"SPACE", "VOICE", "AUDIENCE" and "INFLUENCE" have been created, and conditions for regaining the sense of belonging of the involved youth from vulnerable groups, to the local community beyond just the provision of state care. The produced and promoted film and trailers with the moving stories of these children contribute to their inclusion through public support. Experiences have been pooled and good practices have been shared between organizations and professionals from multiple countries.
Cross-border/international
Bulgaria
Greece
Member State(s), Western Balkans and other countries: Romania
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Mainly urban
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
As a representative of an organization, in partnership with other organisations
Name of the organisation(s): Projecta Foundation (Project partner) Type of organisation: Non-profit organisation First name of representative: Aleksandra Last name of representative: Pavlova Gender: Female Nationality: Bulgaria Function: Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: 18, Ivanka Boteva str. Town: Vratsa Postal code: 3000 Country: Bulgaria Direct Tel:+359 87 826 6246 E-mail:funding@projecta-org.eu
Name of the organisation(s): New Bulgarian University by its Know-How Centre for alternative care for children (KHC) - (Coordinator) Type of organisation: University or another research institution First name of representative: Galina Last name of representative: Markova Gender: Female Nationality: Bulgaria Function: Head of the centre Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: 38A Khan Krum, Str. Town: Sofia Postal code: 1142 Country: Bulgaria Direct Tel:+359 2 403 2030 E-mail:galina.markova.khc@gmail.com Website:https://knowhowcentre.nbu.bg/
The project contributed to regaining/creating a sense of belonging among young people from vulnerable groups to the local community, beyond just the provision of the social service - state care for children deprived of parental care, through duly put in practice all four components of Loundy Model of child participation. The initiative also contributed to the formation of future-oriented ambitions of young people from vulnerable groups through the creation and implementation of their Personal Life Projects (PLPs). It increased the capacity of professionals working for and with children deprived of parental care, incl. migrant children. The project brought together the expertise of organizations and institutions from Bulgaria, Romania and Greece in this field and shared the achieved, applicable results among many countries. The project demonstrated methods for the successful inclusion of the target group of children by creating: "SPACE" - two Methodologies were developed for trainings of professionals-1 for for trainings of professionals for supporting careleavers in PLP creating and realizing process and 1 for trainings of professionals for applying of methods to cope with hostile or risk environment by careleavers; “VOICE” - to assure support and prepare adequate children ageing out of/leaving state care through directly ensuring relevant essential services (consultations) for careleavers for creation and realization of their PLP; “AUDIENCE” - creating a 3-component support network for careleavers - network for provision of essential services for careleavers / network for provision of access to higher education and vocational training for careleavers / network for provision of access to labour market for careleavers; “INFLUENCE” - the developed Methodologies, as well as the projects results, were disseminated at national and international (cross-border) level through the carried out informational campaign.
Children
Care
Dreams
Wellbeing
Belonging
The project does not carry out activities harmful to the environment.The project experts teams have organized and carried out the activities with minimal consumption of materials,fuels and energy,including the use of paper.The implementation of the project took place under the conditions of emergency due to Covid-19.In relation with the pandemic situation all public events were forbidden at national level.All events,expert meetings and conferences on the project were reorganized and the necessary conditions were created,incl. communication and technical,for their timely and quality conduct online (web-based). The project created favorable conditions and encouraged the use of digital technologies among the participants,as a step towards accelerating transformations involving digitalization and the application of environmentally friendly communication technologies.The materials created within the project from the cross-border meetings held,the methodologies developed,the trailers and film created,publications,were also distributed online at national and cross-border level.The materials promoting the project were prepared and distributed only in digital format.The initiative brings European added value through the possibilities for cross-border multiplication of the project approach.Both developed Methodologies are universal methodological-training tools,which are able to apply and implement in each one institution ensuring relevant essential services for children in state care and supporting their ageing out of/leaving care. In this sense,the project promotes the increase of educational qualifications,the building of professional competences and soft skills,the successful inclusion in the labour market and the development of entrepreneurial initiatives by the vulnerable group of children-deprived of parental care and unaccompanied migrant children.
