Preparing Families for Life Overseas

The Training

Separate programmes will be run for adults and children, with crèche facilities available for children of pre–school age.

For Parents: ‘Families on the Move’ will give a framework for understanding the dynamics of bringing up children in another country, and the effects of crosscultural living on family life. Sessions will be interactive and include case studies and time for discussion.

Topics covered will include:

• Profile of a Third Culture Kid (TCK)

• Implication of an international childhood

• The importance of long–term planning

• Issues of continuity, cultural integration and educational

considerations

• How to plan for a positive home assignment

• A brief introduction to re–entry issues for children at the end of an

assignment.

For Children: A parallel programme will help them explore their own feelings about moving overseas. This will be done by engaging in fun activities, crafts and games related to saying goodbye, moving on and looking forward to discovering new things in a different culture.

Facilitators

The adult sessions will be led by Marion Knell. A trained teacher, Marion became involved in the care of missionary families while working for Arab World Ministries. Marion heads up the Global Connections Forum on ‘Third Culture Kids’, and lectures on the subject at UK Bible Colleges and International Conferences. She is also involved with the European Member Care Network and works for a secular international relocation company as a youth and adult trainer. She has published two books – ‘Families on the Move’ (2001) and ‘Burnup or Splash Down – surviving the culture shock of re–entry’ (2007).

The children’s programme will be run by Sandra Campbell, a trained primary teacher, who served with her husband (and family) in France for over 17 years. Sandra is the Third Culture Kids (TCK) pastoral advisor with Presbyterian Mission Overseas and represents them at TCK conferences, workshops and other related training events.

Advance booking required

To book your place, please contact the Mission Overseas Office at overseas@presbyterianireland.org or tel: 028 9032 2284  making sure you include the names of parents and children (with their ages) plus an email address and a mobile or daytime landline contact.

 Fees (payable on the day)

Adults – £20.00

Couples – £30.00

Children –£5.00 (pre–school children – no charge)

On the day

Tea and coffee will be provided free of charge but participants need to bring a packed linch.  Creche facilites will be available for children of pre–school age.