UNODC Piloted an Evidence-Based Family Skills Training Programme in Six Schools of Selected Districts of the Republic of Karakalpakstan

In November 2021, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Regional Office for Central Asia in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Education of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, piloted the “Family UNited” programme. Some 60 adolescents and parents from six selected schools in three pilot districts (Muynak, Bozataw, Kungrad) of the Republic of Karakalpakstan had an opportunity to benefit from the programme.

“Family UNited” is an evidence-based family skills training programme aimed at supporting caregivers to be better parents and strengthen positive age-specific and age-appropriate family functioning and interactions. It promotes a warm child-rearing style where parents set rules for acceptable behaviors, closely monitor free time and friendship patterns, and become good role models while helping their children to acquire skills to make informed decisions. The programme was adapted for the national conditions of Uzbekistan in close cooperation with experts from the Ministry of Public Education and the Center for Vocational Guidance and Psychological and Pedagogical Diagnostics of Students under the Ministry of Public Education.

The main feature of the programme is that it is easy to adapt, composed of four sessions spread over four weeks and best suited for families with children between 8 and 15. Each session is divided into three separate sub-sessions- “Caregiver session”, “Child session” and “Family session”.

“I used to yell at my kids a lot, so they would yell back at me and would not do what I told them to do. From the training I learned how to change my behavior and tried to understand, praise, and encourage my children. I especially benefited from numerous interactive interventions. As a result, my kids began to change for the better. They have started to talk and listen to me, were in a good mood and kept smiling. I would like to express my deep gratitude to the facilitators of the “Family UNited” programme and encourage more parents and children to participate in it.” said Baylepesova Sarigul, caregiver from Bozataw district in Karakalpakstan.

The piloting of the “Family UNited” programme was conducted as part of the UNODC/UNICEF/UNFPA joint project “Investing in a resilient future of Karakalpakstan by improving health, nutrition, water, sanitation, hygiene and wellbeing of adolescents and by harnessing the talents of youth during and after COVID-19” with the financial support of the UN Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea Region in Uzbekistan.

 Article in russian language 

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For more information, contact Vasilina Brazhko (Ms.)

Communication and PR Specialist 

UNODC in Central Asia 

+996775987817 WhatsApp 

vasilina.brazhko [at] un.org