Through the methods of film art and with the aim of using its possibilities to influence public attitudes, a film and 2 TV clips (trailers) were created and distributed, with the touching stories of children living in "Homes for children deprived of parental care" (HCDPC). In the film, they reveal their fears, difficulties, disappointments and challenges they have gone through and yet, they have not stopped dreaming and looking with optimism towards their future. These are young people who grew up without the support of a loved one, some of them do not know their families, another part lost their parents too early. They show how the power of the human spirit, even in the most difficult situations, draws plans and looks for ways (proof that dreams do come true). The participation of a vulnerable group of children in a film creates exciting, new experiences for them. The artistic atmosphere during the shooting creates unforgettable aesthetic and emotional experiences for the children from HCDPC, who are generally far from public attention and cultural/artistic activities. This undoubtedly contributes to building more confidence in their own capabilities and provokes future-oriented dreams. Within the project, 5 online publications with the following titles have been implemented: "For young people who are about to leave the institutional care and policy towards them" and "To BE, not to EXPECT (We hold our lives in our own hands)", which also engaged the public's attention to the problems and challenges in this field. As a result of the conducted National Informational Campaign, sustainability of the impact mainly on the target group of children was achieved. It consists of the positive reception by the general public and the positive comments and likes received on social networks for the film "FUTURE in future tense". In this context, it has been met Ambition III: "to integrate" of the value Beautiful in line with the NEB Compass.
The project's results were nationally and internationally disseminated,relating to the policy of service provision for children in resident care,both in terms of preparing them to leave the HCDPC and supporting them by creating the necessary life independent living skills.This support is based on the needs of children leaving care and at the same time is presupposed for the prevention of risks to them.The project impact consists in increasing the capacity of professionals working for and with children in the institutions providing care for children deprived of parental care and unaccompanied migrant children.Professionals have acquired new knowledge and skills to support children in the long term,in the process of creating and realizing their PLPs and to teach children to cope with hostile or risky environments.Leaving the state care is a serious challenge for young people deprived of parental care.The movie "FUTURE in future tense" is with main actors-children from HCDPC.The film shows children's fears of rejection,of prejudices and stereotypes,of hostility,of being homeless on the street.Just the fact that they are without families and raised in resident care places them in the public space in another,less favorable category.Each of them reveals how they see their future.In this sense,the disseminated film gives voice to the children's ambitions and provokes public attention and support.It shows the personal stories and plight of the children from HCDPC,their dreams and desired future,which can become a reality only by changing public attitudes and creating equal opportunities for their participation in our society.The principles applied for more successful preparation of children to leave state care,as well as the use of film art to change public attitudes on the subject are of universal and wide applicability,incl. and at the cross-border level. In this context,it has been met the highest Ambition III of the value Beautiful in line with the NEB Compass.
Receiving social support and attention is especially important for children leaving state care/HCDPC as they begin their independent lives. Through the National Informational Campaign, the wide audience was involved in the cause and sustainability of the project's impact was achieved. It is measured by the positive acceptance by the general public and received positive comments and likes on social networks for the short film "FUTURE in future tense", incl. the 2 TV spots (trailers). Their dissemination in electronic media and websites among the public led to stronger engagement and provoked support towards children leaving HCDPC, which ensured the building of a better environment for their inclusion. The film shows that all children are valuable to society and it must take care, create conditions and allow them to realize their potential and to pursue their dreams. As a result of the successful campaign, local employers, through the mediation of the organizations implementing the project, have offered specific jobs for children leaving the state care. The effect of including children from HCDPC in the film as protagonists encourages the participants and helps build self-esteem and confidence that their potential, dreams and future-oriented ambitions are important and supported by the public, organizations and institutions. As part of the national informational campaign 5 online publications were published in the form of articles with the following titles: "For young people who are about to leave the institutional care and policy towards them" and "To BE, not to EXPECT (We hold our lives in our own hands)". The publications were distributed in digital media and were read by a total of over 2,000 people. The project is a good example of shaping the future-oriented ambitions of the youth from vulnerable groups through the implementation of their PLPs, from where - to shape the future-oriented ambitions of the youth community at the national level.
