Community-Led Initiatives Report - Save the Children Sweden's

Community-Led Initiatives
Impact Report (August 2009-June 2010)
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Contents
Executive Summary …………………………………………………………………………………. 3
The Community-Led Initiatives aim …………………………………………………………………... 4
Methodology ………………………………………………………………………………………....… 4
Roles and responsibilities ……………………………………………………………………………… 5
Approaches and principles …………………………………………………………………………… 5
Impact of the community-Led Initiatives ……………………………………………………………. 6
Scope of work of the Community-Led Initiatives ………………………………………...……………. 6
First phase ………………………………………………………………..………..………..……. 6
Second phase …………………………………………………………………….……..………. 10
Impact on children and young people ……………………………………………………………..… 12
- Enhanced child participation…………………………………………………………...…… 12
- Awareness raising and advocacy on children rights…………………………………………… 13
- Reintegration to school and positive educational and reading habits....……...……………….. 13
Impact on caregivers and members of the Local Management Committees (LMCs) ………………. 14
Behavioral change through awareness material………..………………………………..…………. 14
Behavior change through awareness material ……………………………………………………..…... 14
Closing ceremony …………………………………………………………………………………..…. 15
Lessons learned……………………………………………………………………….….……………. 15
Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………..……………. 16
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Community-Led Initiatives
Executive Summary
This impact report is set in the context of the Gaza Strip
and the pressing issues its communities face in moving
towards a more child-friendly and protective
environment. The report takes an in-depth look into the
impact of 25 Community-Led Initiatives that were raised
and led by Children, adolescents and the Local
Management Committees‟ members of the Family
Centres of Gaza. It also focuses on how the Community-Led Initiatives
have empowered children and young people to participate in their
communities. This report covers the period August 2009 to June 2010.
The Community-Led Initiatives are part of the Family Centers Project and
consisted of small grants used to fund Community Led Initiated projects
that promote children‟s rights and enhance children participation through
the Family Centres. The project benefitted from approximately $30,000
USD in grant money.
The initiatives were designed by the community and the main stakeholders
of the family center project and addressed high priority needs of the Gazan
population. Some projects focused on Children‟s Rights particularly
ensuring the right to survival and development of children at risk or
survivors of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.
The initiatives targeted both caregivers and children; 3.280 children and
caregivers were engaged in the initiatives as direct beneficiaries,
participating in the design and implementation of the projects, and 14.650
children and
caregivers
benefited
indirectly from
them.
The Family Centres Initiative is a UNICEF
programme implemented by Save the
Children Sweden in partnership with local
NGOs and community based organizations.
funded by CIDA, ECHO, Bank of Palestine
and the Belgian National Committee for
UNICEF.
The network of 20 Family Centres located in
the Gaza Strip provide a one-stop shop for
families in the Gaza Strip working to rebuild
their lives – a place where children and their
caregivers can come together for
psychosocial care and support; a place where
children can improve their math, reading and
writing; and a place where they can learn
critical life skills ranging from how to avoid
drugs and other risky behaviour, to how they
can participate positively, in their
communities.
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The Community-Led Initiatives aim
The Community-Led Initiatives aim:
- To respond to the community needs identified
through research and consultation with
children, members of the Family Centres‟
Local Management Committees (LMCs) and
members of the local community within the
frame work of the Family Centres project.
- To facilitate the creation groups of children and
adolescents engaging in two Community-Led
Initiated projects (small scale community
projects) in each Family Center.
Methodology
A range of methods were used to design the community initiatives.
These included meetings with LMCs members of the FCs as well as
sample interviews with children and caregivers, members of the
community and key personnel involved in the projects. In addition
background papers and documentation were read and evaluated to
support the findings and recommendations. Most of the initiatives
were identified through carrying out a set of focused group
discussions with girls, boys and the LMCs inside the Family Centre.
- To ensure and enhance Children„s Rights
particularly the right to survival and
development of children at risk or survivors of
violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation living
in Gaza Strip.
