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Description
The mission of Forum for Freedom in Education (FFE) is to develop, enhance and implement educational programs and projects as well as influence public policies with the aim of advancement of Croatian education system, in line with FFE basic values (such as democracy, human rights and child wellbeing).
In the next strategic period, FFE will achieve its mission is to:
1.) Contribute to development of democratic, inclusive and sustainable school (School Democratization).
2.) Improve wellbeing and active participation of children and youth in all their diversity, with special emphasis on the resilience and recovery from the crisis (Wellbeing and participation of children and youth)
3.) Actively contribute to widening and empowering a network of educators for democracy (Supporting Civil society)
4.) Advocate for FFE strategic goals (Advocacy for democracy in education)
5.) Organizational development of FFE.
Our focus is on: School democratization (civic education); Personal and Social Competences (mental health, diversity, wellbeing, participation), Teaching advancement (advancing teaching methodology and emergency education); and Youth programs.
Within the education system we recognize a variety of needs of our target groups (children, youth, teachers, educators, counsellors, principals, policy makers, parents). Currently the system is dealing with consequences of triple crisis: pandemic, earthquakes, war in Ukraine, and all stakeholders will need specific support in providing psychosocial support and continued learning to all children as well as refugee children and parents. With the societies changing dramatically, all stakeholders will need to deepen their understanding of human rights, democracy, law and politics, sustainability, climate change, peace education as well as mental health protection. Schools will have to make their contribution in building a democratic, inclusive and sustainable society.
Summary of project results
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the entire world, including the educational system and non-formal education. A significant number of activities for beneficiaries transitioned to online formats, demanding greater creativity and the development of new skills. The earthquakes in several regions created a crisis and stress, necessitating adaptation both for the target groups and the civil society organizations themselves. The war in Ukraine has introduced a new reality that must be considered and integrated into parts of our work, responding to emerging needs within the system.
Civil society organizations heavily rely on project financing, which means that calls for proposals often dictate the direction of program offerings and the energy devoted to certain activities.
Needs of Primary Target Groups:
Educational Workers: With significantly increased stress levels and a shortage of experts in professional services, there is a growing demand for teachers to respect diversity, support inclusion, develop students'' personal skills, and provide psychosocial support. The heightened pressure on educators calls for new approaches to creating a supportive learning environment that meets the diverse needs of students.
Children and Youth: There is a pressing need to provide systematic support in the area of mental health, as well as to address the inequalities exacerbated by the pandemic and social challenges. Additionally, there is a clear need for fostering civic and political literacy to enable young people to engage in democratic processes and contribute meaningfully to society.
School Principals: There is a significant demand for leadership skills that are rooted in democratic principles. Due to a lack of awareness, knowledge, and sometimes fear in addressing issues of diversity, minority group positions, and gender equality, some students and staff members experience exclusion or discrimination. Principals need to be equipped with the skills to foster inclusive school environments that uphold democratic values.
Needs of Secondary Target Groups:
Civil Society Organizations (experts and trainers in democratic processes and civic education): These organizations require networking, strengthening, and additional support to align their actions effectively. Collaboration within the sector is crucial for the successful implementation of projects aimed at fostering democracy and civic engagement.
Decision-Makers: There is a gap in the competence required to actively involve children and youth in decision-making processes, as well as a lack of awareness about the importance of democratic processes in shaping policies and decisions. Decision-makers must be trained to integrate the perspectives of younger generations into the policymaking process.
In conclusion, the pandemic and its aftermath, along with the ongoing socio-political crises, have highlighted urgent needs across various levels of society. These include addressing mental health, fostering inclusion, developing leadership skills, and ensuring that youth have the tools they need to participate in democracy. At the same time, civil society organizations and policymakers must be supported in developing the necessary capacities to create a more resilient and inclusive society.
Building Democratic, Inclusive, and Sustainable Schools
Forum for Freedom of Education, in partnership with the GOOD Initiative, has been instrumental in advancing civic education across Croatia. The initiative has seen local adoption of the "Rijeka Model" of civic education in cities such as Makarska, Vrbovec, and Križevci. Forum played a central role in training teachers and supporting educational reforms in these regions.
Additionally, Forum has worked on enhancing leadership skills among school principals in Međimurska County through a focused Academy for Principals, emphasizing mental health. In collaboration with Erasmus+ projects, Forum created valuable educational resources on topics such as Legal Literacy, Financial Literacy, and Sustainable Development, made available to Croatian schools free of charge.
