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Description
According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, in December 2020, in Romania, over 48,031 children are registered in alternative care and 53,924 in prevention services. The programs of services and social benefits addressed to them are rarely built in dialogue with young people, as direct beneficiaries.
The project targets a group that encounters various barriers when it comes to participation in advocacy and consultation processes: low educational level, limited social and personal skills, lack of space for participation, lack of information and training, etc. In addition, participation as a process of involvement in decision-making, even when it relates only to everyday life or one''s own destiny, is rarely experienced by young people and facilitated by specialists.
The project will directly increase the capacity of 90 children and young people in the SOS care and prevention programs to participate in consultations and advocacy. Moreover, more than 60 specialists working directly with children and young people at national level will be trained in advocacy activities.
Indirectly, the participation capacity of over 600 children and young people in care and prevention programs will be increased.
The project'' activities consist of building and disseminating a model and a set of participation tools applicable in structures at national level; piloting a SOS Youth Advisory Council; organizing 15 workshops for young people on participation and children''s rights and 4 training courses for specialists.
The project will culminate with a participatory advocacy campaign, on the general theme of youth participation that will touch on other specific topics decided by them.
The project has a strong participatory approach. In all activities, including management, evaluation, monitoring, communication and facilitation, young people will be directly involved, with the same power to influence decisions as experts or partners'' representatives.