- To promote awareness and programmes that
sustain a safe and protective environment for
children in the community,
“I plant trees today because I know that they produce oxygen for
us to breathe, remove pollution from the air, and provide food.
Additionally; it makes our Family Centre looks more beautiful.”-
Mohammed, 12 years old.
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Roles and responsibilities
Children, young people and the Local Management Committees in the Family Centres played leading
roles in their communities to tackle the issues and problems occurring in their communities and to
minimize their negative impacts. This included meaningful and ethical child participation in assessing,
planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating the Community-Led Initiatives. Whilst children and
young people played lead roles with the
support of adults in their communities, the
responsibilities and accountability for planning
and implementing still lies with adults
stakeholders and duty bearers including the
Family Centres workers, members of the Local
community, LMCs‟ members of the Family
Centres and partner organizations.
Approaches and principles
In its implementation and distribution of the
roles and responsibilities of these Community-
Led Initiatives the Family Centres used a variety of approaches and principles, most notably:
- Child-centered approach-children are the key actors through the process
- Child participation – children actively input into assessing, planning, implementing, monitoring
and evaluation and influencing policy and practice.
- Community ownership- the participation of adults as support to children to ensure the
process is community based.
- Children rights principles- including the best interest of the child, survival and development
of the child, ethical participation, equity and nondiscrimination through the inclusion of all
groups of children, and accountability.
- Integrated mandate-integrating the Community Led Initiatives into both emergency and
development programmes and ensuring links with other sectors.
- Sustainability-through partnership and capacity building of communities and integration in the
Family Centres project.
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Family
Centre
Jabalia
Rehabilitation
Society
Impact of the community initiatives
Scope of the Community-Led Initiatives
The Community-Led Initiatives supported activities and events that build more safe and protected
community, promote child rights, increase the capacity of community members, and encourage civic
involvement. They covered a variety of topics such as: No to violence against children; promoting
positive parenting in the community; Awareness raises and prevention of mines and generator hazards;
creating a cleaner environment and promoting recycling practices in the community; promoting healthy
reading habits and awareness raising on child labor and children rights in general.
Although it is too soon to evaluate the long term impact of the community initiatives that ended on July
30 th 2010 the short term impact of the initiatives is documented on this report.
Summary table
First phase of the community initiatives
The Community Led Initiatives were implemented in two phases, the first phase included the
implementation of one Community-Led Initiative In each Family Centers as detailed below:
„No to violence against children‟
Community initiative title & main activities
* 10 awareness sessions for children and caregivers to increase the awareness of the
community on children rights and against violence towards children. Focus on common
practices in the community that violate children rights and their negative effects. High
participation of children to speak about their problems to members of the community.
* Production of a play about common practices that violate children rights in the
community.
* Four workshops with children on art therapy (expression of feelings trough art) and final
exhibition of children drawings in the FC.
Beneficiaries
Direct
300
(0-18 yrs)
6
Indire
ct
1000

Beit Lahia
Development
Association
Woman Activity
Program – Beach
Women Activity
Program – Al
Daraj
Zakher
Association
“We protect ourselves form danger”
*25 children trained in MRE TOT to provide awareness in mine risk education.
* Delivery of 10 workshops on MRE and the danger of generators in coordination with local
NGO from the surrounding community.
*One Play on different topics related to the prevention and protection from mines &
generators
* Art expression workshop for 30 children. Drawing exhibition at the FC
*3 free medical days to raise the awareness of caregivers.
„We love our centre‟: Having a child friendly environment in the FC and the surrounding
community.
*Children and caregivers were involved in making the FC and its surrounding more child
friendly by identifying and upgrading safe play areas with volunteers ( planting trees; wall
painting; fixing the benches of the park; cleaning) in and outside the center.
* 10 workshops for children with the importance of having a clean environment and to how
to protect the environment.
„Our children‟s life is safe”
*Awareness raising workshop (three workshops) for 30 children (9 to 18 years old) on the
danger of generators by doctors from the MOH.
*Printing communicational material (posters; brochures) for the local community on
prevention of generator related accidents.
