Research report on life situation of children living in Warsaw residential care institutions
This research was conducted in the framework of Mario project. In 2009, the project
– funded by the Oak Foundation – started to better protect children on the move through
the reinforcement of the capacities of national, regional and European authorities, decision
and policy makers.
The project Mario implements activities at both national and transnational level. It
targets professionals who come across cases of abuse, exploitation and/ or trafficking of
children in Europe or who can bring about positive changes in the lives of those children. It
focuses on children coming from Central and South Eastern Europe (C/SEE) and who are at
risk or are victims of abuse, exploitation and/ or trafficking. Partners decided to join forces to
better protect these children through enhanced cooperation, interaction and professional
exchange.
The report (24 pages) can be accessed here.
Presentations from the conference: "Keeping the Door Open - Support to Young People Leaving Care"
Keeping the Door Open conference report
Report from the conference "Keeping the Door Open - Support to Young People Leaving Care" which was held in Vilnius in October 2009 is now available online. Along with the report, most of the presentations made can be accessed in the speical section. The report is available here. Conference report.
The United Nations Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children
A resolution ‘welcoming' the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children was adopted by UN General Assembly (UNGA) on 20 November 2009, a memorable day when the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child celebrated its 20th anniversary.
The Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children are intended to enhance the implementation of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child 1989, and other relevant provisions of international and regional human rights law, in matters of protection and well-being of children who are in need of alternative care, or who are at risk of so being. It therefore focuses on two main aspects:
- Ensure that children do not find themselves placed in alternative care unnecessarily; and
- that, where out-of-home care is provided, it is provided in appropriate conditions and of a type that responds to the child's rights, needs and best interests.
The United Nations Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children
Keeping the door open
Expert Group for Cooperation on Children at Risk, the EGCC, is proud to present this mapping on the situation for young people leaving care in the 11 member countries to the CBSS. The full report can be downloaded below in English. A full Russian version is available on the Russian site of Childcentre.
Full report from the conference: The Rights of Children in Institutions in the Region of the Baltic Sea States
The full report from the conference: The Rights of Children in Institutions in the Region of the Baltic Sea States: Improving Child Participation, Monitoring and Post Placement Assistance, is now available.
More
Sexual Abuse of Children and Young People Placed in Residential Institutions - Scope and Measures Taken
New research from AKF in Denmark concerning children and young people placed in residential institutions. These children are a particularly exposed group in terms of the risk of sexual abuse. A study of residential institutions in Denmark shows that the majority of residential institutions have received children and young people who have been sexually abused prior to their placement in the institution. Likewise, a number of institutions have also had children who have been sexually abused by some of the other children at the institution during their placement. The study raise the question: Are residential institutions prepared in professional terms to perform the task of helping children who have been sexually abused or should the local authority take care to ensure that special and individual treatment-related assistance is given to these children, even though they are placed in a residential institution. The study is not translated into English.
http://www.akf.dk/udgivelser/container/udgivelse_2206/
Published by Created 09.12.2006 Updated 11.12.2006WGCC Conference on the Rights of Children in Institutions in the Region of the Baltic Sea States
The Working Group for Cooperation on Children at Risk, the WGCC, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs in Sweden invited to this Conference of Senior Officials, researchers and experts on "The rights of children in institutional care - Improving Child Participation, Monitoring and Post Placement Assistance" on the 14th and 15th of November 2006. The conference was held under the auspices of the Swedish presidency to the CBSS.
The member states to the Council of the Baltic Sea States plus Ukraine and Belarus participated in the meeting which resulted in recommendations to the WGCC.
Expert presentations were made. These can be accessed below. The presentations in English are marked with EN and those in Russian are marked RU.
