Recommendation The time spent in care should be a time for the preparation of the child for responsible life in a democratic society (EU Council of Ministers, 2005, p.14) Ertion Axha Member of the International Youth Council "I matter" Campain

Agenda United Nations General Assembly guideline Youth Participation in “I Matter” Project o “I Matter” in Albania o International Youth Council (IYC) A brief summary of the Action Plan of IYC Challenges and Positive outcomes The Importance of Youth Participation Evaluation of recommendations seen from different aspects.

United Nations General Assembly guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children Basic Concepts: – [All decisions taken]... should respect fully the child’s right to be consulted and to have his/her views duly taken into account in accordance with his/her evolving capacities on the basis of his/her access to all necessary information (UN G. A., 2005, p. 6)

Youth participation Leaving Care Project in Albania International Youth Council (IYC)

Youth Participation during the Leaving Care project in Albania Round Table - Feb Discussed problems evidenced in situation analysis - Suggested different approaches how to solve these problems Structuring I Matter Project - Two Tracks => Youth Participation Youth Network with other Youth NGOs - TAMAM - Active Youth Other Activities

International Youth Council (IYC) Berlin February 2010 Action Plan 2 Members from each of per each country participating in LC Project Divided in three main groups: Policy, Communications and Events Since October 2010 have an Action Plan

Action Plan Provide organizational opportunities for young people to gather Develop youth unions between all forms of alternative care Inform the public about leaving care Make partnerships with different businesses or important people Offer life skills trainings for young people

IYC - Continued Activities where IYC members participated: - Vilnius October 2009 "Keeping doors open" Conference

- Brighton July 2010 IFCO Conference - Vienna November 2010 Meeting with Steering Group of LCC and Senior Management Team of SOS Radio Broadcast

Challenges Lack of time Lack of Skills Communication Organization Lobbying Positive outcomes Innovation Responsibility on sharing information Greater Confidence

Every youngster needs to be stronger towards the challenges of the future Christian Pichler Secretary General of SOS KDI (Prague 2011) People want to negotiate for what is important to them Michael Ungar Ph.D. Professor in School for Social Work, Dalhouse University (Prague 2011)

Motivate youth participation Introduce youth participation in earlier ages (create a culture of democracy) and Gradually increase the opportunities of youth participation By: - collective meetings between youngsters and caregivers - opinion share gatherings - motivating strong feeling of self-organizing - giving opportunities to participate in decision- making

Smoothly change between the levels of Youth Participation according to age and capacity will give us the possibility to understand Youth Participation through experience

It will help us: - be more expressive - effectively communicate our ideas and deliver our concerns - have experience on how to lobby for them (this world is a big institution) - build stronger confidence - have the sense of entrepreneurship - develop responsible needs - create the sense for our thoughts - have the possibility to know better ourselves and know where is better to invest our potential in time - be better active members of the democratic society

Make care institutions have such youngsters They will have an active group of youngsters who: - will have a direct contact with other children (peer counseling) - actively give innovating ideas for improvement - may be future colleagues willing to invest their energies to improving quality care More involved youngsters and equal co-decision-making helps closing the gap between adults and youngsters Makes it possible to inherit good experiences and achievements and reflect on bad ones (more contacts between youngsters of different ages)

Recommendation Introduce the concept and provide experience at younger ages, according to child's capacity and accessibility to information Encourage youth organization groups (of every type) in Care Institutions and provide a healthy negotiation environment and sense of responsibility for the other person Allow youth representation in decision-making level with an equalized importance between children and adults