peace through family-related projects that reflect the past, present and future of FPCD’s challenging work.

Strengthening the family unit through Maternal Health

I believe its obvious that in the family unit, mothers deserve special attention, especially in developing countries where birth rates are often high. I am certain that this audience concurs that if a mother about to give birth has adequate medical attention, not only is the mother more likely to survive, but so is the newborn child and this avoids multiple family tragedies. The family structure is preserved, because we avoid creating orphans.

Because of Prince Albert II’s personal commitment, and the FPCD’s mission, together we have strengthened the family unit through attention to maternal health and we have become the catalyst for changing the birthing culture of Timor-Leste through the creation of their first maternity clinic – The Prince Rainier III Maternity Clinic.

In April 2008, Prince Albert II made an historic visit to Timor-Leste to inaugurate the Clinic that bears His Father’s name. So far, over 1000 healthy babies have been born and not a single mother has perished. The Maternity Clinic started as a pilot project and has evolved - it is now the model and in is included in Timor-Leste’s National Development Plan. We are in the midst of the creation of a second clinic named the Princess Grace Maternity Clinic in Oecussi Timor-Leste, whereby the facility will become operational in early 2011.

Therefore it is clear that the FPCD experience with maternal health has strengthened many family units in Timor-Leste and we hope to spread this knowledge and model to other countries.

Another way we have made a contribution to bettering lives of families is through reforestation.

Reforestation

Some might ask, what does planting a tree have to do with strengthening a family ?.... a lot!

Thanks to the Government of Monaco, we are in the middle of a 5 year project appropriately entitled: The Reforestation and Family Income Project . This is an integrated programme that assists families from a nutritional angle by creating kitchen gardens, diversification of food crops, fish ponds, and coffee shade trees so that families living in poverty can increase their nutrients on one hand and earn a living on the other, all while making a positive impact on the environment.

Our reforestation project is not just planting a tree for the sake of the tree. The programme concretely addresses The Millennium Development Goals and most importantly, it strengthens the family unit in a country that usually relies on seasonal agricultural employment.

During the State Visit of Prince Albert II, he also inaugurated the FPCD Becora Youth Center, which was made possible by a grant from the United Nations Staff 1 % for Development Fund. Since we didn’t have time to bring the Prince to the location of His Reforestation and Family Income project, we brought the project to Him and He planted a symbolic tree with the Becora Center’s Youth Leader.

In my inaugural remarks, I shared the story of a young woman named Sophie Denis, who at that very moment in 2008 was climbing Mt. Everest with the FPCD flag. We weren't sure if she would make it, but I was wearing her bracelet on which was her motto: EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. We handed over the Youth Center to its leader, Amale, who survived the Santa Cruz Massacre in Timor-Leste. Now he had Youth Center to run as he wished, a dream come true.

So far, I have discussed how the FPCD focuses on Mothers who nurture the family unit and youth.

I have told you about how Reforestation and Nutrition – nurtures the family and youth.

And finally, I want to share with your FPCD’s vision of Youth nurturing Youth which in effect strengthens the family.

Youth

In 2008, Sophie Denis indeed made it to the top of Mt. Everest becoming one of the youngest women in the world to do so. What an inspiration for young people!

In the post conflict or poverty setting, we have seen that if youth focus on unemployment, lack of education or lack of opportunity, boredom could be a destabilizing factor to the family unit and communities of families through vandalism or violence.

This is why the FPCD created 2 Youth Centers with grants from the UN Staff 1 % for Development Fund.

And through the evolution of Monaco- FPCD- Timor-Leste relations, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in August 2010 to create the Monaco Boys Choir Youth Center. The young choir, inspired by their philanthropic Prince, chose to follow the footsteps of their Sovereign and work on a youth helping youth initiative. The Future center will be in Maubara Timor-Leste and those young people can choose to play music or engage in sport. It will be their own place to gather and do as they choose and the families of Maubara are pleased that their youth have something positive to look forward to.

In the FPCD Strategic Plan, we set a goal to create 25 Youth Centers by 2014. To jump start this target, I am pleased to publicly announce for the first time FPCD’s Alpine Challenge for Youth in conjunction with Elite Athlete Sophie Denis. FPCD’s Youth Programme will aim to create 6 youth centers in 6 different communities along with Sophie's alpine challenge of climbing 6 peaks above 26,000ft in 6 months. This powerful project will be a life challenging experience for our collective Youth, delivering a strong message of inspiration and hope.

And who wouldn’t be inspired: Sophie just broke 5 world records in Peru, carrying the FPCD Banner, becoming the first woman to summit new routes in Peru, naming them as well! A testimony to this feat, she has been named Goodwill Ambassador for Nepal Tourism 2011.

Sophie is FPCD’s newest international advisory board member and as part of the Alpine Youth Challenge, we will launch an awareness campaign with media outlets, establishing keynote speaker roles at local and international events, and develop educational programs in US schools to spread the word.

I would like to acknowledge Ms. Sophie Denis who is present with us today.

In conclusion, FPCD is very proud that its past, present and future include Healthy Mothers, nourished communities, and motivated young people.

We must rely on youth to be the cornerstone of families everywhere. They must be inspired and have role models, like the Monaco Boys Choir, A Massacre survivor or an Elite Athlete like Sophie Denis.

This is the FPCD Challenge and my greatest wish for families everywhere.

Thank you for your kind attention.




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