Troubled couples on the brink of divorce may be able to give their marriage a second chance through the Terengganu Family Development Foundation’s (YPK) second honeymoon programme.
The programme has proven to be effective since its introduction, with participating couples foregoing the option to divorce and enjoying their life as happier families.
Terengganu YPK director Shafaruddin Mustaffa said Terengganu saw an increasing divorce rate each year, especially among young couples, and prompted the foundation to begin the programme.
“Our function is to stop troubled couples from divorcing. Throughout the duration of this programme, we have not received any report of divorce among our participants.
“In fact, we have couples who come to the office thanking us and saying their marriage is more harmonious after taking part in the programme,” he told Bernama here today.
Since the programme started last year, five sessions fully sponsored by the foundation were carried out involving 30 couples who had been married for one to five years.
“Couples who have been married for five years or below are classified as hot groups which we focus on. This is because the first five years are the most problematic, with more challenges compared to couples who have been married 10 years,” he said.
Shafaruddin said the programme was held at island resorts in Terengganu, but starting next year, it would be conducted at the foundation’s Family Development Academy in Setiu.
He said during the five-day and four-night programme, each couple would be provided a house at the academy, where they would be given motivational, family and home management courses by appointed counselors.
“Next year we target 1,000 couples to join the programme in hopes to prevent divorce and allow couples to live a more fulfilling married life,” he added.
-Bernama