With divorce rates rising in the Kingdom, the Ministry of Social Affairs held a two-day symposium in Jeddah to create awareness of the importance of communication between spouses and family members. The event, which ended on Monday, was organized by the Ministry's Mawaddah Center for Reforming and Guiding Families. The theme of the event was “Making happy families.” It was divided into two lectures: “Dialogue between spouses” by Almas Al-Hejn, and “The development of love between spouses” by Ameera Bahmim. Al-Hejn, a supervisor and trainer at the First Training Center, a counselor and a member of the Junior Women's Consultative Committee at the Shaqae'q Association, said that specialist advice was important to help families. It was also important that this advice is provided in a calm atmosphere. This would facilitate communication between spouses. She said it was also important that any counseling session excludes third parties such as in-laws. The symposium attracted a large number of people, many seeking advice on how to build communication with their partners. Saudi Gazette spoke to a number of women about what they had gained from the event and how this would help them to improve relations with their husbands and families. Galia Abdullah, a mother of five, said that it was important to have positive communication with her husband and children. At the moment Saudi families do not communicate at all, said Abdullah. She said that her family did not discuss issues with her. But she was trying to change this. Mariam Faisal, a mother, wants to pass on some of this information to her daughter who is getting married in a month's time. “In my opinion, dialogue is a very important way to achieve happiness and to solve problems,” Faisal said. Al-Hejn said that successful dialogue includes trying to understand one's partner rather than trying to persuade him of one's own opinion. Al-Hejn said one of the main problems in Saudi society at the moment is that youth are growing up without any sense of responsibility towards their families. Sameera Al-Farsi, chairperson of the symposium, said the aim of the Mawaddah Center was to try to create happy families. Zuhaie Nasser, Secretary General of the Mawaddah center, said the center provides counseling, programs to reconcile couples and lectures.
