Page 132 - EMBRACE Book

U Thar, Myanmar

“My wife and I have two daughters. One is six years old,
the other is 3 years old.

My wife is a schoolteacher and so I am the one that is at
home during the day providing care for our younger
daughter who is just three years old. I thought that by the
very fact that I was there for her and making sure she was
safe and fed that I was being a good father.

Recently I attended an EMBRACE training session where I
discovered that there was so much more that I could do to
become a better father.

ADRA taught us all about early childhood development
and how it is important to play with your children, giving
them lots of opportunity to learn good motor skills through
the play activities that they do.

We learned how, as parents, we need to show kindness and
patience towards our children, giving them many
experiences that will develop their self-worth and self-
confidence.
132 Even though I am a farmer and need to tend to my fields, I 133
am now making sure that I spend quality time with my
children every day. I am making sure that our interactions
are positive and uplifting. Now, instead of telling them how
they are doing everything wrong, I am showing them the Photo: © 2019 ADRA | Frank Spangler
right way and praising them when they get it right. Chit, Cambodia

The really great thing about this is that it is helping to
improve the relationship that I have with my children and
my wife. Be becoming a better father, I have become a
better husband and we are all happier as a family.” “ADRA talked a lot about gender equality and gender roles. The training also discussed the many different kinds of abuse
We learned that whatever women can do, men can also do. that can happen in a marriage or other relationship. I used to
Whatever men can do, women can also do. In the training know only about sexual abuse. EMBRACE taught us about
they suggested that we share household tasks and help each physical abuse, emotional abuse, verbal abuse, economic
other. abuse, workplace abuse, and cyber-bullying.

Even though my husband did not attend the EMBRACE Overall, the ADRA EMBRACE training has been very good for
training himself, he read the handout materials that I our family and the others in our village. We have learned so
brought home from the training. He has started helping me a many things that have improved our lives.”
lot around the house. He is cooking meals and doing a lot of
cleaning.

Photo: © 2019 ADRA | Frank Spangler