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Description
„Three Layers of Democracy- systematic and integrated approach to the non-formal learning of the human rights“ is project in which different approaches and methodologies that guide planning, designing, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of the non-formal learning of the human rights for the youth and youth workers will be implemented. It is based on the needs of the rural communities in which marginalised and discriminated population of youth is often the target of the human rights violations. Needs analysis showed how youth in the risk of social exlusion can be human rights violators as well as its victims. Project activities are carefully designed to empower youth who are at risk of experiencing racism, discrimination or inequalities to claim their rights.
Insufficient experience and human rights skills on tackling systematic ethnic/racial discrimination were the main problems of the applicant organisation so strengthening youth workers with training skills on internalised racism and discrimination as well as on addressing systematic discrimination are the main objectives of the project.
Project activities are based on the creation of human rights campaings and education, on the consulting of young people about unmet needs, unfilled gaps and their capacity and knowledge on human rights. Project will put right-holders, youth at the centre of youth interventions.
Project will strengthen young people''s meaningful participation through inclusive participatory and gender-sensitive processes and empower youth at risk to claim their their rights, such as youth with disabilities, LGBTIQ youth, or ethnical minority youth.
The outcome of youth interventions will contribute to the development of the capacities of youth, the right-holders, to know how to present their human rights concerns or problems, as well as to claim and enjoy their human rights.
Partner from Norway will facilitate and mentor the implementation of project.
Summary of project results
The project was implemented in Slatina, which is in a government assisted area, in an economically deprived rural environment with a high rate of emigration, as well as unemployment among young people (30%). Part of the population consists of residents who immigrated from Kosovo in the 1990s, so there is a frequent occurrence of structural violence among young people, which is a consequence of the lack of a clear plan for the integration of refugees from Kosovo in the 1990s.
Structural and cultural forms of violence are deeply impregnated in society, so much so that they are perceived as natural. These forms of violence have been continuous for thirty years and have become so inherent in society that oppressed groups have begun to use violence to respond to it.
Peer-to-peer violence and frequent forms of "creeping racism" are the result of the lack of early intervention in human rights education. The ethnic group of Croats from Kosovo fled from the area of Letnica and Janjevo, but the villages around Slatina (Voćina, Bokane and Ćeralija) are also inhabited by immigrants from Žepče, Travnik, Vojvodina. Discriminatory and stereotypical images of the resident population, as well as derogatory names that are established in the jargon, are only some of the forms of continuous cultural and structural violence. Most often, these forms of violence are typical of school bullying, and the victims are mostly children and young people.
Although in the last few years, since the emergence of more serious forms of violence among young people, the police, in cooperation with schools, have started violence prevention programs, they have not borne fruit because they are not continuous, do not include teaching young people about human rights and there is no real will and the desire of decision-makers to prevent such forms of violence.
This project is designed to contribute to the promotion of human rights and the actualization of the issue of peer violence among young people, which are important for improving the quality of life, not only of young people in the area of the city of Slatina and neighboring municipalities, but the quality of life and the rule of law as a whole.
The project focused on promoting human rights education, engaging young people, and addressing local needs in the city of Slatina and its surroundings. Through a combination of analysis, training, advocacy, and resource development, the project achieved the following:
Needs Analysis and Policy Development:
- Conducted a comprehensive analysis involving 334 young people, identifying key challenges and needs in the area.
- Organized a round table to discuss the current state of youth involvement and explore ways to strengthen the roles of educational workers and collaboration with civil society organizations (CSOs).
- Produced the "Analysis of Local Policies in the City of Slatina," a document providing actionable recommendations for future initiatives.
International Training and Capacity Building:
- Partnered with the Norwegian organization Terram Pacis to organize an international training program. Participants learned to create educational scenarios and activities independently and were introduced to innovative forms of informal human rights education.
Development and Distribution of Educational Resources:
- Developed a handbook with an integrated approach to comprehensive human rights education, which was distributed to target groups and utilized in workshops.
- Conducted two workshops to teach participants how to apply the handbook’s methods in their work with young people.
Advocacy and Awareness Campaigns:
- Implemented the "Meeting Point" activity, where videos were created featuring young people discussing cultural stereotypes and reflecting on common forms of human rights violations.
- Two young participants served as "No Hate Speech Ambassadors," monitoring frequent human rights violations and sharing their findings through recorded interviews.
Revised Scope of Activities:
- Due to project adjustments, certain activities were relocated or redefined. For example, a transnational training initially planned to take place in Norway was held locally in Slatina, reducing costs while maintaining key objectives.
- The scope was further narrowed to focus on realistic, measurable outputs, such as the successful implementation of workshops, training sessions, and the creation of videos and manuals.
Targeting Key Outcomes with Adjusted Capacities:
- Recognizing the need to adapt to the capacities of the implementing organization, the project focused on achieving essential objectives, such as fostering youth engagement in human rights education and producing accessible resources for educators and young people.
- Activities related to providing support for victims of human rights violations were excluded as they fell outside the organization’s operational scope.
These efforts culminated in raising awareness of human rights, equipping educators and youth with practical tools, and fostering both local and international collaboration. The project also addressed pressing cultural and social challenges by engaging young people as active participants and advocates for human rights in their communities.
The project improved the competences of young people and youth workers in human rights education by developing the necessary knowledge, skills and understanding of human rights in order to empower them in contributing to the building and defending of fundamental human rights in society and the protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental human freedoms.
The project also contributed to the strengthening of social cohesion, intercultural dialogue and the value of acceptance of diversity and equality. Through project activities, a critical understanding of life situations was developed through the analysis and review of barriers and structures that prevent the full enjoyment of human rights and freedoms. The project activities contributed to building a change in the attitudes of young people in order to develop tolerance and accept differences.
Young people aquired necessary competencies for active participation in democratic society, reduction of cultural and structural violence. At the same time, educational institutions were also influenced in order to strengthen civil society and active citizenship and empower vulnerable groups (youth, students with difficulties, socially excluded). .
Innovative approaches to work in local communities were also supported by implementing the latest approaches to empowering vulnerable groups of young people. Project activities to empower young people and develop their competencies as active citizens will have a strong positive impact on their personal and professional development in the long term. Empowering young people will prevent their previous inclination towards radicalization and unacceptable forms of behavior, such as violence.
Summary of bilateral results
The Norwegian partner "Terram Pacis" conducted training for members of the association and people who work with young people on the topic of implementing informal forms of learning about human rights and developing a strategic development plan. The participants acquired specific knowledge and skills in the field of working with young people, organizing activities and implementing different methods in the field of learning about human rights.The participants had the opportunity to hear how civil society works in Norway and how civil society associations and youth associations are structured.At the end of the training, the participants stated that they liked the way the training was conducted, which was dynamic and interactive, and that they will apply what they have learned in their daily work and activities.