*Open day for children including a trip to the garden in Al Daraj and the entertainment
zone.
* 5 art expressions and group psychosocial counseling support for children.
„No to violence against children‟
* 12 awareness sessions for children and caregivers to increase the awareness of the
community on children rights and against violence towards children.
* Drawing workshop on the topic of positive parenting practices and exhibition.
250(6-
12yrs)
350 (6-12 yrs)
30 (12-18
yrs)
100 (10-17 yrs)
7
150
200
150
1500

The Palestinian
Organization for
development
Women Activity
Program-
Khanyounis
Women Activity
Program- Rafah
Al-Mawasi
Agricultural
Cooperative
Association
Bait Al
Mostaqbal
Association
„No to violence‟ PEDCOM
* 12 awareness sessions for children and caregivers to increase the awareness of the
community on children rights and against violence towards children.
* Production and dissemination of awareness materials on children rights and against
violence toward children.
“We got the solution”
*Increase awareness of caregivers and community regarding positive parenting practices and
spending quality time with children
*20 workshops with children & caregivers; printing of awareness materials (brochures and
posters).
Our future is more beautiful
*Awareness workshops w/parents and caregivers on school dropout and discussion on the
causes of this problem
* Workshops with parents of dropout children showing the negative psychological and
social impact of school dropout.
* Dropout children were involved in education/recreational activities in the FC.
* 25 children went back to school after attending the activities ( 10% of the target group
composed of 250 children)
“Save me from child labor”
*Increase awareness of children and caregivers on child labor trough recreational activities
and open days;
* Development and distribution of communicational messages on the dangers of child labor
with the participation of children.
Recycling
*Training for 20 children and 30 caregivers on production of toys made of recycled material
* Children collecting recycled items in the FC surrounding and made toys for an exhibition
were the local community was invited.
* Children designed posters with tips for caregivers on trash recycling and disposal.
3oo (0-18 yrs)
150 (6-18 yrs )
children
150 –
caregivers
250 (8-16 yrs)
children
100- caregivers
42 (14-18 yrs )
20( –18 yrs )
children
30 caregivers
8
1000
1500
1000
300
150

Future
Generation
Charity
Association
Al Saudi Center
for Cu;ture and
Heritage
Al zaitoun
Association for
Training and
Leadership
Baitona Society
for Community
Development
Al- Bureij
Society for
Community
Rehabilitation
Khasan
Kanafani
Association
Planting
*100 threes planted with the help of children and caregivers in parks of the surrounding
community
* Enhancement of the FC garden with children games.
* 10 awareness sessions on clean environment for children and caregivers.
Drawing gallery
*24 days workshops (12 days for girls and 12 days for boys) with children on art therapy
and psychosocial support to heal the trauma from war and occupation.
* Exhibition of drawings done by children.
“A book trip”
*Promote healthy reading attitude for 100 children between 8 and 18 years old.
*Activation of library sessions in 5 schools of the community. Coordination with schools
to carry out the story time on weekly basis.
* Activation and refurbishment of the library corner in the FC (the first step to a bigger
library) with 60 story books and a daily “story time”.
* 18 reading activities inside & outside the FC borrowing books from the communal library.
* Production and distribution of posters and banners to encourage children to read.
Our Centre‟s garden
*With the participation of 150 children the center garden was improved with three planting;
games and benches among others.
“No to violence against children”
*200 children participated in workshops to talk about their rights and violence against
children
*200 caregivers and local community members attended the workshops
*400 children from the community became more aware on the FC services.
Young police office
*20 children trained on traffic rules and regulations held ten workshops on road safety for
children & caregivers.
*Children designed traffic signs an safety guidelines for the FC surrounding
* Children spend five days helping adults to raise awareness of drivers on safety in the road.
100(8-15) yrs
children
50 caregivers
40 (13-18 yrs )
100(8-18 yrs )
150 (6-17 yrs )
200 (5-6 yrs )
20 (13-16yrs)
9
150
200
750
1000
1000
500

Student Care
Association
Palestine
Builders for
Community
Development
Palestinian
Committee for
Development
and
Environment
Protection
Total
A call against violence
*Awareness activities for 600 community members‟ trough workshops; open days and other
events.