148 (out of the planned minimum 80) representatives of various Bulgarian, Romanian, Greek and other institutions providing care for children deprived of parental care and for unaccompanied migrant children were introduced in the developed Methodologies by the organized 2 cross-border web informational-working meetings. The project results have been shared across multiple countries, by the Coordinator - KHC-NBU, through using the existing Child Protection Hub for South East Europe (www.childhub.org). It has 3146 ChildHub’s members and 322 ChildHub Academy’s members of different countries, among which Albania, Croatia, Kosovo, Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Scotland. The initiative successfully attracted relevant stakeholders at national and local level, incl. state authorities - Employment Agency (EA), State Agency for Refugees with Council of Ministers (SARCM), Municipality of Plovdiv and Municipality of Stara Zagora, to work together and in that way the existing National Coordinating Mechanism (NCM) of the State Agency for Child Protection (SACP) was upgraded as a 3-component support network for careleavers. The support network encompasses the following 3 components (sub-networks): network for provision of essential services for careleavers / network for provision of access to higher education and vocational training for careleavers / network for provision of access to labour market for careleavers. 100 professionals working for and with children, in rights of the child and child protection were trained under the developed Methodologies, of which: 80 professionals from institutions ensuring state care for children deprived of parental care and 20 professionals from institutions ensuring state care for unaccompanied migrant children. All this provoked broad civic engagement at both national and local levels and more active support for the inclusion of children leaving state care.
The project had an impact at local, regional, national and European level and covered topics and areas of knowledge related to social policy. It directed public attention through the distributed short film and 2 TV clips (trailers) to the realized personal projects of children from HCDPC. It promotes the right of children and young people to have adequate social, legal and economic protection, in this sense the project corresponds to different areas of law and civic education. The two developed Methodologies for training professionals working for and with children on child rights and protection aim to better support all children, incl. of those in state care, deprived of parental care and unaccompanied migrant children, in order to prepare them to leave the state care by assisting in the process of creating and implementing their PLPs' and teaching children to cope with hostile or risky environments. These methodological tools cover areas such as pedagogy, child and adult psychology and extensive use of forms of non-formal education to build soft skills such as: emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, teamwork, leadership, entrepreneurial skills and financial literacy, presentation to employers and etc. The created film and 2 trailers are related to film art, creative industries and art-technique. The ways to choose their distribution among the target audience are related to marketing. In connection with the extraordinary situation due to Covid-19 the necessary conditions were created, incl. communication and technical for the quality conduct of online (web-based) events, expert meetings and conferences on the project, which is related to the implementation and upgrading of the digital competences of the participants.
Of the total 148 representatives of diverse relevant institutions: 99 (66.89%) are representatives of relevant Bulgarian institutions and organisations and 49 are representatives of relevant Romanian, Greek and from other country institutions and organisations, involved in joint activities. 120 professionals working for and with children, in rights of the child and child protection were trained, as well as good practices and learned lessons (feedback) were exchanged between them, by their participation in the carried out 4 webinars and 1 e-conference onto www.childhub.org. 100 professionals working for and with children, in rights of the child and child protection were trained under the developed Methodologies, of which: 80 professionals from institutions ensuring state care for children deprived of parental care and 20 professionals from institutions ensuring state care for unaccompanied migrant children. 4 local trainers were trained under the developed Methodologies for applying the train-the-trainer approach;3 local supervisors were trained under the developed Methodologies for ensuring supervision of the process and feedback receiving;9 local assistants were trained under the developed Methodologies for provision of relevant services (consultations) for careleavers for creation and realization of their PLPs' and applying the methods for cope with hostile or risk environment.120 careleavers at the age of 15-18 years(children deprived of parental care and unaccompanied migrant children) have received directly (by trained professionals) relevant essential services(consultations) for creation and realization of their Personal Life Projects and applying the methods for cope with hostile or risk environment.100 careleavers at the age of 15-18 years (children deprived of parental care and unaccompanied migrant children) were directly supported by the upgraded NCM of the SACP.All of this restore the feeling of belonging and shape future oriented careleavers' ambitions.
The innovative nature of the initiative consists in the use of a complex, universal, flexible and adaptable to the needs of the target group approach, aimed at satisfying its needs, through support from the interested parties and impact at different levels, simultaneously and duly putting in practice the four components of Loundy Model of child participation and giving them SPACE, VOICE, AUDIENCE and INFLUENCE. Furthermore, the innovative aspect of the project is that it encompasses and combines in an appropriate and unique way both Integrated approach and Train-the-Trainer approach.