- Programme final (53Kb)
- Programme Final RU (72Kb)
- Speech by Ambassador Christer P Persson,Chairman of the CBSS CSO, WGCC 14-15 nov 06 (50Kb)
- Bredesen The Rights of Children in InstitutionsEN (50Kb)
- MSandbaek EN (72Kb)
- MSResilience and residential careEN (25Kb)
- MSResilience and residential careRU (132Kb)
- AMindependent Living after residential care EN (46Kb)
- Galina Semia RU (320Kb)
- APetrynin RU (438Kb)
- YSleaving care EN (23Kb)
- YSleavingcare RU (105Kb)
- TUliasz Poland RU (157Kb)
- Roger Morgan EN (99Kb)
- Roger Morgan RU (236Kb)
- EBRNorwegian monitoring systemEN (18Kb)
- EBRNorwegian monitoring systemRU (119Kb)
- GJAccreditation EN (40Kb)
- IZpresentationEN (72Kb)
- LV Ukraine EN (227Kb)
- BG Iceland monitoring EN (46Kb)
- LN Lithuania monitoring EN (62Kb)
- NC Stockholm EN (14Kb)
- EP Estonia EN (43Kb)
- KL Finland EN (21Kb)
- Suggestions for action for the WGCC Final EN (55Kb)
- Suggestions for action for the WGCC Final RU (79Kb)
United Nations Secretary-General´s Study on Violence against Children
The United Nations Secretary General has appointed an Independent Expert, Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, to lead a global study on Violence Against Children. The Study, rooted in children's human rights to protection from all forms of violence, aims to promote action to prevent and eliminate violence against children at international, regional, national and local levels.
http://www.violencestudy.org/IMG/pdf/English.pdf
Annual report Attachment
Innocenti Social Monitor 2006: Understanding Child Poverty in South-Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States
The report finds that disparities in child well-being have increased, both between countries and within countries, with a widening gap in the access and quality of social services. "Child poverty should be the number one concern of governments in the region" said Maria Calivis, UNICEF Regional Director for CEE/CIS Countries."Children continue to be placed in institutions, the numbers are not decreasing, and this despite a sharp decline in the birth rate. The future of the region is inextricably bound to the well-being of children.
http://www.unicef-icdc.org/publications/pdf/ism06_eng.pdf
Annual report Attachment
Victimization of child residents in Polish care institution. RESEARCH REPORT.
In 2005 Nobody`s Children Foundation conducted the first RESEARCH of the victimization of child residents in Polish care institution.
The victimization – including sexual abuse – of institutionalized children has never been systematically studied or diagnosed in Poland. The research findings presented in this report have helped us define the incidence of the traumatic experiences of children residing in Polish institutions and the scope of assistance available to them in such difficult situations. The main objectives of this research included (1) investigating forms of sexual abuse (and other victimizations) experienced by institutionalized children; and (2) exploring the children’s attitudes related to the assessed victimization experiences. Other important goals were (3) to evaluate the institutional staff’s knowledge about victimization experiences among the children under their care and (4) to assess the staff’s competence in diagnosing symptoms of sexual abuse and undertaking adequate intervention in such cases.
The research was conducted within the program „Bring the Childhood Back” Przyjaciółka Foundation, Oriflame for Children Foundation and World Childhood Foundation
Published by Created 22.06.2006 Updated 30.06.2006Residents' rights in child protection units in Norway
On behalf of the Norwegian Ministry of Children and Equality, NOVA (Norwegian Social Research) and FAFO (Institute for Labour and Social Research) carried out a study of young peoples rights while under residential care in Norway.
This report presents the results from the first countrywide questionnaire study including users of residential care ever conducted in Norway. 436 boys and girls from 114 residential child welfare units participated during the autumn of 2005, a response rate of 57 %. All were in long-term placement, and they were aged 13 and older. Four research questions were formulated:
- To what extent are the rights of the young people honoured while they remain in residential care?
- Do young people become victims of various kinds of abuse while in residential care?
- How do young people themselves describe their daily lives inside and outside the care unit?
- Is there a relationship between the quality of care and treatment and the ways the staff organize their working shifts?
In addition the directors of the care units filled in a separate questionnaire, and twelve youth from seven different units were interviewed in order to supplement and further elucidate important themes from the questionnaires. As part of the preparation to the study a knowledge status was done, in particular concerning young people’s rights in residential care. The report is in norwegian, but carries an english summary. The report can be downloaded following the link below.
http://www.nova.no/asset/2076/1/2076_1.pdf
Created 15.06.2006 Updated 15.06.2006
National Comparative Study of Children and Young People with High Support Needs in Australian Out-of-Home Care
This is the final report of a national research project undertaken between November 2003 and August 2005. The reportpresents the findings of Australia´s first national comparative study of 364 children.
