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Description
The basis of civic literacy is knowledge about human rights and their realization, and the analysis of the curriculum of 11 subjects and 7 interdisciplinary topics (Bajkuša, 2019) found that the human-legal dimension of GOO is underrepresented in relation to other dimensions. The research of political literacy of high school graduates in the Republic of Croatia (Baketa, Bovan and Matić Bojić, 2021) shows that the type of secondary school program is still a key factor for political knowledge and information and political socialization of young people, where in relation to high school students, students of vocational schools have less developed competences. Students from Istria and eastern Croatia come from multicultural and smaller, rural areas, and in the case of eastern Croatia from socially deprived areas. It is necessary to make additional efforts in order for young people and their teachers to improve their knowledge and competencies in the field of human rights, their promotion and protection and be more prepared to take on the role of a responsible citizen. Through the project, education, networking and exchange we will influence the development and strengthening of civic competencies of teachers and high school students from five partner schools, and by creating a mobile application and its dissemination we will influence the strengthening and development of democratic culture and civic engagement to a wide range of end users. Donor country partner contribute with capacity building of teaches and CSO employees on human and citizens rights. Other local partners contribute with workshops, focus goups and capacity building activities according to their expertize (human rights, lidership skills and mentoring etc.) Project location are Osijek-Baranja, Istria and Vukovar-Srijem counties.
Summary of project results
The project "RIGHT application" focused on improving civic literacy among young people, addressing the problem of inadequate education on human and civic rights. Often, young people receive limited information on these topics due to inconsistent teaching in schools and limited access to additional resources, especially in rural areas. This issue is further complicated in regions like Istria, Osijek-Baranja, and Vukovar-Srijem, which face challenges such as multicultural diversity and lingering effects from recent conflicts.
To address these challenges, the project aimed to strengthen the way schools teach human rights. This involved training teachers and connecting with non-governmental organizations that specialize in human rights education and advocacy. The project also developed a digital tool, the PRAVA(u) application, designed to encourage young people to learn about human rights on their own, assist teachers in their lessons, and provide broad access to these resources. The goal was to enhance democratic values and civic involvement through better education on human rights.
The project focused on enhancing understanding and engagement with human and civil rights through a series of activities and outputs.
The project began with a three-day training workshop in Fužine, Croatia, which brought together 21 teachers and 12 NGO staff members. This training covered various topics, including participatory teaching methods and the rights of women, minorities, and LGBTQ+ individuals.
In the months that followeed, the project organized 16 capacity-building workshops for students across four schools, reaching 125 students. These workshops focused on human and civil rights. Additionally, seven focus groups were conducted with 95 students to gather their input on the content and presentation of the project’s web application.
The development of the educational web application began with defining its content and features, guided by feedback from teachers and students. By February 2024, the application was completed, including text and video materials. A three-day training seminar in September 2023 tested the application and developed a dissemination plan, engaging 40 participants in evaluating and planning the app’s rollout.
The project''s awareness and advocacy campaign for the application ran from November 15, 2023, to May 8, 2024. This involved 11 public events and significant social media outreach. By May 2024, the application had attracted 686 users.
Evaluation activities included initial assessments of teachers and students, as well as final evaluations conducted throughout the project. The evaluations provided insights into the effectiveness of the training and the application’s use in schools.
To strengthen organizational capacities, several initiatives were carried out. These included leadership training for six NGO members, digital and hybrid teaching workshops for 12 participants, and modular education on women’s and LGBTQ+ rights. Capacity-building efforts also involved strategic planning and mentorship for local NGOs, enhancing their sustainability and effectiveness.
The project’s comprehensive approach not only improved knowledge and engagement with human rights but also bolstered the operational capacities of involved organizations and educational institutions.
The project made significant strides in enhancing the partnership between schools and civil society organizations (CSOs) in the field of civic and human rights education. It established and strengthened partnerships and developed the PRAVA application as a new tool for teaching in schools. This application supports teachers and other educators in addressing human rights issues and breaches. It is accessible to everyone, including students and young people, providing a verified repository of content on human rights, women''s rights, LGBTIQ+ rights, and labor rights. This helps users to learn and strengthen their capacities in these areas, promoting active engagement and response to rights violations.
The project improved school capacities by enhancing the skills of teachers and fostering collaboration between them. The RIGHT (PRAVA) application, an open-source digital tool, supports educators in teaching about human rights and responding to violations. It serves as a resource for students, young people, and the wider community to deepen their understanding and engagement in human rights issues.
A network of collaboration between school educators and civil society has been established, strengthening the capacity for advocacy on women''s rights and creating a plan for future activities. The project also reinforced organizational capacities within the CSOs through training, mentoring, and the development of strategic documents.
The Citizen GOOD Initiative (Initiative for Civic Education) network was expanded and strengthened through mutual exchange and planning for future activities. Teachers showed a notable increase in their knowledge about human and civil rights, with significant improvement in their ability to teach these subjects. In the final evaluation, there was a substantial rise in accurate responses across all questions, and 13 out of 17 teachers felt sufficiently competent to teach these topics, compared to only 4 at the start of the project.
Students from the partner vocational high schools also showed improved knowledge in civic and human rights. The final evaluation revealed higher accuracy in responses compared to the initial assessment, with notable progress in understanding LGBT topics, such as recognizing the concept of Pride March.
The project strengthened the capacities of CSOs through training and mentoring, supported partnerships within the GOOD Initiative, and fostered collaboration with Norwegian partner schools, leading to new partnerships with other Norwegian organizations. CSOs in Eastern Croatia were enhanced in their advocacy for women''s rights, and schools and CSOs established ongoing collaborations to continue promoting civic competencies.
Summary of bilateral results
The project greatly benefited from its partnership with the Aretta School (Åretta ungdomsskole) at Lillehammer, Norway, through a bilateral collaboration. Initially, the project had a connection with two teachers from the school. However, this project allowed for a deeper collaboration involving the school’s administration and additional teachers. This partnership extended beyond the school itself to include other organizations and institutions in Norway, such as the Norwegian Center for Holocaust and Minority Studies, the Lillehammer Peace Center, and the Nansen Academy.A significant aspect of this collaboration was the introduction to the Education Center Utoya, which led to a valuable two-day visit to the center, enhancing the bilateral relationship. The Aretta School played a crucial role in facilitating this visit and organizing other aspects of the partnership.The most impactful part of this collaboration was the exchange of knowledge and practices. The Norwegian partners visited Croatia and participated in a three-day training session for teachers, sharing insights into the Norwegian educational system, their approaches to teaching human rights, and their cooperation with civil society organizations. This exchange was an opportunity for mutual learning and highlighted similar challenges faced by both parties. Subsequently, the return visit to Norway allowed Croatian civil society representatives to explore various projects at the school, engage with students on human and civil rights topics, and observe practical applications of the concepts discussed.Looking ahead, the continuation of this bilateral cooperation is planned with the goal of expanding the RIGHT (PRAVA) application to multiple languages and demonstrating its universal relevance. This future collaboration aims to further the project’s impact and reach on an international scale.