As most of our wandering educators know, uprooting and living in another culture can be a challenge for families. While it is exciting, and life-changing, there are also so many details that it can be stressful, as well. We've found a great organization, Families in Global Transition (FIGT), that helps families through these transitions. We were lucky enough to sit down and talk with Kimberly Van Cleave Michaels, Executive Director of FIGT. Here's what she had to say...
Kimberly Van Cleave Michaels, Executive Director of FIGT
WE: Please tell us about your organization, Families in Global Transition...
FIGT: Families in Global Transition (FIGT) exists to support the family and their organizations to accomplish the assignment. We provide strategic resources for families and individuals who live, move, and work throughout the world.
That is our mission, however, FIGT to those who know it intimately, is best described through its community. This community consists of influential and powerful individuals in their field. Individuals who see success not only in terms of short term financial gains, but also in terms of the long-term happiness of the individuals they support. Community leaders, high ranking members of the military, CEOs, missionary leaders and wandering educators, who have been sending their people overseas for years or travelling themselves, gather to share best practices and to come away with new tools. The world is always changing and therefore, the best way to support those living in all corners of it, is also always changing. For 10 years, the FIGT community has discussed, challenged and solved issues that affect these global nomads with an eye for educating ourselves as well as those we serve.
WE: What was the genesis of FIGT?
FIGT: FIGT is one of those organizations founded "around a kitchen table one day". Our story began in Indiana in 1998 with Ruth Van Reken and a few others, who traveled the globe, discussing ways to support the family on overseas assignment. After the launch of Ruth and David Pollock's book, Third Culture Kids, it was made crystal clear that a forum was needed to continue the discussion on what happened to a child or an adult who lived, not in just one culture, but one who was raised in several and therefore did not come away with the "normal" cultural values one would expect. The goal was to have a conference that would unite theory and practice and help individuals leading this nomadic lifestyle get the explanations they needed to explain their own actions and behaviors. In other words, how all this moving from place to place affected their own cultural identity.
WE: What is so unique about families in transition?
FIGT: There are really two very important aspects to FIGT that make it unique: its cross sector community and its focus on education/research.
The founders of FIGT realized early on that the discussion was not complete unless the entire community was part of it. Those in the missionary world, leaders of the corporate, educational, foreign service, military and NGOs all come together to share best practices on supporting those families on overseas assignment. This open sharing for the greater good makes FIGT very unique and very inclusive. This radiates from the mission itself which opens to include the family of those overseas...not just the employee him/herself.
The second very unique thing about FIGT is the focus on education first. Our conference is all about teaching, sharing and learning the best ways to support a family overseas. Since the audience has so much to share, our sessions are rich with this sharing best practices from each other. Travel and crossing cultures is inherently filled with learning and those who support people through this and who do it well are themselves constantly pushing to know current research on global mobility. What is interesting for me to see is which cutting-edge corporations see the true dollars and cents that can be saved when focus is put on supporting the families of their overseas assignees. We are first and foremost an educational group, some have called a global think tank on cross-cultural issues.
WE: What sorts of cross-cultural coping strategies do you recommend, for families moving into a new culture?
FIGT: Well, this question is an interview all by itself and why FIGT has had hundreds of sessions in its 10 year history. Having a network is really key to those travelling overseas. I would suggest they come to our conference in Houston in March or at the very least visit the FIGT website. As an FIGT Associate, one can gain access to many of the white papers and Powerpoint presentations from past conferences. We have an extensive library on this subject and giving families tools to succeed is our forte.
WE: How can people get involved in FIGT?
FIGT: The current volunteer postings can be found on the FIGT page on volunteermatch or http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/org168066.jsp. But if you want to help today, you can simply:
* Sign up to come to our conference in Houston, TX, 4-6 March 2010. Email me directly and I'll get you on the pre-registration list execdirector[at]figt.org. We also have scholarships for the conference and you can find more info about these on our site.
* Sign up to receive our free monthly newsletters
* Forward this article to a friend or an organization that might need some extra support on this topic.
* Become a fan of us on Facebook, Link to us on LinkedIn and following our tweets on Twitter. Spreading the mission to those who need it is fantastic.
And of course, as a non profit, we are always looking for sponsors to support our work while they gain access to our unique community. We are having a VIP event in Houston, TX on October 22 for community leaders of that town who want to know more about us. You can email me as well for more info on that execdirector[at]figt.org
WE: Can you please share a bit about your conference?
FIGT: We will be at the Westchase Marriott in Houston, Texas March 4-6, 2010.
Families in Global Transition provides a forum where members of internationally mobile families, e.g. corporate, military, diplomatic, missionary, gather with those who assist them: human resource personnel, relocation experts, educators and counselors. Together we develop strategies for dealing with challenges of cross-cultural living. Presenters as well as those in the audience are the leaders in global mobility and represent top organizations who have been doing this successfully for years, but who also know that to stay on top and support expats and their families, one must always stay abreast of the latest research and current discussion.
People have called it the best family reunion with strangers you could ever attend! When you understand what it means to live overseas or support those who do, there is a certain bond that adheres those like-minded people like family.
The FIGT 2010 March 4-6 Conference Registration LIVE today!
30 concurrent sessions
5 workshops
and many other creative and interactive formats
Speakers include representatives from such organizations as: The World Bank, Ruth Van Reken, University of Iceland School of Business, and of course all the quality cross-cultural trainers, educators, coaches and expat service providers to help answer your toughest questions.
Here is just a sampling of some of the sessions to benefit your organization:
* Best Practices in Global Expatriate Family Support
* Lifeboats & Lifelines to Secure Families & Strengthen Organizations
* The Impact of Expatriation on Children
* How International Schools Can Support Students' Native-Language Needs
* Just Another Expat? Insights and Strategies of Female Minority Expatriates
* Top 5 Uncommon International Job Search Strategies for Spouses/Partners
* Out of the Boxes: Lessons from the Shell Expat Archive
* Challenge to Fulfillment: Midlife Transition for Accompanying Spouses and Partners
* Keeping Our Children Bilingual
WE: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?
FIGT: There is no better investment than in understanding one's own journey and if you travel, sometimes the journey within is even more interesting a study then the physical travel itself...but that's fun too! I'm inspired by people like Ruth Van Reken and David Pollock who have an idea to improve our world and our understanding of ourselves. I'm thrilled to be a part of that vision and help carry it to those who need it.
I'm looking forward to meeting your readership in person in Houston, TX in March. If you have a passion for cross cultural education and current research in the field like I do, come and learn with the FIGT community. It is a trip!
WE: Thanks so much, Kimberly! Your work is inspiring - and so very critical for today's global nomads.
For more information, please see:
http://www.figt.org