Report Attachment
TransMonee 2005 - Data Indicators and Features on the State of Children in CEE/CIS and Baltic States
The MONEE project was initiated in 1992 to monitor, analyze and disseminate information on social and economic trends affecting children in Central and Eastern Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Baltics as these countries entered into a new era of political, economic and social change. Correspondents in 27 National Statistical Offices contribute data, and in recent years also a Country Analytical Report on aspects of economic and social trends affecting children in their country. The report may be accessed via the link below or by downloading the pdf- file.
http://www.unicef-icdc.org/publications/pdf/tmd_2005_features_web.pdf
Report Attachment
Children looked after and their right to participation in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, article 12
Research has been conducted on children's participation in review meetings, a method for reviewing foster and residential care. The method is tested within the national project Children's Needs in Focus (BBIC) inspired by the British Integrated Children's System and operated by the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) in Sweden.
http://www.soch.lu.se/wpaper/PDF/WP2006-1.pdf
Report Attachment
Victimization of child residents in Polish care institution - the nationwide study conducted in 2005 by Nobody`s Children Foundation.
Results of research in enclosed document.
Published by Created 21.11.2005 Updated 21.11.2005Identifying good practice in the deinstitutionalisation of children under five years from institutions across Europe: Summary of research
Results of research in enclosed article
Published by Created 14.11.2005 Updated 14.11.2005Mapping the number and characteristics of children under three in institutions across Europe at risk of harm: Executive Summary
Research project Daphne Programme in collaboration with WHO regional Office for Europe and the University of Birmingham UK
Results of research in enclosed article.
Published by Created 14.11.2005 Updated 14.11.2005Job available
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE/FELLOW (2 POSTS) IN THE CENTRE FOR FORENSIC AND FAMILY PSYCHOLOGY
Published by Created 06.11.2005 Updated 07.11.2005The new programs of The Robinson Crusoe Foundation in Poland concerning children leaving the institutions.
In enclosed attachment we can read about Robinson Crusoe Foundation.
Foundation is an independent charity organization with headquarters in Warsaw, Poland. More information about diagnosis of problem, mission, and realised programs in the article.
Created 29.08.2005 Updated 29.08.2005Council of Europe expert report on "Children in institutions: prevention and alternative care"
The Council of Europe in May of 2004 approved the expert report written by Mr Bragi Gudbrandsson from Iceland, on behalf of the Working Group on Children at Risk and in Care. The report and the work has led on to the adoption of the Council of Europe Recommendation 2005:05 concerning the protection of the rights of children in institutions.
The expert report and the Council of Europe Recommendations 2005:05 are found in the documents attached.
Created 10.06.2005 Updated 10.06.2005Child Abuse. The Evaluation of the Situation in Child Care Institutions.
The Lithuanian NGO Vaiko Namas, Child House, has published a study on the situation for children in child care institutions in Lithuania.
The report, published in 2003, can be downloaded in full version below.
For more information on Child House, please visit their web site: www.children.lt
Created 01.06.2004 Updated 01.06.2004Russia.Yaroslavl. Prevention child neglect
The main reason of children’s non-adaptive behaviour is socially unsuccessful families. The number of Russian families with unfavourable conditions of child upbringing, including money problems, has reached 30%. Half of such families have deviant and conflict environment. Children in these families are “pushed out” in the streets and have to join other outcasts.
Therefore the members of public institution of “YRYIC” consider organizing work with families to play an important role in preventing child neglect.
As Yaroslavl Region main centre of social work in the sphere of youth policy the public institution of “YRYIC” generalizes home and foreign experience, works out and helps in adapting and carrying out innovation activity programs for social services dealing with teenagers and their families.
Among the works published by our institution of methodical stuff the following ones can be singled out:
“Family Upbringing” (2000)
This work describes the experience of using Dutch methods of rising social adaptation of children and teenagers as part of family upbringing. In this methodical programme special training courses are introduced and recommendations are given as to how to conduct such lessons. This information is a result of putting these methods into practice by “YRYIC” and social youth services of Yaroslavl Region.
“Conscientious attitude towards parent duties” (2000)
In this work analysis of problem situations in families is represented, advice is given how to carry out practical work with clients and theoretical and practical training courses for parents are described.
“Psychological behaviour of modern teenagers: behaviour problems, imparting tolerance” (2001)
In this work methodical materials are represented that allow parents and specialists working with youth to better understand teens, to impact them to be tolerant to themselves and other people in spite of their personal peculiarities, beliefs or ethnic origin.
