FACE TO FACE – CHILDREN'S CENTER
Program for:
"SELF-ORGANIZING BODIES OF CHILDREN & YOUTH"
in the Odesa School System
The strategic goal of this
program is to eliminate the negative phenomena in the youth environment and
the
passivity of young people by increasing
the social - political activity of youth.
The Challenge
It is believed that the social and political inactivity of youth is caused by an absence of conditions for participation in decision making, for protection and realization of their rights and for self-expression. Poor communications between adults and youth, particularly in the schools, offer no constructive dialogue and reinforce stereotypes and incorrect assumptions about each other’s interests and an inability to change the current negative environment for youth. These beliefs were discovered during our roundtable discussions and trainings on children’s rights during the first phase of our program (see below.)
Based on UNICEF’s Project MONEE 2000 study, only 10% of Ukraine youth are involved in NGO activity. Youth involved in solving problems are more likely to succeed in changing them. We need to create conditions which enable constructive dialogue and help youth to contribute to problem solving, decision making and changing their own situation.
Program Background
This program began August 2002 when Face to Face received permission from the majority of the schools in Odesa to conduct roundtable discussions among youth. 1,265 youth participated in 78 roundtables. These roundtables asked students to express their opinions on what could be done to improve the school environment and eliminate negative youth behavior. One theme was prominent during the round tables: children and youth did not believe that they had power to do anything about their situation. They did not know they had rights.
Many of the School Directors allowed us to give presentations in their schools on children's rights according to the definitions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989 General Assembly Resolution 44/25. Once these rights were understood students were asked if they would like to organize a group in the school to work towards exercising these rights. The idea is that if youth are involved in enacting positive change they would be less involved in negative behavior.
Student groups were organized in thirty-six schools and they are called, “self-organizing bodies.” Our staff trained the students that were interested in becoming leaders. Approximately 85 leaders have been trained. These youth groups worked on activities in their schools and communities ranging from having drug free dances, organizing a teachers day, working on ecological issues, helping homeless children and creating programs on healthy lifestyles.
Program Lessons
We have learned that we need to build more support and understanding among school administrators, teachers, elected officials and the public, about children’s rights, the purpose of the program, how it has increased youth enthusiasm and potential, and how it can help reduce negative youth behavior.
Our experience has taught us that it is difficult to sustain these groups (self-organizing bodies of youth) in over 78 schools without a support system of trained adult/youth advisors.
We need an improved and standardized organizational structure for implementation and sustainability, including an organizational charter, advisor and procedural handbooks, advisory councils and increased staffing and training.
We need to continue to grow the capacity of leadership among the students since they move on to other interests or graduate
Opportunity
This year, the City of Odesa created the mechanism to implement its regulation on “social contracting.” (Regulation on Social Contracting of the City of Odessa, Adopted August 10, 2000) through a competative grant process. We redesigned our program incorporating the program lessons mentioned above and wrote a grant to compete for the social contract for youth programs.
A unique partnership, using this social contract, has been developed between the City of Odesa, the City School System, and Face to Face/Children’s Center (an NGO). The partners believe this to be the best strategic investment in youth and in strengthening civil society in Odesa. The desired project results will:
Develop more socially and politically active youth, involved in decision making and active in solving the problems of youth;
Demonstrate the effectiveness of the city’s social contracting program as a mechanism for improving social conditions and growing local democracy;
Create a greater understanding of the effectiveness of civil society, particularly when various sectors of society work together to find solutions to complex problems; and
Generate community indicators and measures about youth behavior. A first ever research component for monitoring and assessing community youth phenomenon and behavior.
Next Phase
Complete the Agreement with the Odesa Director of Education, which instructs all Odessa school directors to take part in our trainings on Self-Organizing Bodies of Youth and the research component/study.
Development of a standardized organizational structure for implementation and sustainability:
Advisory Boards and District Councils,
standardized charter for the Self-Organizing Bodies,
policy and procedure manuals, advisor job descriptions, volunteer system and templates for bylaws, project planning, etc.
Providing trainings for 104 school directors:
about negative youth behaviors,
about children’s rights and youth activity, and
addressing the issues and concerns of the directors.
Providing trainings for the assistant directors and faculty:
about self-organizing bodies,
how to be an effective adult advisor to these groups, and
creating conditions where youth can meet to discuss topics that concern them.
Provide trainings for student leaders:
leadership development,
how to manage a project, and
creating conditions where youth will want to be involved.
Facilitating communication as needed and providing on-going consultation and technical support to 25 pilot schools’ Advisors and Leaders to assist them in succeeding.
Study the results of our program on youth activity and negative behaviors. This study is in partnership with the Institute of Social Research. Additionally, conduct the first baseline measure of negative phenomenon and youth behavior in Odesa.
Face to Face – Children's Center
117, Chernomorskogo Kozachestva Str., Odesa, Ukraine 65003
tel: 380 (482) 230337 fax: 380 (482) 230211
www.facetoface.com.ua