PRE-CONFERENCE SKRB2024 (CARE2024)
The pre-conference SKRB2024 took place from 16-18 September 2024 in Varaždin at the Hotel Turist. The pre-conference preceded the activities of the international scientific and professional conference SKRB2024 (CARE2024), which took place from 18-20 September 2024 in Zagreb. The participation of children and young people in the pre-conference is part of the systematic work with children, young people and adult mentors (educators and foster parents) carried out within the ISKORAK program (2021-2024).
The aim of the program for children and young people was to enable the active participation of children and young users of services of various forms of care from all regions of the Republic of Croatia in decisions affecting them, especially in the development of the child care system in the Republic of Croatia. Young representatives of the Advisory Board of the ISKORAK program participated in the design of the pre-conference program. The main topics of the program were Way of life in alternative care from the perspective of children and young people and Participation of children and young people in alternative care. A total of 58 children and young people between the ages of 12 and 19 took part as representatives from 28 social institutions and associations.
The pre-conference program was led by:
- Ivana Borić, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences,
- Andrea Ćosić, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences,
- Andreja Šprem, University of Zagreb Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences,
- Davorka Osmak Franjić, Office of the Ombudswoman for Children of the Republic of Croatia and
- Ivan Pušćenik, Center for Community Services Lipik.
A total of 15 volunteers also contributed to the work with children and young people. The volunteers were students of the Social Pedagogy at the University of Zagreb Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, the Social Work at the University of Zagreb Faculty of Law and the Social Work at the Faculty of Law of the University Josip Juraj Strossmayer in Osijek.
The first part of the program was dedicated to getting to know each other and reflecting on life in alternative care from the perspective of children and young people. Through interactive activities, the participants had the opportunity to present their institution and their life in alternative care or foster care to the other participants, which contributed to the exchange of experiences and knowledge about different forms of care among young people. The second part, which focused on the participation of children and young people, was opened by Davorka Osmak Franjić, advisor to the Ombudswoman for Children, with an interactive workshop on children’s rights with a special focus on participation rights. This was followed by activities on the participation of children and young people at the SKRB2024 conference on the topics of “Reflections from children and young people living in alternative care ” and “Child participation in alternative care“. Children and young people reflected together on the support they need in care, the advantages and disadvantages of living in care, a child care system that is adapted to their needs, and the messages they would like to send to adults who work in the child and youth care system or have influence on decisions that affect them and other children and young people in care.
During the two days of the program, the young people also had the opportunity to participate in group recreational activities. Depending on their own interests, they could choose to participate in a capoeira workshop led by Tena Kostanjšek and Sara Kovačević from the Amazonas Association or in a mental health workshop “And how are you?” led by Marijana Hinek from the Center for Missing and Exploited Children in Osijek. A special part of the program was a panel discussion on the topics of internet safety and the consequences of digital violence led by representatives of the Gen Z Academy: Lamia Belošević, Marco Cuccurin, Josip Prepelić, Rafaela Seba and Vedran Kantar.
As part of the evening program, a city tour was organized for the participants under the auspices of the Varaždin Tourist Board. After the two-day pre-conference in Varaždin, the children, young people and their supervisors took part in the SKRB2024 conference in Zagreb, where they were involved in various parts of the program and activities.
Participation of children and young people in the SKRB2024 conference program
On the first day of the conference, representatives of children and young people shared with the conference participants the key messages from the joint work at the pre-conference in Varaždin:
- We want educators not to change all the time and that we can decide for ourselves which educator works with us and assess which educator is able to work with us,
- We need support that is tailored to the wishes and needs of children and young people,
- Being different does not mean being less valuable,
- We want more mixed-age small home communities that are suitable for different groups of children and young people and create a family atmosphere, and we also want to be involved in planning our own future,
- It is necessary to take care of everyone,
- We want better support for educators so they can achieve a better relationship with children and young people,
- The right support at the right time,
- Fight for your future,
- We want privacy in our own rooms and for our accommodation to become a home,
- Do not judge us by our appearance,
- We need more positive messages and less criticism,
- The best thing I got from residential care is security, support and independence. They are my second family.
On the first day of the conference, a video entitled “ Voices of children: Vision of childcare in Europe” was launched, featuring testimonies and messages from children and young people from the region who have experienced life in care. The video includes the experiences of two young men from the Republic of Croatia who are currently placed in a social care facility. The children and young people then met with representatives of the Ministry of Labor, Pension System, Family and Social Policy Tatjana Katkić Stanić and Melita Čusek, Ivana Šešo, Director of the Family Center, Luisa Brumana, Head of the UNICEF Office for Croatia and Aaron Greenberg from the UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, with whom they discussed the experiences of life in care and suggestions for improving the care of children and young people.
On the third day of the conference, representatives of children and young people participated in a panel discussion on participation of children in care, in which they discussed the status and benefits of active participation of children and young people in care and reflected on the experiences of participatory work with children and young people in the ISKORAK program. During the conference, the young people had the opportunity to participate in an outward bound workshop led by social pedagogue Marija Mažić and attended cinema.
Through their active participation in the pre-conference and the SKRB2024 conference, children and young people made an important contribution to achieving the conference goals by sharing their ideas, attitudes and experiences on important issues affecting their lives in care and the future. In various workshops and discussions, young people demonstrated their maturity and desire to participate in political decisions and discussions on issues that directly affect their lives. Their views were crucial in reaching concrete conclusions of the conference, proving the importance of their participation in decision-making processes in alternative care. As part of the ISKORAK program, we will continue the participatory work with young people and create opportunities for their further engagement and the development of active and meaningful participation of children and young people in care.