“Correcting relations between parents and a child” (2003)
Here methods of work with teens and their families are represented aiming at forming good relations in families, overcoming conflict situations and children’s aggressive behaviour.
“Help in teenager’s professional self-determination” (2003)
The most important aspect discussed in this work is how a family can help a growing child to choose his future profession and his way of life.
Created 26.02.2004 Updated 26.02.2004
"To the new life together!"The program of work with young prisoners.Krasnodar. Russia
“To the new life together!” – is a socially important action, which had its beginning with a usual idea of people interested in it, enthusiasm and understanding of a young prisoners problems In December, 1999 the specialists of Youth Committee of Krasnodar Region came to a Belorechensk Prison for young criminas in order to build a charity action. That action included a New Year show, the presents and personal contact to the prisoners . During the whole period of realization of this program 2001-2003 540 teenagers became its participants.
The work with boys in the prison is built in 3 main directions: next socialization (adaptation) of prisoners within the program “School of preparing to liberation”, a charity action “Friend’s hand”, a creative competition “Make acquaintance – It’s me”, work of volunteers of drugs dispensary in order to help forming health saving aims.
The program “School of preparing to liberation” is designed for the young prisoners who are getting ready to conditionally ahead of time liberation. This program is directed to forming moral values system of the ethic rules of the community staff, changing the negative models of behavior, prophylactic measures of relapses, acquaintance of young prisoners with peculiarities of law protection of teenagers, solving programs of finding job, professional teaching after liberation.
The specialists of the regional centre of social adaptation and leisure of youth
together with psychologists, lawyers, specialists of preparation for a choice of a trade held group and individual classes with young prisoner, which include individual socially-psychological trainings, role games, directed to psychological preparing to the conditions of life at liberty, helping to normalize and rehabilitate useful social connections of a teenager.
The information about that work is written in “The register of individual consultations” and in “The register of group classes”. When teenagers and young people from Belorechensk prison are going to leave it, a tutor of a detachment, a psychologist of the colony fills in “Extract from minutes of socially-psychological diagnosis” for each of them, the recommendations made by specialists of the Center are added to it.
Then the mechanism of individual accompaniment to the residence begins which is included into the program “Postscript”. Each participant of this program is attached to a coordinator, who renders assistance and support in solving problems, comes out as a mediator between him and specialists of different departments, carries out preventive measures in prophylactic of deviations in behavior, social adaptation of a participant of this program.
A charity action “Friend’s hand” for pupils of Prison for young criminas is carrying out by the specialists of the Center together with municipal Youth Committees of Krasnodar region. This action includes gathering clothes, shoes, food, books, the hygienic necessaries for charity in order of personal support of teenagers who have been found themselves in a difficult life situation, organization of a concert program for all of the pupils of the colony and delivering presents for a name-day.
It is planned to involve a social organization “World of Childhood” to organize permanent psychological support of colonists from the Belorechensk prison for more effective realization of the program.
Created 05.02.2004 Updated 05.02.2004
Reflections of violence by children living at social welfare institutions of Ida-Virumaa
This Master`s thesis (Siret Linde, 2002) study treats abuse of children in welfare institutions on the basis of scientific literature, questionnaires, essays of children in orphanages and everyday experience. 105 children, 64 girls and 41 boys aged 12-16 from six orphanages and one shelter home participated in the questionnaire. The results were analysed with the quantitative method. In addition, the essays on violence of children in welfare institutions have been analysed with the qualitative method.
Created 07.12.2003 Updated 07.12.2003Psychiatric problems of delinquent girls and training program for them
According to the data of 2000/2001 of all Estonian minors who have committed criminal or administrative offence there were 184 children studying at residential care institutional schools. Kaagvere Special School is a closed institution for girls who have been sentenced by court to continue their education at special school. Students arrive to the special school throughout the year. After the period spent in special school most of the girls return to their previous circumstances.
The primary goal of this survey is to observe and appraise the psychiatric characteristics and problems of the girls, and to compare these with the according characteristics of regular school students of the same age. Also a special training program was worked out and adjusted for the rehabilitation of delinquent girls.
Sample
This survey involved 28 Kaagvere Special School students aged 14-16. Besides 6 pedagogues involved in work with the girls were interviewed and every class teacher filled the Achenbach tests. To get the evaluation data 91 children from Tartu regular schools filled the trauma symptoms inquiry.