Forum''s involvement extended to inclusive education, notably through the METAR and TEMCO networks, promoting fairness and inclusivity. The organization also published recommendations to improve equity in the educational system and worked closely with the European Parliament’s Information Office to evaluate the "EU Parliament Ambassador Schools" project.
Through these efforts, Forum continues to contribute significantly to the development of democratic, inclusive, and sustainable educational environments across Croatia.
Promoting Well-Being and Participation of Children and Youth
Forum has made significant strides in improving the well-being and active participation of children and young people, focusing on recovery and resilience in the aftermath of crises. In partnership with 113 schools, Forum conducted training to enhance psychosocial support and prevent peer violence. A key initiative, "We Can Solve This," promoted school mediation to prevent violence and improve conflict resolution skills.
The partnership with UNICEF Croatia led to the creation of the “Schools of Support” program, focusing on mental health, socio-emotional learning, and inclusion, which also supported Ukrainian students in Croatian schools. Through projects like “LET''S TALK,” Forum developed a gender-sensitive mental health program for youth.
Forum also launched initiatives like the "BE-IN" project to address early school dropout prevention, and the “Together” project to strengthen school-parent cooperation. The annual “Color the World” contest has engaged students in expressing their views on diversity and tolerance through creative works.
These efforts reflect Forum''s commitment to fostering the well-being, resilience, and active participation of youth in a diverse and inclusive environment.
Strengthening Civil Society and Democratic Practices
Forum has played a vital role in strengthening civil society and empowering democratic practices in Croatia. The SKOCKANO project developed a quality assurance system for non-formal education in civil society organizations (CSOs), improving the capacity of CSOs to implement high-quality education.
Forum also participated in the annual GOOD Initiative conference, discussing effective strategies for civic education and advocating for youth participation. Through these efforts, Forum has contributed to a more democratic and inclusive educational landscape in Croatia.
Advocating for Forum''s Strategic Goals
Forum has actively contributed to public consultations and advocacy on key educational reforms. Notably, Forum led the creation of a Health Education Curriculum in Rijeka, with a focus on mental health. The organization also participated in discussions about the All-Day School program and emphasized the importance of inclusivity and developmental alignment in schools.
Forum has further advanced democratic education by promoting the EU Parliament’s role in policymaking, creating educational materials on EU elections, and raising awareness about the challenges faced by refugee children in the EU.
Additionally, Forum has supported schools with Ukrainian students, providing essential resources for teachers and students alike. Its advocacy also extended to peaceful dispute resolution, with Forum playing a key role in the newly established Center for Peaceful Dispute Resolution.
Through these efforts, Forum continues to drive positive changes in education and advocate for democratic values, inclusivity, and peace.
Development of a New Digital Interface for Forum''s Education Participants
Forum has collaborated with Slobodna domena to create an interactive digital interface for organizing and managing educational events. The new platform, available at https://edukacije.fso.hr, simplifies registration for participants and administrators alike. Currently in its test phase, the platform will be publicly launched in September 2024, significantly improving the user experience and administrative processes for Forum''s educational programs.
Our primary target groups include educational workers, children and youth, as well as all professionals interested in the well-being of children and youth, and in the processes of democratizing education and society. The support from ACF has enriched nearly all of our programs and activities, which we actively implemented with our target groups.
Through Forum’s activities, and with the support provided, our target groups had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with democratic and humanistic values, engage in critical thinking and analysis of social phenomena, learn how to be active citizens, and improve their creativity, lifelong learning, and overall well-being.
Teachers, school counselors, and principals have enhanced their sense of well-being and satisfaction in the workplace, increased their dedication and motivation in working with children and youth, connected with colleagues who share their enthusiasm, and created new content and initiatives in schools and local communities.
Key Outcomes from the Last 20 Months:
Over 2000 professionals improved their personal, social, methodological, and civic competencies through direct education programs conducted in small, interactive groups:
- More than 1300 educational professionals improved their competencies in the implementation of preventive programs in schools (violence prevention, mental health, emotional literacy, gender equality), inclusive teaching methodologies, providing psychological support to children and youth in disadvantaged positions, and skills in communication and cooperation with students'' parents.
- More than 700 educational professionals improved their competencies in teaching civic education (political and legal literacy, EU values, anti-corruption, sustainability).
- More than 200 young people enhanced their awareness of EU values, sustainability, climate change, gender equality, and developed their conflict resolution skills.
Over 10,000 people downloaded free materials from Forum’s online library, which make it easier to teach children and youth in the areas of civic and health education, as well as personal and social development.
