SALTO-Youth Participation - EuroMed Youth Programme IV

GOOD PRACTICE 1.3
You(th)
for
human
rights
Beneficiary
Jeugddienst Don Bosco vzw
Partnership
Austria : Jugend Eine Welt &
Don Bosco Flüchtlingswerk
Belgium : Jeugddienst Don Bosco vzw, Bureau
Jeugdzorg don Bosco Vlaanderen &
Don Bosco Youth-Net ivzw
Czech Republic : SADBA & JABOK
Germany : Jugendwohnheim Salesianum &
Aktionszentrum Benediktbeuern
Italy : Federazione SCS/CNOS & VIS
Malta : Salesian Pastoral Youth Service &
Don Bosco Volunteer Service;
Netherlands : Don Bosco Youthnet Nederland &
Stiching Multi culturele centrum
Don Bosco Haaglanden
Poland : Salesian Centre of Education and Youth
Ministry, Salesian Missionary Voluntary Service
Youth for the World & Salezjanskie Stowrzyszenie
Wychowania Mlodziezy
Slovakia : DOMKA & Salesians of Don Bosca,
Slovak Province
Slovenia : Drustvo Mladinski Ceh &
Zavod Salesianum, OE Skala;
Spain : Confederaçion de centros juveniles
Don Bosco de Espana &
Asociacion Juvenil Movimento L-V
United Kingdom : Salesian Youth work office &
Don Bosco Volunteer Action
Budget
30 386,87 euros total budget
24 500 euros YiA grant
Link
www.jeugddienstdonbosco.be
Contacts
katrien.gruyters@donbosco.be
jeugddienst@donbosco.be
Brief description
Over the last years the issue of Human
Rights has become a core element
of public debates. Media, public institutions,
NGO’s, foundations all have
made their voices heard. At the same
time we need to recognise that it is children
and young people who suffer most
from the violations of Human Rights,
mostly because they are considered to
be voiceless. As a result they are also not
really listened to in the debates between
policy makers and other public actors.
You(th) for Human Rights brought
together young people active in organisations
working in the non-formal education
field and young people working
with youngsters facing fewer opportunities
like minor-aged refugees, Roma
youth, homeless young people, and
young people in special youth care.
All the young people
involved in the
project are actually
to be considered as
field experts.
39
From preparation to evaluation the
project lasted for 6 months. The main
activity of the project was a European
Congress on Human Rights Education,
which took place in Brussels, Belgium.
More than 50 young people from 12
European countries attended this congress,
representing their local organisations.
In order to run this representation
smoothly and to introduce all the
participants, we developed a training
manual for the partner organisations
to guide them in the national meetings
and to prepare their representatives
for the congress. We also developed
a final report of the project, including
the lectures from the congress, a
funding guide, the evaluation, etc.
How did your idea come up
Human Rights is a topic of growing
importance, both in the European Union
and the worldwide Don Bosco Movement,
of which all partner promoters
of this project are a part. Within the
Don Bosco Movement the issue of Human
Rights is included in their specific
pedagogical style towards working
with youth : the preventive system. The
methodology of Human Rights Education
(HRE) would be an interesting
addition to this preventive system. In
January 2009 an international congress
on Human Rights took place in Rome
organised by the Don Bosco Movement,
in which some of the promoters took
part. However they came to the same
conclusion : a lot of work is being done,
but the voice of young people is still not
being heard. From our work experience
with young people we realise that
Human Rights have the power to move
young people into action. It motivates
young people to do international voluntary
service, local community work,
to campaign, … Therefore we decided
to organise a youth democracy project
on the topic of Human Rights, as it is
an action specifically focussed at making
the voices of young people heard.
07.2009 — 12.2009
38