More information
Description
The aim of the project was to improve safety of children in centres for foreigners. This was planned to achived through:
- trainings for staff of Centres for Foreigners.
- consultations for employees of the Centres for Foreigners and the Polish Border Guard on a case-by-case basis, including consultations on issues regarding protection of children involving specialists from the Empowering Children Foundation.
- Socio-therapeutic workshops for children at the centres, including children and youth staying at the centres.
- Classes for parents on bringing up children without the use of violence, including establishing two support groups for parents consisting of meetings with parents where the emphasis will be on the development of skills to avoid the use of violence. Also, there will be workshops and consultations for parents to further develop skills in raising children.
- Develop educational material on the protection of children, including the production of posters, brochures and leaflets in different languages (Russian, Ukrainian, Chechen).
- Procurement of equipment in four of the centres, including interactive toys, playground facilities and gyms for children in the centres.
- Procurement of presentation equipment to be used at the above training and information sessions
Summary of project results
In 2017, 16 cases of violence against children were registered in centres of The Office for Foreigners, by the end of October 2018, 6 cases have been registered - the majority of which were cases of peer violence and domestic violence. Based on the research "The phenomenon of violence in centres for foreigners” carried out by the Empowering Children Foundation among employees of the Office for Foreigners, 20% of responders claimed children and adolescents were victims of physical peer violence, while 15% of respondents said that adults were the perpetrators of physical violence. But what is much more important, residents of the centres largely come from cultures that allow physical violence against children and that is why educational projects regarding children''s rights to safety are necessary. On this basis Office for Foreigners came up with an idea of PDP I project. The project was implemented with cooperation with Empowering Children Foundation to ensure continuity with Policy on protection of children from harm in facilities for foreigners (a document created by the Foundation and implemented in centres for foreigners), and with Polish Border Guards, to include also centres for foreigners run by this entity. An aim of the projects was to carry out preventive and educational activities for children, parents and staff of the centres. These activities were focused on educating these groups on what is violence and abuse against children, how to react to that. Parents were educated how to raise children avoiding violence.
Project allowed to support eight centres for foreigners with additional services, such as psychological aid, sociotherapeutic workshops for minors on identifying threats, classes for parents on raising without violence, interventions provided by specialists (psychologists, trainers) to ensure support to the victims of violence, helpline for children in need of defence from violence. Centres for foreigners staff (87 persons) received training in the area of support for unaccompanied asylum seeking minors and other vulnerable groups. As part of the project educational materials, such as leaflets, brochures, posters, scenarios of classes were developed. In one of the centres for foreigners sport field was renovated, outdoor gym equipment was purchased and installed. Additional equipment was bought for centres for foreigners (RTV equipment, printer, multimedia screen).
This project, focused on adapting centres for foreigners to the needs of families with children, brought tangible benefits both for the foreigners themselves and for the staff of the institutions working with them. Through comprehensive educational measures, the project provided psychological and educational support. It was particularly important to raise the competence of staff in the area of child rights protection, which contributed to a systemic change in the approach to underage foreigners. The development and implementation of new standards and tools, such as best interest of the child questionnaires, has the potential to have a long-term impact on institutional practices. 260 minors were supported by the activities implemented within project such as psychological help and workshops raising their awareness on children’s rights.