Toy making
*Awareness sessions for 100 children of the local community on how to protect the
environment; recycling the trash;
* Cleaning campaign and exhibition of toys made by children using recycled products.
Children friendly environment
*Increase the awareness of having a learning environment inside their home to increase the
academic performance.
*Awareness workshops for caregivers; home visits; lending stories from the FC,
communication messages how to have a good environment; reading skills.
*Distribution of 25 posters on schools.
Second Phase
In the second phase of the community-Led Initiatives included FIVE
Community-Led Initiatives. The Unity in the initiatives was
principally the idea of LMCs members and children of the FCs, who
have met to discuss this matter. The projects sought to combat
and in a small way counteract the issues and problems children are
facing, as well as, they sought to build on the good will that existed
in the wider community by engaging with local services. At the
time of conception the projects in the second phase, the FCs
became involved in joining together in activities which were
supported by the community Services. The community-Led
Initiatives had a large, high profile launch and enthusiasm for the projects was very marked with 20
FCs becoming involved.
13 (6-15 yrs )
35 (18-28 yrs)
500(6-17 yrs )
3280
10
600
1000
2500
14650

Area
Northern
Gaza
Gaza City
Rafah
The below table shows the five projects and the participation of each FC in them:
Family Centre
Jabalia Rehabilitation
Society
Beit Lahia Development
Association
Khasan Kanafani
Association
Baitona Society for
Community Development
Palestinian Committee for
Development and
Environment Protection
Palestine Builders for
Community Development
Woman Activity Program –
Beach
Women Activity Program –
Al Daraj
Zakher Association
Al zaitoun Association for
Training and Leadership
Women Activity Program-
Rafah
Future Generation Charity
Association
Al-Mawasi Agricultural
Cooperative Association
Community initiative title
Let‟s have a Clean environment:
*TOT on awareness raising sessions on
environmental topics;
* 20 children volunteers selected from each
FC;
* Production and distribution of
communicational material ( 100 brochures;
posters & t-shirts)
* Two wall paintings done by volunteers in
each FC;
*20 awareness sessions on good
environmental practices for community of the
north FC of Gaza * Cleaning campaign carried
out by volunteers in the blocks around the FC;
Be healthy
*Awareness campaign that included FC
beneficiaries, LCM
*Production of brochures, posters
* 5 plays in health topics
*12 awareness sessions with university
professors
* 12 awareness sessions on the dangers of
drugs by 16 pharmacists
Right to Education:
*Promotion of the educational activities in the
FC‟s & the importance of education;
*Peer to peer education sessions
* Production of awareness material ( poster,
banners; brochures)
* Home visits
Direct
900
(children,6-
14yrs)
400
Children,
14 to 18)
150(
children,7
to 17 yrs)
Beneficiaries
Indirect
11
1800
caregivers
&
community
members
7000
Children
and
caregivers
600
children
(boys and
girls)

Khan Youns
Middle of
Total
Gaza
Bait Al Mostaqbal
Association
Al Saudi Center for
Culture and Heritage
Al- Bureij Society for
Community Rehabilitation
The Palestinian
organization for
development
Student Care Association
Buds of Hope Association
Impact on children and young people
Enhanced child participation
Right to Play
*24 Awareness session on the right to play for
caregivers & children
*Football competition for children with
attendance of 300 people from the local
community
*Integration of disable children in playing
sessions in the FC
*Recreational sessions conducted in three
centers for disable children in the south of
Gaza. Distribution of toys to the children.
No to child labor
*Awareness sessions
*Production of t-shirts; posters and brochures
At the short term, the community initiatives have enhanced children and young people participation in
community matters and problem solving skills as well as the awareness of children & caregivers on
children rights. The community initiatives have enabled children to think critically, to speak up their
thoughts and feelings and share them with adults of the communities if only for a short while.