Methods:
- The Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (TSCC)
- Achenbach test (that estimates the affective and behavioral disorders of children)
- Coping test COPE
Results:
Special school girls perform several symptoms that reflect of having been abused or neglected. Compared to the control group of common school students the girls of special school who took part in survey performed exceedingly both externalized (like social problems, deviating behavior, anger), and internalized symptoms (including anxiety, withdrawal, somatic complaints). Hyperactivity, academic difficulties, deficiency in self-control and concentration difficulties may well be the consequence of abuse.
It became evident that some of the respondents had been sexualized by their environment or had experienced sexual abuse.
Special School students exposed more frequently the signs of immediate dissociation, that could in turn be caused by one or another kind of psychological trauma.
They tend to use ineffective coping strategies i.e. they were less problem-orientated and are inclined to use avoiding coping strategy.
Interviews with teachers showed that girls have little contacts both with their parents other support persons, which refers to neglect. Children came from families with one parent, divorced families or from a family with stepparent.
The aim of psycho-educational support group was to deal with delinquent behavior as well as with previous negative experiences. Developing social skills of children was focused at. Likewise all the participants could experience emotional support of the group.
Program consisted 11 sessions that were distributed to 6 months.
The program had a behavioral orientation, and included a cognitive factor.
Techniques: modeling, imaginary and role plays, relaxation, training of directing one?s anger, expressive and art therapy techniques.
Group Work Objectives
- Providing emotional support.
- Analysis of abuse related experiences.
- Recognizing emotions and learning how to respond.
- Learning social skills/capacities. .
- Providing information, developing values.
- Possible ways how to comfort oneself and ease tension.
- Making realistic plans for future.
Notions on intervention strategies of group training and structure.
- Special school children need more time to build trust.
- Motivating has to be a continuous process.
- Participants are later evaluated as experts.
- Structuring work helps.
- Nonverbal language has to be translated to verbal language.
- Artistic/creative works have a significant role in group training.
- Session as to be planned in a flexible way.
- Drawing attention even to small achievements is helpful.
- Topics must be handled recurrently.
- Humor, excitement, playfulness are of help in creating a positive group atmosphere.
Remarks on trainers:
- It might be of help to observe one?s personal emotional responses and discuss these with the colleagues or supervisor.
- It might be useful to have a plan how to respond to violent behavior.
- One should not have to high expectations.
- Having two group leaders would help to conduct the actual work.
- Nevertheless some drawbacks might occur.
Program evaluation by participants
ü Students appreciated mutual emotional support, understanding, trust and friendly relationships that were established in the group.
ü Children appreciated the opportunity to express the thoughts and feelings that they have in connection with their homes, abuse and parents.
ü Girls acquired a better and deeper understanding of themselves.
Lemme Haldre
Tartu Child Support Center
Kaunase pst.11-2, Tartu 50704, ESTONIA
e-mail: ch.abuse@online.ee
Published by Estonia , Tartu Support Centre for Abused Children, Soonets Ruth(Estonia) Created 30.12.2002
Presentation on Children in Prison
The CBSS Commissioner on Democratic Development organised a round table meeting on "Children in Prison" On the Protection of the Rights of Children Deprived of Their Libery. Approximately 40 representatives from the Baltic Sea Region participated in the meeting that took place in Helsinki, Finland on the 11th of September 2002. At the meeting Mr Bragi Gudbrandsson, Head of the Barnahus in Reykjavik, Iceland and Chair of the Working Group for Co-operation on Children at Risk, made a presentation on Children in Prison.
The presentation may be downloaded below.
Published by CBSS - Council of the Baltic Sea States, Lars Lööf (CBSS) Created 18.09.2002Project
Project "Mobile Preventive and Educational Multi-Disciplinary Team For Preventing Cases of Abuse in Local Child Care Institutions". Project is co-financed by the European Union's Phare Access programme in Latvia. This project is being implemented by professionals of Center Against Abuse "Dardedze" in 8 local childcare institutions in 2001 and 2002. The main goals of project are:
- to prevent cases of child abuse in local childcare institutions;
- to provide information and education for the staff of childcare institutions, thus promoting their understanding and knowledge about symptoms of child abuse, risk factors and consequences, the need of multi-disciplinary approach in solving cases of child abuse, as well as acknowledge skills of anger and stress management in working with children;
- provide real, professional and practical assistance and supervision in crises situations in everyday work of the institution regarding incidents of child abuse.
