Eurochild AISBL 53, rue de la Concorde 1050 Brussels - Belgium www.eurochild.org
Improving equal opportunity for young people through non-formal & informal
youth education
YOUTH EVENT 14-16 April 2007
Eurochild AISBL 53, rue de la Concorde 1050 Brussels - Belgium www.eurochild.org
The parent The school
The traditional model…
the school
the parent
the community
Non-formal education
peer groups
the wider family
Our perspective today…
Eurochild AISBL 53, rue de la Concorde 1050 Brussels - Belgium www.eurochild.org
Traditional model…
Child’s mind to be ‘moulded’
Our perspective today…
Children are active citizens in their own right
Children need to be supported & guided in developing their capacities to exercise their rights
Children have a right to be heard and to participate in decisions that affect them
Eurochild AISBL 53, rue de la Concorde 1050 Brussels - Belgium www.eurochild.org
Traditional model…
Parents are always right
Our perspective today…
Primary responsibility for the well-being & development of the child rests with the parent but…
Many parents are in full-time employment
Many parents have a first language that is not that of their country of residence
Poverty & social exclusion is usually ‘inherited’
how can we break the cycle of deprivation?
Eurochild AISBL 53, rue de la Concorde 1050 Brussels - Belgium www.eurochild.org
‘Soft-skills’ - resilience, problem-solving, communication, leadership – are equally important in today’s ‘knowledge-based society’
Our perspective today…
In the EU today 15% of young people aged 18-24 left school before completing secondary education & are not in further education or training
Traditional model…Success/failure in the formal education system determines a child’s future
Facts, Facts, Facts can be learnt, learnt, learnt, but skills need to be honed, fine-tuned and developed on a regular basis. Peter Torp Madsen, Bureau Member of the European Youth Forum, COYOTE no.11
Eurochild AISBL 53, rue de la Concorde 1050 Brussels - Belgium www.eurochild.org
Step in ‘non-formal’ and ‘informal’ learning….
non-formal and informal learning activities within the youth field are complementary to the formal education and training system, have a participative and learner-centred approach, are carried out on a voluntary basis and are therefore closely linked to young people's needs, aspirations and interests; by providing an additional source of learning and a possible route into formal education and training, such activities are particularly relevant to young people with fewer opportunities; Resolution of the European Council on the
recognition of the value of non-formal and informal learning within the European youth field – April 2006
Eurochild AISBL 53, rue de la Concorde 1050 Brussels - Belgium www.eurochild.org
Non-formal & informal learning as an agent for social inclusion….
Some examples from the Eurochild network
PARTICIPATION NON-FORMAL EDUCATION & SCHOOLS
Eurochild AISBL 53, rue de la Concorde 1050 Brussels - Belgium www.eurochild.org
"Participation means it is my right to have the opportunity to be involved in making decisions, planning and reviewing an action that might affect me. Having a Voice, Having a Choice - My Voice, My Choice."
Based on Roger Hart’s Ladder of Participation 1997
Eurochild AISBL 53, rue de la Concorde 1050 Brussels - Belgium www.eurochild.org
How do we contribute to social inclusion?
Everybody has the right to be heard. In Funky Dragon – the Children & Young People’s Assembly for Wales – they’ve decided to include representatives from special interest groups..
Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual and Transgender Young People Young Disabled People Young Carers Have been Homeless Have been in the Youth Justice System Long term health problems (but not a disability) Minority Ethnic Young People Looked After Young People
Eurochild AISBL 53, rue de la Concorde 1050 Brussels - Belgium www.eurochild.org
“If schools were more like real life, maybe kids would enjoy it more!”
Participant in Eurochild conference on Policy & practice for social inclusion of children & young people – the role of non-formal & informal
learning.
Eurochild AISBL 53, rue de la Concorde 1050 Brussels - Belgium www.eurochild.org
Community schools - the Netherlands
www.verlengdeschooldag-hoogeveen.nl
Through activities during & outside school hours kids learn:- Social skills Specific skills: arts, sports, drama…. Participation in the community
Team of youth workers working with schools in the neighbourhood of Hoogeveen Many of the children and youngsters are living in multi-problem families. Many are traveller families Some 69 nationalities represented in the neighbourhood Most do not participate in ‘normal’ organised activities for socio-economic & financial reasons Most kids get few experiences of “success”
Eurochild AISBL 53, rue de la Concorde 1050 Brussels - Belgium www.eurochild.org
FOOD FOR THOUGHT…
Who is Eurochild?
Membership association of children & youth organisations
44 members in 20 European countries
Promoting the rights & welfare of children & young people – based on the UNCRC
Committed to fighting social exclusion & poverty among children & young people