“I know that I have the capacity and the power to solve problems, children can
talk to each other, this is what I do when we meet to discuss the needs of
children and how to solve it” Ali, 13 years old.
300
(Children,
13 to 18 500 children
yrs)
100( 6-15)
1850
12
2500
(Children
&caregiver)
12400

Awareness raising and advocacy on children rights
The Community Led Initiatives are a powerful tool that enabled children and young people‟s creative
expression. It allowed children and young people to discuss their concerns, report on their situation
and most importantly educate other children and adults about issues important to their lives. The
children small scale projects taped into children‟s creative potential to enable them to better express
themselves.
Moreover, meetings on designing the activities of the community led initiatives are an excellent
experience challenging the limited availability of resources, as well as, providing rich life skills and
educational learning experiences. Social activities developed self esteem and personal development.
Reintegration to school and positive educational and reading habits
25 children that had dropped out of school went to back to education after their parents attended
awareness raising sessions in the Woman Activity program center of Rafah. Furthermore several
initiatives included activities on the right to education such as activation of reading corners in the FC and
surrounding schools; awareness raising sessions for parents and home visits to foster healthy reading
habits for children.
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Impact on caregivers and members of the Local Management Committees (LMCs)
The FCs has built a trust relationship with caregivers and the
surrounding community. Most of the caregivers are keen to see
their children participating in recreational & educational activities in
the FC safe and protected environment. Caregivers gave a great
deal of support to the community initiatives and encouraged their
children to go on the field visits and events in the surrounding
communities within the framework of the community initiatives.
Some of the main short term impacts of the community
initiatives have been:
Reduction of violent practices against children and enhancement of positive parenting habits and
practices.
Awareness raising on children rights including awareness raising against child labor; violence and
abuse to children as well as the right to recreation; participation; education and health.
Increase in the participation of the LMC‟s and the community in the FC activities.
Behavioral change through awareness material
At the short term, the Community-Led Initiatives have also caused a behavior
change in children; caregivers and community members promoting safe and
protected communities for children. Using a behavior change communications
strategy was critical for effective community mobilization to improve access,
availability and equity of services under the small scale projects.
A few examples of the communication campaigns developed under the project
include (but not limited to): We protect ourselves form danger,
Save me from child labour, Let‟s have a Clean environment and Be
healthy.
Specific clear and simple messages were developed for each topic. A variety of
communication materials were locally developed, including posters (printed and hand
written), flip charts, banners and brochures.
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Closing ceremony
To celebrate the closing of the community initiatives, a
joint festival was carried on at Rashad Al Shawa. 700
children and adults attended the event which included
different acts designed and performed by the children
who participated in the
community initiatives. The
programme of the ceremony
included theatre, puppet shows,
games and art activities.
Lessons learned:
Institutional understanding and support of the Family Centres is a key
component of all implemented Community- Led Initiatives.
The community initiatives have contributed to enhance the community
awareness and participation on the FC activities and programs.
Children and young people participating in the Community-Led
Initiatives used the experience as a model to develop new activities with
the participation of members of their communities.
The methodology used to design and implement the initiatives ensured a
high participation and ownership of the local community that gained an
increased understanding on how to identify and address the community
needs trough joint activities.
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Conclusion
Developing and implementing a Community-Led initiative is a rewarding experience. The Family
Centres, partner organization, local NGOs and children and young people benefit from the process in
a variety of ways. The Family Centres enhanced their skills and organizational capacity in the design and
implementation of Community-Led Initiatives.
As Ali 14 years old commented, “It [community work] gives support to the
community when we reach out to them and let them know that we care
and we want them to care as well.”
“It is important to have an opportunity to apply what we are
learning. It also connects us and the community to the Family
Centre which fosters goodwill.” – Salma, 12 years old
The community lead initiatives enabled people to play an active role in the decisions that affect
their communities; from education and measures to strengthen the role of local NGO‟s to the
empowerment of children and young people and calls for action through petitions and other
forms of participation.
Children participating in the community initiatives had the opportunity to develop a more
systematic approach to solve their problems in a process where their voices were taken into
account and their opinions mattered.
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