Professionals of “Team on wheels” spend 3 days in a certain childcare institution. The first part of the day is spent working with the whole staff of the institution or orphanage discussing various subjects of child abuse and neglect, as well as child sexual exploitation, and the second part of the day is spent working with children in 4 age groups educating them about their rights, as well as implementing child abuse prevention program.
The evaluation of this program by he participants has been very high, therefore we believe that it should be continued and also implemented in the rest of 50 state and municipal childcare institutions/orphanages.
As a result of this project there will be the first mobile multi-disciplinary team established, that would provide not only educational and preventive programme and assistance, but also could provide real holistic assistance to professionals outside of Riga working in child protections regarding the cases of child abuse. There will be preventive, educational programme on child abuse developed that could be applied in other childcare institutions, as well as in schools that are interested in preventing child abuse in their settings. The most significant result of this programme is that the risk factors for 1000 children living in 8 childcare institutions will be reduced.
Published by Latvia, Centre Against Abuse: , Strauta Agnese(Latvia) Created 07.06.2002
Livslust - building a better future
As in all former Soviet republics, Latvia has thousands of orphaned children and youngsters. They grow up under very difficult conditions at a variety of institutions. At the age of 16 they are required to leave their institutions and support themselves - without work, training, a home, money or the support of relatives. Consequently many youngsters are easily drawn into criminal activities, prostitution or drug dependency.
Livslust, a private Swedish initiative, has established a miniature community in Aizupe, 110 kilometres west of Riga. On the Livslust property at Aizupe needy youngsters can develop into independent individuals with the chance to build a more meaningful life. It is hoped that this project will be a role model and inspiration for similar efforts in the future, not only in Latvia but in other countries as well. Livslust offers a special educational program divided into two areas: instruction in theoretical and general studies and vocational training. General studies include Latvian, Mathematics, English, Social studies, Bookkeeping, Computer sciences, Business administration, Ethics and Environmental protection. Vocational training activities are linked to Livslust's own small enterprises, where theory and work are combined. The youngsters can choose between building construction, textiles, agriculture, cooking, shop keeping, information technology and a cafe, all under the watchful supervision of skilled instructors. Livslust has a special adviser working/partnerships with the Snickers garment factory, the Skanska building and construction company and the Swedish telecom company Telia. Snickers trains the seamstresses and is helping to start Livslust's own small garment factory, Skanska contributes towards construction training and later will allow the boys to train on their building sites and Telia is the partner for IT-training. The agricultural project was initiated in 1996 producing potatoes, vegetables and grain as well as hiring out agricultural machinery. The goals are partly to be self-sufficient and partly to provide education to those youngsters who choose to study agriculture. In 1998, the farming area was increased to 100 hectares. If everything works according to plan, agriculture will become a valuable source of income in the future. Livslust takes both Latvian and Russian youngsters from the age of 15. The length of time they remain in the project depends on each individual's needs, but the norm is typically two years. Livslust hopes that some will stay on as adults to help guide coming groups of youngsters. In 1994, the Latvian Government donated the property to Livslust. Last used as a tuberculosis sanatorium, the building was in decay. Now it has been totally renovated by unemployed Swedish and Latvian builders. Livslust youngsters have also contributed to the renovations as part of the training they received from the builders. The youngsters come from different areas of Latvia and most have been raised in orphanages and boarding schools. Some come from families with alcohol-related problems with parents unable to care for their children. They often arrive at Aizupe alone and insecure, with all their worldly possessions in a small parcel or bag. After some time at Livslust they begin to feel secure and self-confident, which results in a happy and positive atmosphere in the house. Everyone helps with the general tasks of cooking, cleaning and washing and each resident has his or her own area of responsibility. During working hours they continue with their education in both practical and theoretical subjects. The local Livslust staff has a keen interest in working with young people and are open to new ideas and methods. The staff receives further training in psychology, pedagogy, bookkeeping, computers and English language skills. A major part of their daily work involves dealing with human interaction problems. Teenagers suffer from their difficult formative years and express this in various ways. Psychotherapists regularly offer the staff professional help and advice. They also meet the youngsters in groups and for individual talks. The number of staff will be kept to a minimum to increase possibilities for youngsters to exercise initiative and accept greater responsibility. Alcoholism is a widespread problem in Latvia and nowadays there is also an increasing use of other drugs among young people. Livslust has employed one person to work especially with drug prevention among its youngsters and later expand activities to include other youngsters at risk outside the project. In a country that has long been autocratically governed it is especially important to address the issues of democracy and individual responsibility and how these factors can combine to increase personal initiative. The staff and the youngsters work together, each with his or her individual area of responsibility. Two of their peers represent them on the management committee and take part in weekly meetings on current activities.