Over 8000 children enhanced their socio-emotional and civic competencies through educational activities and workshops conducted by teachers in schools (as part of class hours, extracurricular activities, and various subjects).
Civil Society Sector: The ACF support also encouraged us to think more actively about our role in strengthening other civil society organizations. We made efforts to provide support and mentoring in the sector, both through joint project preparation and through collective initiatives and advocacy. We actively collaborated in networks such as the Network of Education Policy Centers, CROSOL, the Association for Mediation, MoSt, Alternator, Restart, Sirius Network, YES Forum, and YiHR.
In summary, ACF support has played a key role in advancing the skills of professionals, supporting young people’s development, and facilitating the creation of educational resources. It has also strengthened the capacity of civil society organizations and fostered collaborative action across multiple networks.
Organizational Challenges:
Covid-19 Aftermath and Organizational Restructuring: The post-Covid period has brought about the need for a reorganization of work, such as introducing home-office policies and other flexible work arrangements, requiring significant internal discussions and new agreements within the team.
Financial Impact: Forum’s revenues and expenses grew by approximately 40% compared to 2021. However, this growth was affected by the high inflation of 2023, which introduced risks in several projects, and the increase in public sector wages, which has created additional challenges for civil society organizations that struggle to match these increases.
Human Resources Changes:
Over the course of this period, three key team members left Forum, including the former Executive Director (a key expert in education with 15 years of experience), the Program Manager (with 10 years of experience in EU project management), and the Project Manager (who transitioned to the private sector after two years).
These departures significantly impacted the team structure, but Forum managed to maintain its activities through cooperation agreements with former employees and by redistributing responsibilities among remaining team members.
The departure of these experienced professionals also required a temporary restructuring of responsibilities, including a reorganization of the work of our key civil education expert, who received a Humphrey Fellowship and spent a year in the United States.
On a positive note, the ACF support encouraged a stronger focus on recruiting young professionals. In 2023, we brought in new interns in fields like psychology and political science, who quickly became valuable team members. We also hired a project manager with extensive sector experience to support the growing needs of the organization.
- Volunteering Program:
- Forum continued its volunteering program, providing mentorship and space for five volunteers during and after their studies. The program has been instrumental in enriching our work and strengthening our organizational capacity.
Key Achievements and Future Plans:
Partnerships and Collaborations: Our partnerships and collaborations in networks such as TEMCO (for inclusive and fair education), METAR (for sustainability and climate awareness), SKOCKANO (for the quality of non-formal education), and GOOD (for the quality of introducing civic education) will continue in the future. We are also in the process of developing new ideas, projects, and partnerships.
ACF Support: The support from ACF is based on democratic values and the importance of active citizenship, which are themes that will continue to significantly shape Forum''s actions in the upcoming strategic period. Given the current social and political climate in Croatia, Europe, and the world, these themes will remain controversial and provoke debate. Forum will strengthen its efforts to support and empower these values within the education system.
Sustainability and Ecological Justice: During the past period, we identified sustainability and ecological justice as highly relevant topics, especially among young people. In partnership with 15 international partners (led by the Tuscany Region), we applied for and secured the DEAR project Ecoality, which addresses climate and gender justice. The project will run until the end of 2026. Our project partner, the City of Zagreb, will provide opportunities for high school students to collaboratively design and implement their local ecological projects.
Professional Development: The trainings we participated in as part of ACF support (measuring impact, public communication, organizational management, sustainability, and development) have enhanced our competencies in numerous ways that we are already applying, with visible benefits.
User Communication System: The system for communicating with users, realized in partnership with Slobodna domena, was largely made possible by ACF support. We are confident that this will mark a turning point in how Forum organizes and conducts education, as well as how information about our programs reaches end-users.
Volunteering and Internship Programs: ACF support provided a strong incentive to strengthen our volunteering and internship programs. As a result, we welcomed new young people into our team, who have enriched Forum’s work. A significant number of these young individuals have remained permanently in our office—two have become our employees, and we plan to retain them. Additionally, we are working on expanding our volunteering program for the upcoming academic year.
Organizational Growth and Development: ACF support further encouraged our organizational growth and development. As a result, we decided to take a new approach to strategic planning in 2024. We have begun a process of consulting with internal and external experts to ensure a comprehensive and effective planning process.
In summary, the support from ACF has been crucial in enhancing Forum''s programs, expanding our partnerships, and strengthening our organizational capacity. Moving forward, we aim to continue these efforts with a focus on sustainability, active citizenship, and organizational growth.