Preparing Families for Life Overseas 

A day workshop for parents and children to help prepare for living abroad

Saturday 13 March 2010

10.00am to 4.30pm

"Impressive, well researched, and a wealth of knowledge and experience. What a brilliant and helpful day."

"This has been the most helpful input we have yet had as we prepare to go overseas."

This is just some of the feedback from previous 'Preparing Families' day workshops held at Redcliffe. Drawing on the expertise of Marion Knell (Global Connections TCK Forum, European Member Care Network), Yolanda Jerrard (New Tribes Mission) and Janet Chapman (OMF International), the day offers adults and children the opportunity to explore some of the issues surrounding moving to, and living in, a different culture.

For the adults: Parents will be helped to understand the dynamics of bringing up children in another country, and the effects of cross-cultural living on family life. 

For the children: Primary school-aged children will participate in a parallel pre-field orientation programme run by Yolanda Jerrard and Janet Chapman where they will be able to explore their own feelings about the move and be provided with tools to help them cope.

Babies and pre-schoolers attend the Redcliffe crèche where there will be a range of games and activities provided.

This event is very popular - please note there are limited spaces available, and early booking is advisable.

About the speakers:
 
Marion Knell leads the adult sessions. A trained teacher, she 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. Marion is also involved with the European Member Care Network and works for a secular international relocation company as a youth and adult trainer. Her book, Families on the Move was published in 2001 and her latest book Burn-up or Splash Down: Surviving the Culture Shock of Re-entry is now available.

Yolanda Jerrard works with NTM (New Tribes Mission). She and her husband Stephen served as house parents for several years in West Africa and Papua New Guinea. Now based at NTM's headquarters, their ministry involves serving missionaries through working in personnel, member care and MK/TCK care.

Janet Chapman has worked in TCK ministry with OMF International since 1984 in Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and now Preston. Her work has included teaching year 2, advising families, home-school support, developing orientation material for children, debriefing TCKs, coordinating teams running TCK programmes at conferences and leading reconnect, an annual re entry camp for TCKs. In 2009 she qualified as a counsellor.

Cost: £35 for adults, £60 per couple, £15 per child (between 3 months and 11 years.)
 
To book: Please complete the downloadable booking form opposite and send with a cheque to:
Mrs Debs Austin-Sparks, Redcliffe College, Wotton House, Horton Road, Gloucester GL1 3PT

To read a student's impressions of last years event, read their post on Redcliffe's student blog

Directions:  Please see our directions page for details on how to find us.