Description
This project aims to design and operate a “Youth Support Centre” (KYN), namely a unit of social intervention and support for adolescents and young adults (15-21 years old). This is a venue of applied undergraduate and postgraduate training in social community work for young people.The key objectives of the unit of social intervention and support are the following: Firstly, the support of children and young people who are at risk of exclusion from access to the basic goods and services that are necessary for their development, protection and security. Secondly, through the operation of the “Youth Support Center” KYN counseling, support and education as well as a day-center for young people will be provided. Temporary accommodation facilities will become available to homeless adolescents and young adults. Great priority will be given to unaccompanied minors and street children. Thirdly, KYN offers applied training for students and attempts to build a suitable learning environment and methodology for an on the field training, contributing to the development of scientific staff dedicated to social work with children and youth. Fourthly, KYN also operates as a hub producing and promoting international and European information activities and awareness campaigns on children’s rights in Greece.
Summary of project results
The impact of the economic crisis has significantly exacerbated the deficits in programs, services and support systems for adolescents. Alongside, social pressure is related and affects the lives of children and young people, creating inequality and difficult conditions for their development, forming behaviors which are often characterized by anger, violence, conflict with institutions or they lead to inaction, internalization of rejection, victimization, passivity and loss of rights claim.At this juncture, it is important to establish those structures able to restrain the marginalization of young people from the social function and balance with support services the frequently institutional repression and criminalization of behaviors. During the funding period,was created the Youth Support Centre "NEON CHORA", which responded loudly to the needs of the reference group, working with the principles of empowerment and strengthening. The Center served more than 1,000 young men and women along with their families, who received social services, legal services, psychosocial support and employment counseling. Furthermore, young men and women participated in three groups where the Greek language and culture were used as an empowerment tool, in five tutorial classes for all levels of education, in a weekly dance workshop, in a musical instrument weekly learning session, in a movie club, on a variety of workshops for creative expression, in two workshops concerning the art of animator by "Clowns without Borders" and in an informative lecture regarding the infectious diseases held by the University of Athens-Medicine department. Additionally, more than 600 children living or working on the street participated in the Mobile School operations, while others participated in a numerous of public events.During the same period, two youth work camps with volunteers from all over the world were organized. At the same time, the Center acting as an applied training area accepted 25 students to do their internship. Finally, a high importance output of this project is the elaboration of an Automated tool / Guide with integrated methodological designs for social activities with young populations; with this tool the diffusion of acquired knowledge and experience regarding youth working will be pursued and it aspires to become the foundation for the operation of such structures.
Summary of bilateral results