Representatives of various relevant Bulgarian, Romanian, Greek and other institutions and organizations are involved in joint activities aimed at exchanging experience and sharing good practices. The mechanisms for the wide dissemination of the results of the project and its impact at the European level are also innovative and create prerequisites for its multiplication by an unlimited number of organizations from different countries. The use of film art and the inclusion of children from HCDPC as protagonists revealing their personal stories in an impactful way is a new, innovative method providing strong support for the implementation of the project's overall goal and creating better opportunities for the inclusion of the target group children, incl. through the broad support of the public. Another innovative, long-term impact of the project consists in increasing the capacity of professionals who have acquired new knowledge and skills to support children from HCDPC in the process of creating and implementing their PLPs' and methods for dealing with a hostile or risky environment. Upgrading on the existing National Coordinating Mechanism (NCM) of the State Agency for Child Protection is also an innovative approach implementing a 3-component support network.
The project brings together the expertise and aspirations of two organizations aimed at providing better care that meets the needs of children deprived of parental care and unaccompanied migrant children, especially in preparing them to leave state care and start an independent life. The coordinator of the implemented project is Know-How Centre for alternative care for children (KHC). Its commitment was to ensure the management, reporting and quality implementation of the project. Within the implementation of the project, its commitment was to develop the methodological tools for building the capacity of professionals working for and with the target group of children: for training professionals to support the individuals from the target group in the process of creating and implementing their personal life project and to train professionals to apply methods to deal with hostile or risky environments. The project partner is Projecta Foundation. The organization's expertise enabled the effective implementation of the planned National informational campaign and the informational-working meetings with international participation. The project involved relevant stakeholders, incl. state bodies and municipalities and thus the existing National Coordination Mechanism of the State Agency for Child Protection has been upgraded as a 3-component network to support children from the target group. The Loundy Model for child participation was applied in the project. Moreover, it applies both Integrated and Train-the-Trainer approaches. Using the art of film via the personal stories about life without a family, fears, difficulties, obstacles and insecurities, but also and dreams, is a method by which the problems of careleavers are placed in the center of public attention.
The mechanisms used to attract participants from neighboring countries - institutions and organizations, their inclusion in joint activities, can be used as a method of multiplication, ensuring quality implementation of projects and wide dissemination of results and impact at national and European level in terms of policies to vulnerable groups. Using the film art and involving children from HCDPC as protagonists revealing their personal stories and projects for the future is a method that provides a strong impact on the audience and as an approach, could be widely used to change public attitudes and better social inclusion of vulnerable groups of children. At the same time, the children included in the film are a successful, motivating example with their desire and aspirations to educate themselves, develop, dream and look with inspiration and confidence to their future successes. Their personal example of struggle and determination will encourage and motivate other young people and representatives of vulnerable groups, and in this sense the use of film art is a suitable and easy to multiply approach to promote a positive social model of behaviour. The project demonstrates approaches to increase the capacity of professionals to work with vulnerable groups, as well as the benefits of training for children from the target group. The professionals, within the project, on the basis of the developed 2 methodologies, have acquired new knowledge and skills to help children in the process of creating and implementing their PLPs' and to deal with a hostile or risky environment. The applied trainings build the necessary skills and created the necessary preparation in children for an independent life after leaving state care. Both methodologies are widely applicable by organizations and institutions responsible and committed to providing care for children deprived of parental care and unaccompanied migrant children.
The EU strategy on the rights of the child envisages the role of children as drivers of change in democratic life. It is recommended that: "Member States should also enable the participation of children in civic and democratic life", "The right of children to realize their full potential regardless of their social background". The completed project supports these guidelines. It is aimed at global challenges such as: reduction of child poverty and social exclusion, social inequality, discrimination, youth unemployment, various forms of addictions, child and youth crime. The project achieved results related to the provision of social security and transformation of social models, influenced public attitudes at the local, regional and national level, contributed to the inclusion and provision of equal opportunities to vulnerable groups of children from HCDPC. These children are more at risk compared to other young people from early dropout from education, unemployment, poverty. By increasing the capacity of professionals working with these children and developing sustainable, generally applicable methodological tools in this direction, the project contributes to more successful adaptation of children leaving state care to an independent life, incl. by offering mechanisms to support them in creating and implementing their personal life projects (PLP) and dealing with a hostile environment. The project builds a useful model contributing to limiting the impact of poverty and social exclusion on children who are most in need of support and protection and thus contributing to economic growth and social justice.
