Families Make the Difference (FMD) is a parenting skills programme originally developed by the International Rescue Committee (IRC). It has since been implemented by the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) in partnership with Nestlé as part of a pilot project. This approach enables participants to recognise the positive interactions parents can foster with their children to promote well-being within the family. It is currently being implemented in several communities, including Bériaboukro in the Oumé department of Côte d’Ivoire.
This approach equips parents with new attitudes and skills to interact more effectively with their children, encouraging positive development. These new skills are acquired over 12 community-based sessions or workshops.
"We were taught to love our children by singing and collaborating with them," shared N'Guessan Lou Amany Stéphany, a mother of six. She explained how she became convinced of the project’s value, though initially uninterested. "I didn’t get along with my children. I used to hit them when they annoyed me. My eldest daughter wouldn’t come near me. I didn’t know how to play with them," she admitted. Her husband lamented this situation, which often caused conflicts between them. "My husband would tell me to praise the children when they did something good, but I didn’t. I was easily angered and stubborn and didn’t listen," she revealed.
The strained atmosphere in the home has since transformed, as peace has replaced disputes, and her children’s fear of their mother has turned into companionship, "With the training, there’s been a big change. I always see her chatting with the children. I’m very happy," shared Any Cyriac, her husband, a coffee-cocoa farmer. Her daughter, Amenan Grâce, also confirmed this newfound closeness,
"Before, I was sulking all the time because she was always yelling at me. Today, she doesn’t yell anymore. She plays with me and tells me stories," she affirmed.
For the Okouya family, cocoa farmers from Gbogbobo with five children, the training has improved their relationships with their children. "I used to withhold food from the kids when they misbehaved and angered me. Now, we’ve introduced storytelling at home, and I’ve applied what I learned in the training. There’s harmony at home now. It’s a great programme that helps us raise our children well," said Okouya Kouadio Alain, the father.
The training sessions involve sharing experiences and learning best practices for the home. Six themes focused on child interaction were developed, including:
- "Taking care of yourself to better care for your children,"
- "Positive interactions through play encourage healthy child development,"
- "Helping your child learn positive behaviours,"
- "Empathy and mutual respect promote peace and the development of happy, healthy children,"
- "Harmony and responsibilities in my home."