Introduction
Home and family are directly connected terms that play a pivotal societal role. On the one hand, home depicts a meaning of shelter to accommodate individuals. On the other hand, family portrays a sense of social protection for such individuals within a given society. Home and family positively impact community-based socialisation, and it contributes to the development and prosperity of individuals. The main benefits and advantages of home and family can be described in the following manner: protection, safety, prosperity and socialisation.
Social and Economic Factors Affecting Home and Family Well-being
However, from the perspective of Amanda Bastoni & Anthony David, who was at the TEDx event, home and family are concepts provided by the law (treaties, agreements, Declaration of Human Rights, amongst others). Many less privileged individuals, particularly women and children, have never experienced life in a home or a family, and that is due to several social and economic factors, as follows:
Social factors:
- Abandonment
- Step-family issues
- Abuse and violence (physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, amongst others)
- Parental death
Economic factors:
- Lack of income source;
- Unemployment;
- Lack of education
- Low income.
Societal Affairs vs Social Development
More importantly, home and family promote the establishment of human development skills and abilities among individuals. That is to say, home and family define the individuals we would like to see in our society’s future; therefore, it is our responsibility and duty to create mechanisms and perspectives that incite good practices and manners in relation to homes and families. Thus, it can be assumed that the failure or success of adults is usually related to the exclusion and disintegration suffered by such individuals at an early age. In this regard, as per the Youth Communication Show, it is extremely important that home and family should not be seen as only shelter and protection but, more importantly, as an educational setting where individuals learn the most relevant values and principles that will enable them to become key members relevant to their community, society and country.
Conclusion
To summarize, home and family can only promote social development if relevant community stakeholders provide all the necessary assistance to all individuals, particularly the less-privileged ones. In addition, the state and government leaders should endeavour all efforts to support their national citizens in terms of decent housing provision and basic income sources that will allow sustainability and, particularly, promote well-being in family relationships. Last but not least, it is strongly believed that well-being within family relationships may contribute to mitigating street children, homelessness, crime rate and extreme poverty.