Livslust/Asociacija Dzivespriek, Sweden Phone: +46 8 767 19 48, fax +46 8 767 19 81, E-mail: livslust@telia.com Latvia phone: +371 3 146197
Published by Created 28.02.2001Skangal
Skangal is situated in Liepa Municipality 110 km north - east of Riga. It is a donation from the Palme family to The Salvation Army, to give them new possibilities for taking care, to educate and to evangelize. The aim is that different groups of Latvians shall receive their basic and further education as well as children shall receive a social care in confident and loving surroundings. Published by Created 28.02.2001
World Childhood Foundation
World Childhood Foundation Projects in Russia and the Baltic States, January 2001
RUSSIA:
The Lebedeva Prison in St. Petersburg: To improve the harsh living conditions for the young boys (10-18 years) who are held at the Lebedeva prison waiting for their trials. This wait can be very long - several years is not unusual. In order to stimulate the boys and to give them useful skills World Childhood Foundation® will together with the Swedish volunteer organization
Skaraborgshjälpen extend the existing schooling capacity as well as add more subjects. Skaraborgshjälpen is a Swedish NGO which since the beginning of the 1990s has focused efforts and donations on improving the living conditions for the imprisoned children and adolescents at the Lebedeva prison in St. Petersburg. Target group: approximately 800 boys age 10-18
Malookhtinsky House of Diligence: To finance a seminar for the staff of Malookhtinsky on sex education and how to teach it to the girls in their care. These girls are all victims of sexual abuse, in some cases they are homeless and the use of drugs has worsen their social problems. They stay at Malookhtinsky one year during which they get schooling, social training, therapy and health care.
The seminar is organized by Stiftelsen Susanne Westerbergs Minnesfond.
Doctors of the World: Since 1994, Doctors of the World (DOW) has provided critical health services to St. Petersburg's neglected, runaway, orphaned or abandoned children and adolescents. According to UNDP there are approx. 60 000 children at risk and 3 000 - 5 000 street children in St. Petersburg. DOW' s local partners include drop-in centers for street children, children's s shelters, children' s hospitals, and juvenile detention centers. DOW is developing a sustainable system of services to strengthen families, prevent the abuse and abandonment of children, and offer at-risk children and adolescents long-term, progressive alternatives to institutionalization. World Childhood Foundation covers the cost for a pilot project to develop new models for foster care, family care and social support for children at risk.
Children' s Hospital No. 15:
Children' s Hospital No. 15 is the only hospital in St. Petersburg admitting street children (aged 3-12 - but younger children are not unusual). The children are often brought to the hospital by the police. All of the children need medical, psychological and social attention. These children are very traumatized and confused about their present situation and their future and need psychological and social care around the clock. World Childhood Foundation' s donation will make it possible for the hospital to employ social workers and teachers to work specifically with the street children. The children will therefore have adult supervision and stimulation also after office hours. Furthermore, there is a responsible adult available to assist the children during the admission process as well as to see to the best of the child when deciding where and how to place the child. World Childhood Foundation' s donation also covers toys, books and other educational equipment as well as medical and food supplies (vitamins). Target group: approx. 300 children
Mission Possible: Mission Possible is a Christian organization providing help to street children in Russia. These children are mostly out of reach of other programs. Mission Possible runs a children' s home in Moscow and a farm in Jaroslavl. In St. Petersburg a street patrol distributes food and clothing as well as provides care and contacts with the parents. The children are helped to heal physically and mentally, to recover lost sets of values, and to reintegrate into school and society. Target group: approx. 200 children
THE BALTIC STATES
ESTONIA:
Kristet hem i Tartu för barn och ungdom (Christian Home in Tartu for Children and Adolescents): To help street children with housing, supervision and social training. When this home recently moved into new facilities World Childhood Foundation donated new kitchen appliances and furniture. Some children have left the streets and are now living in the home while other children visit daily for food and other assistance. Target group: approximately 100 children and adolescents
The Special School of Kaagvere: To promote physical and psychological rehabilitation and social integration of girls aged 10-17 with behavioral problems. These girls are victims of abuse (mental, physical and sexual), family violence and neglect. At the Special School of Kaagvere the girls are taught through group-therapy how to improve their communication skills - how to solve conflicts, handle anger, increase self-esteem, decrease the reactions of traumatic stress like depression, anxiety and fear, as well as how to form their ethical principles. Tartu Support Center for Abused Children is responsible for the project. The overall goal of this organization is to prevent child abuse and domestic violence in Estonia by raising awareness of the community, providing training of professionals and by counseling and treating abused children and their family members. Target group: 60 girls age 10-17
Tallinn Child Support Center: This center provides services such as a night shelter, daytime activities including therapy (both group and family therapy) and problem solving, some education and help with homework for street children and children at risk. These children, who often live under unhealthy conditions without parental care, have many health problems. Through a donation from World Childhood Foundation the children receive professional medical care as well as the necessary medicine. Hopefully, child abuse cases will also be recognized and investigated. Target group: Approx. 25 street children and children at risk and their parents.
