Project Description.

Project ‘Addressing Familial Tension and Violence in Immigrant Households” uses the data from our literature review, survey, and interview results to propose a two-part solution.

Part I.

Educational Sessions for Immigrant Parents and the Diaspora

  • Session One: All about your Kids

    The first session aims to educate immigrant parents on healthy communication practices. Through our research we’ve identified the top five areas the diaspora deemed most difficult to discuss with their families including 1) Sex and Relationships, 2) Drugs and Alcohol, 3) Mental Health, 4) Religion and Personal Beliefs, 5) Education and Career. Each topic will be discussed by a specialized speaker fluent in Tigrinya and/or Amharic in which appropriate communication practices, general knowledge, and key information will be presented.

  • Session Two: Marriage and Family Therapy

    This session focuses on forming health marriages and family dynamics in a two part series. Firstly, a marriage therapist highlights the common difficulties experienced by Eritrean and Ethiopian couples via scenarios and offers appropriate techniques to address the issues. Secondly, the family therapist continues the discussion by providing insight on healthy child development behaviors at various ages and genders, disciplinary measures, communication techniques, and more.

  • Session Three: Support for the Diaspora

    The final session aims to support the diaspora by inviting them to connect, share experiences, and learn from guided scenarios. This session invites the diaspora to first vent about their difficulties and experiences with their dual identity followed by breakout sessions in which the diaspora is given the opportunity to co-create solutions for impaired parental relationships.

Part II.

The second part of this project focuses on the systemic change that will alleviate familial tension and violence in immigrant households by providing an emergency fund for family or marriage therapy.

Family and Community Building

Increase Access to Resources.

Increasing access to resources includes creating emergency funds to combat financial restrictions in the community to access to individual, marriage, and family therapy.

Family Trust Building Events.

Project Libe offers bonding and relationship building events throughout the year to encourage healthy dynamics between immigrants and their children including celebrations, cooking courses, and more.