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Description
In the Olkusz district there are currently 275 registered Blue Cards (pending procedure when domestic abuse comes to light). According to a report produced by the Olkusz Social Welfare Center (2019) in more than 80 families, physical and mental abuse also affects children. In these families there are no positive role models, conversations, and attention from parents. A study conducted on a group of more than 60 people, in a sociotherapy service and elsewhere, shows that 90% of respondents do not receive support in any form, more than 80% believe that they are treated worse by teachers because they come from a dysfunctional family, and more than 90% believe that they are treated worse within their age group for this reason. The project addresses the lack of emotional, psychological, and motivational support for children and young people who are facing exclusion due to living in a dysfunctional and/or vulnerable family. For children and young people, we envisage direct psychological support and eight group motivation workshops. Participants aged 13 upwards will also have an opportunity to become involved in voluntary work at our therapy center, helping to conduct learning activities for younger children. We will operate a school for parents (eight meetings) and educational staff workshops (four meetings). We will publish testimonies of “Ambassadors for Success" and dreams of participants in the “Wind in my Sails" project. The participants in the project will be children and young people from dysfunctional and/or vulnerable families and the people around them (parents, teachers). As a result, 80 people (children and young people) will learn new social skills and how to overcome difficulties connected to age group and family, and mental problems, 40 parents will learn how to help children and establish better relationships with them, and 40 teachers will learn how to provide support for schoolchildren from dysfunctional and/or vulnerable families.
Summary of project results
The project addressed the problem of insufficient support for children and young people from families at risk of exclusion in the Olkusz district. There are currently 275 Blue Cards registered in the district, which initiate the procedure for dealing with suspected family violence. A report by the Olkusz Social Welfare Centre (2019) shows that in many families, children are also affected by physical and psychological violence. These families lack positive role models, conversation and parental interest. In turn, a survey conducted by the project promoter among children at risk of exclusion shows that 90 per cent of those surveyed do not receive any support, and the vast majority believe that they are treated less favourably by teachers and peers because of their background and social status.
The project provided a range of support activities for children and young people, their parents, carers and teachers. The children received individual psychological support and took part in development workshops and volunteering. Six people worked for several months in a therapeutic day care centre, helping to run activities for younger children. A parenting skills school was prepared for parents. There were also workshops for teachers. There was also a mini-campaign called ''Ambassadors for Success'', in which local celebrities encouraged children and young people to make changes in their lives.
The project provided children and young people from families at risk of social exclusion with emotional and psychological support to help them cope with the difficulties they experience in their daily lives, learn to recognise and experience emotions and resolve conflicts. Teachers improved their knowledge of how to support children and parents with different difficulties and how to communicate effectively. Parents developed skills in building and maintaining relationships with their children, identifying and resolving conflicts, and motivating and supporting their children.