What do the initials IFFD mean?
The initials IFFD mean International Federation for Family Development. IFFD is a non-governmental, independent and non-profit making federation set up to work on promoting and supporting all kinds of initiatives in favour of marriage and the family.

What is Family Development?
Family Development is essentially to provide help to parents in educating their children and to promote their personal and marital improvement. It is based on participative methodology, enhancing parents’ educational and decision-making skills regarding their children; knowledge and perfection of marital relations, revitalizing the concept of marriage and the family and preparing all the family members to become free responsible citizens. The Family Enrichment Courses are the fundamental tool used to achieve these objectives.

Who are the IFFD courses planned for?
For all couples wishing to educate their children, to promote their personal improvement and who want to obtain the tools to help them achieve these goals.

What objectives are sought?
The objective of the IFFD courses is to make the role of parents more "professional". Professionalism being understood to mean responsibility, freedom and love, enabling the family to perform its crucial role. In addition to men and women being trained to be better professionals, they must also be trained in parenting. The Family Development programmes provide them with the knowledge and tools to allow them to achieve greater family happiness.

What do the courses consist of?
The IFFD courses are structured on the basis of programmes designed in accordance with the various stages of children’s development; the marital love course includes the most important aspects in a martial relationship. They provide knowledge on the main pedagogic frameworks and the basic habits that children must learn. The courses developed in this programme are based on the case study method, a particularly participative methodology in which a small group of couples grouped in teams analyse real cases discussed at general sessions moderated by experts.

How long do these courses last?
The courses take place over several sessions, on a weekly or fortnightly basis, or, on special occasions, by accumulating several sessions over a few weekends. The number of sessions depends on each course, but they always have the required minimum to cover the basic contents and the rhythm is marked by the coordinator, adapted to the needs of the couples taking part.

Which requirements must be met to take a course?
It is fundamental for the husband and wife to take over the responsibility for the educational role, and both must agree to undertake a real commitment for their personal, marital and family happiness. Only can progress be made if a common goal is sought. This is why the attendance of both spouses is a specific requirement to take part in our courses.

Who gives the courses?
The programmes are coordinated by Family Development Centres, groups and associations involved in organising activities to train and support families.The coordinators of the courses are professionals from various sectors trained in moderation and communication techniques and with a wide knowledge of the contents of each of the programmes. The courses are developed within the scope of a common role: we are parents training parents, families training families.

What additional services are offered by the Family Development centres?
The main activity of the FDCs is aimed at family educational courses or programmes, but they also develop various other activities such as forums, congresses and conferences related to topics concerning families, collaboration in social programmes with the mass media and institutions to support families and organization of leisure and cultural activities to promote inter-generational solidarity.

Are the courses free of charge?
Developing these courses implies certain expenses being incurred that must be paid; therefore fees are charged for the Family Enrichment Courses, as determined by each Family Development Centre, taking a large number of factors into account depending on the area in the world where the centre is located.