T.R Governorship of Kocaeli EU Projects Coordination Centre

FOCUS GROUPS As it is known a focus group is a form of qualitive research in which a group of people are asked about their perceptions,opinions,beliefs attitudes towards a product service, concept, advertisement,idea or packaging. Questions are asked in an interactive group setting where participants are free to talk with other group members.

In that point let me introduce the focus group of this Project from Turkey. Our focus group consists of; Directorate of National Education Kocaeli Province Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality University Of Kocaeli Children villages ( under the authority of Directorate of Social Service of Kocaeli) Police Department ( Specialized in Children’s issues) Health department of Kocaeli Province

Because of being the official authority in our region we have a great advantage in solving all bureaucracy that we face. We have a great co-operation between our focus group.

In order to organize meetings acquire academic information about “ preventing deprivation and attachment disorders in orphans / children without parent” we have added Kocaeli University as a member of focus group. They also help in supplying materials to Fairstart Project. Prof asist Miss Şahika and Prof Dr Mrs Ayşen also give academic, medical information when is needed

Another member of Focus group is Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality. Those kind of organizations have many different jobs to do therefore we have been working coordinally with the social Service department of the Metropolitan Municipality

what they do is quite simple but very important. Although there is a budget coming from the project we still need some fund and in this phase Metropolitan Municipality becomes a part of the activity. They supply not only financial support but also help us in publishing booklets posters. We also sometimes use the city hall in the presentation and orientation education for informative purposes.

* Another effective member is the Police department. The specialized Police officers support the establishments and the risk group children. When it is needed they give us all necessary information.

 The health Department of Kocaeli Province give all the necessary information gained from the Project via meetings training courses to Foster Families Adoptive parents. Also they help in the training of the nurses who are involved with the babies.

Directorate of The National Education of Kocaeli Province is responsible for all kind of Educational issues. And in this Project kindergarten teachers’ Education is very important. Kocaeli University and health department give the education in this phase.

Other member of the focus group is children villages which are under the authority of Directorate of social Service. ıt is a “ causa sine qua non “ because this project is put into practice in these villages.we apply all the innovations, the in put that we gained from this project and see the results. they also give us ( Governorship of Kocaeli EU Projects Coordination Centre) all the necessary information that we need in the Project. Mrs. Kılıçkıran does the coordination between the organisation and EU Projects Coordination Centre very effectively. In any need she is always ready

The social service department plays a great role in the Project because all the children villages are under the authority of Social services.

GAININGS When we talk about the gaining of the stakeholders first of all each focus group member has not only learned or added a value to their information but also brought them a vision and awareness

Being an academic organisation they have added a value to their information about “ preventing deprivation and attachment disorders in orphans / children without parent”. Although it is very easy to access any kind of information via net, tv etc., it is more important to be a part of the subject. And by being a member of the group, Kocaeli University has checked evaluated and applied the new methods via this project. They have also gave presentations in the city hall for foster Families adoptive Parents, Kindergarten teachers.

Universities are the places where the future of the countries shape because they deal with human beings. They try widen the students “ tomorrows parents “ horizons. They know that the future will come with those students. Having been a member of this group as I said before will definitely a value to their knowledge and the university will pass the information to students and so on..

Metropolitan Municipality What they gain from this project can be listed as : added a value to their existing information reach to wide range of filds got more experienced in Eu projects deal with social issues

Police Department What they gain from this project can be listed as got more experienced in EU Projects become more desirous in doing EU Projects change the prejudice of public opinion towards police via dealing with kids interact with other countries’ Police departments

Health Department Children’s especially orphan’s health responsibility is under the control of governments. One of the most important issue that the Health departments should deal is that issue. By being a member of the group; The establishment gained experience in EU projects Had the chance to compare and contrast the differences and similarities between the partner countries’ related establishments. Had the chance to see what their superior and inferior parts are

– What can they gain in the future ?We have discussed this notion in two dimensions. First dimension was how it would help the related establishments to gain information in EU level directly not via net books etc. And the other dimension was the specific gaining which are ;- The establishments will be called an implementing institution - The establishments will have the opportunity to improve their inferior parts ideas applications

What can they gain in the future ? We have discussed this notion in two dimensions First dimension was how it would help the related establishments to gain information in EU level directly not via net books etc. And the other dimension was the specific gaining which are ;- The establishments will be called an implementing institution - The establishments will have the opportunity to improve their inferior parts ideas applications

The establishments will definitely add a value to their organization- The Project will help the establishments to re -organize their management and staff organization-Will be more willing to deal with other social issues after seeing the success of the project-Will be eager to participate in other or related projects-Will try to disseminate, exploit the out puts not only locally but also nationally

The success and difficulties that Turkish Focus Group The success that the focus group can be listed as ;Applied all the methods that have been gained from the project Over come the prejudice of the traditional approaches Improvements in Children villages The police’s approach to social issues Change the public's opinion of the police Become self confident

- The success and difficulties that Turkish Focus GroupThe success that the focus group can be listed as ;Applied all the methods that have been gained from the project Over come the prejidiuce of the the traditional aproaches İmprovements in Children villages The police’s approach to social issuesChange the public’S opinion of the policeBecome self confident

Difficulties Legal ıssues like other countries have Stubborn people &ideas Timing problems

- What The Turkish Focus Group Can get from Other Countries Focus groups - As it is known in the EU projects there is always an exchange of information in all levels. There is not a dominant or a passive partner. Each partner each focus group shares their reports ideas in the multi national meetings. The Turkish Focus Group can see the similarities and differences of the other groups organizations and work plans They can see the approaches of the Partner groups countries Focus groups to this issue They can solve the difficulties or inferior parts via exchanging ideas

It is a known fact that the most important part of a Multi-national Project is to disseminate and exploit it to all levels. Because the projects are a guide line to establishments.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION Enver DÜZ EU Coordinator Of Kocaeli Province