Family

How healthy are our families these days? How do they promote tolerance and harmony? The family is the pinnacle of society. Families are the main teachers of culture; each generation passes along what it has learned, what worked, what didn’t and what makes them that unique family, that unique people and nation. Over time, family values may undergo many changes, in keeping with changes in work and other spheres. However, there are some aspects of culture that may never change. For instance despite the fact that economic situations may dictate that the father spends considerable time away from the family, culture still recognizes him as the head of that family. In Uganda, it is a known fact that families have changed. Circumstances such as education, religion and HIV/AIDs among other factors have resulted in a shift of roles which challenges the traditional family setting. Intentional and unintentional forces worldwide continue to introduce important changes in family roles and cultural practices. This, however, shouldn’t take away the importance of family, for belonging to a family or a culture offers people a sense of identity, feelings of connectedness, shared values and support when faced with the challenges of life. Instilling of values, old and new often takes place within a family setting where they are translated into the daily lives of children. Cultural values, beliefs and traditions significantly affect family life. They dictate family members' roles and responsibilities toward one another, how family members relate to one another, how decisions are made within families, how resources are distributed and how problems are defined. Naturally most people tend to seek out a culture that is most present in their lives and that provides the most rewards. This is where today’s family comes in to preserve the ways of our people and ensure that they are reflected in the lives of our children rather than popular culture that has proved detrimental by eroding family values.