Children-catalysts for change
Greater participation and advocacy capacity of the "Voice 16+", Child-Led Group supported by SCiA, persuaded the Albanian Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, to take children’s views seriously and embody them in the National Strategy for Youth and Action Plan. This strategy, launched by the end of April 2007, is the first national policy document for youth and thanks to children’s and youngsters views it adopts a more child’s rights perspective approach.
Due to "Voice 16+" inputs this strategy and action plan prioritize the need:
- to meaningfully involve children and increase their participation in decision-making mainly through the empowerment and support of Children’s Governments.
- to organize more recreation and capacity building activities for children and youth on issues that concern them such as trafficking, violence, drugs and alcohol.
- to involve youth organizations and make them part of Children’ rights monitoring system.
- to consult with youth and make them part of the consultation groups with the parliamentarians when budget is discussed and their recommendations to be taken in consideration.
- to acknowledge and make more evident children’s contribution to improve children’s rights implementation in schools.
- to create safe and appropriate environments for children in schools that stimulate their development.
- to increase state support on children’ rights based projects mainly initiated and organized by children themselves.
With our support, "Voice 16+" is becoming a potential youth forum that includes children and youth, and is increasingly improving their approach with more participation and clearer objectives. Facing with the traditional attitudes where children and youngsters participation is completely ignored is an enormous challenge for them.
They also endeavor to increase the other children’s understanding on their rights through activities and projects designed and implemented by them.
They are working for changing the policies and practices, mainly at local level, through advocacy campaigns and other child’s rights activities that are in the light with UNCRC recommendations. With their work they tell to everyone that they are part of the solutions not of the problems.