Sillamäe Culture, Integration and Social Adaptation Center:To organize after-school programs for children/adolescents who are registered at the local police after committing minor crimes and are at risk to be school drop-outs. The supervised activities include classes "to form the aesthetic values of teenager' s personality", driving lessons, Estonia language classes and computer classes. The classes are organized by the City of Sillamäe. Sillamäe was a closed city during the Soviet occupation and is now part of Estonia. It has a very high unemployment rate. The Russian population has great difficulties to integrate into the Estonian society. Target group: 78 children / adolescents
Home for Street Children in Kohtla-Järve: When this home moved to new facilities World Childhood Foundation donated a TV set, some toys and other needed equipment. Donations from World Childhood Foundation have made it possible for the children living in this home to participate in three different camps. The themes of these camps were "Christian Winter Camp" , "A Member of the Family" (together with support families) and "Citizen Education" . Target group: approx. 60 children
Pathfinders: This is an after-school, intervention program for youth at-risk in Tallinn organized by Estonia Children' s Fund. The program is developed to teach children about the benefits of education, to improve self-esteem and decision making capabilities, to provide structured activities as an alternative to juvenile crime and street life. Target group: students of two schools located in poor, mainly Russian-speaking, areas.
LATVIA:
Livslust: Livslust is a Swedish NGO which since 1994 runs a combined home/school located in Aizupe for adolescents who have spent most of their lives in orphanages and other institutions. Livslust' s objective is to prepare the children for a life on their own. The children are offered vocational training (carpentry, agriculture, sewing, construction work and cooking) as well as social training. The children may stay until they can support themselves and are emotionally ready for a life on their own. The average time the children spend in Livslust's s care is 2,5- 3 years. Target group: 35 adolescents
Pakapieni Mission Steps: Pakapieni Mission runs a shelter for pregnant women and single mothers and their babies located in Rauna. While staying in the shelter the mothers are taught how to be caring, responsible mothers in order to provide the best possible environment for their children. Target group: presently the shelter can accommodate 6 mothers
LITHUANIA:
Childrens Home for Interim Care "Atsigrezk I vaikus" : This is a temporary shelter where children can stay for one year during which time their situation is sorted out and after which they will either return to their parents, go to a children s home or be adopted. World Childhood Foundation supports special after-school programs for the girls. Target group: approx. 70 children
Lithuanian Aids Center: Many different factors put the underprivileged teen-age girls in Vilnius at risk for social and health disasters, e.g. lack of information, poor education and respect for the rights of children, lower status of women and abuse of power by adults. Poverty, use of alcohol and other drugs, poor or no family ties may lead to prostitution, domestic violence and rape. A certain gender vulnerability exists, particularly for young girls. These girls risk serious health problems, not only for themselves, but also for the whole society by transferring conditions like syphilis, tuberculosis, HIV. There is a direct linkage between prostitution, drug trade and criminality. World Childhood Foundation' s donation will be used to establish a clinic which will be offering medical health prevention, counseling, care and social support. Furthermore a drop-in day care center will be established where social counseling will be mixed with different activities to motivate the girls to change their life style. The project is a collaboration between the Lithuanian AIDS Center, the Lund University and the Lithuanian National Committee for Health Prevention.
Published by Created 28.02.2001