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The Greek Ombudsman Department of Children’s Rights

The Greek Ombudsman Department of Children’s Rights ENOC 16th Annual Conference Nicosia, Cyprus, 10-12 October 2012.

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The Greek Ombudsman Department of Children’s Rights

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  1. The Greek Ombudsman Department of Children’s Rights ENOC 16th Annual ConferenceNicosia, Cyprus, 10-12 October 2012 The Youth Advisory Panel takes action on issues of public concern:investigation on the consequences of financial crisis in the lives of children

  2. 2nd meeting of the YAP (July 2011): discussionabout the current economic crisis (how do we feel, how does the crisis affect our family, community, city, daily life) 3rd meeting of the YAP (December 2011): workshop“claiming our rights today!” > discussionin groups (ideas that could be included in a poster) > creationof posters (collage and painting) Working on thequestionnaire: > ppt presentation on the consequences of the crisis (by the Ombudsman) > work on possible questions & answersof a questionnaire (plenary & 3 working groups): consequences of the crisis (school, family, community) state’s action (school, family, community) proposals on how to support children / how to cope with it > summarize the ideas (lots of them!) of the 3 groups Preparing an investigation with our young advisors

  3. Preparing an investigation with our young advisors • Result: a big questionnaire! – to be shortened to 2 pages • Goals: >short, easy and not boring questionnaire >1000 questionnaires to be completed from 25-30 different schools throughout Greece > YAP members to elaborate themselves the answers in an excel file given to them by the Ombudsman > Ombudsman's staff compile the results in one file and get the final results • It’s not a scientific survey – we want to have a general picture and exchange thoughts & ideas about the current situation

  4. The short version of questionnaire was sent by mail to the members of YAP & was discussed again in e-forum Young advisor’s comments, ideas & proposals were taken into account to form the final version A list of the young advisors that volunteered to hand out the questionnaire was made Cooperation with the Ministry of Education: an authorization was given for the conduct of the investigation in schools (a circular was sent) Instructions and an excel file (which the advisors would fill to have automatically the results of their own survey – complicated but it worked!) were sent to the young advisors Preparing an investigation with our young advisors

  5. The questionnaire Data of the student (school grade, date of birth, nationality, gender) Consequences of the crisis 1. Do you think that the crisis has serious consequences (yes - no - I don’t know / I don’t want to answer) in schools in family in the society 2. How much does the crisis affect your life (a lot – enough - a bit - it doesn’t affect me at all - I don’t know / I don’t want to answer) your personal and family life (relations, tensions) your environment (classmates, friends etc) 3. Are there negative effects in your life, as far as for the following (yes - no - I don’t know / I don’t want to answer) way of living / family expenses pocket money foreign languages, private lessons extra curriculum / leisure time activities (sports, arts, etc) 4. Has the crisis affected your parent’s job situation? yes (unemployment, loss of job for a short period of time, reduced working hours, reduction of income, 2nd occupation ) no

  6. The questionnaire 5. Do you discuss in your family the possibility of migrating because of the crisis? (yes - no) 6. Has the crisis affected your professional planning? (yes - no) 7. Have you noticed more incidents of violence in your environment lately? (yes - no - I don’t know / I don’t want to answer) 8. Were there changes in your school because of the merging of schools? (no – yes with negatives effects, yes with positive effects) Suggested actions to confront the crisis 9. Do you think that the school supports adequately the pupils to confront better the consequences of the crisis? (yes - no - I don’t know / I don’t want to answer) 10. Do you think that the school should be more “social” (eg distribution of food, confronting the needs emerging from the crisis) (yes - no - I don’t know / I don’t want to answer) 11. Do you know any social activities organised in your community (eg distribution of food, clothes, books, free lessons for school support) (yes, describe… - no)

  7. The questionnaire Proposals! 12. In what degree do you agree with the following proposals / would you participate in such activities (0: no - 5: absolutely) educational support inside school a more “social” school more opportunities and support to the pupils that need them discussions and information about children's rights in schools more artistic and expression activities in schools the student’s councils should take action! (on informing students, on conflict resolutions, on improvement of the school environment etc) social workers and psychologists in communities meetings to inform and discuss about the crisis and how to cope with it informing and supporting parents about their parental role supporting organizations and institutions that give services to children in need Give us your proposals!

  8. Results 1211pupils 13-18 years old answered anonymously (396 high school & 815 lyceum) 22 schools (from various parts of Greece) 90% Greeks - 10% other nationalities 53% girls - 47% boys

  9. Results Consequences of the crisis 1.Do you think that the crisis has serious consequences… in schools: yes 82% in family: yes 89% in the society: yes 92% 5. Do you discuss in your family the possibility of migrating because of the crisis? yes: 29%

  10. Results 2. How much does the crisis affect …your personal and family life (relations, tension) Very much: 9% A lot: 37% A little: 44% it doesn’t affect me at all: 7% I don’t know / I don’t want to answer: 3% …your environment (classmates, friends etc) Very much: 8% A lot: 33% A little: 41% it doesn’t affect them at all: 12% I don’t know / I don’t want to answer: 6%

  11. Results 3. Are there negative effects in your life, as far as for the following: way of living / family expenses: yes 70% pocket money: yes 60% foreign languages, private lessons: yes 33% 6. Has the crisis affected your professional orientation? yes: 61% 7. Have you noticed more incidents of violence in your environment lately? yes: 38% 8. Were there changes in your school because of the merging of schools? no: 77% yes: 23% with negatives effects: 63% (e.g. lots of pupils in the classrooms) with positive effects: 37% (e.g. new friends)

  12. Results 4. Has the crisis affected your parent’s job situation? yes: 82% unemployment of one parent: 16% unemployment of both parents: 4% loss of job for a short period of time: 11% reduced working hours: 10% reduction of income: 50% 2nd job: 9%

  13. Results Suggested actions to confront the crisis 9. Do you think that the school supports adequately the pupils to confront better the consequences of the crisis? no: 57% - yes: 27% 10. Do you think that the school should be more “social” (eg distribution of food, confronting the needs emerging from the crisis) yes: 76% 11. Do you know any social activities organised in your community (distribution of food, clothes, books, free lessons for school support) yes: 52% - no: 48% describe… (various examples given)

  14. Students’ further proposals Suggested actions to confront the crisis (not included in the questionnaire) • The school should inform us about professions that have a future • More activities with “social” orientation in schools • New lesson about conscious and responsible consuming • More humanitarian lessons in school • The voice of children should be heard more in schools • We want to be informed by the schools, not by the media • Open events should be organised by students and teachers • Psychologists, social workers and other specialists should become available in schools • Free visits to museums, theatres, free activities in schools • Private lessons should be banned (not all children can afford them - it’s not fair!) • School should provide free material to children in need • Free or cheap food should be provided in school canteens

  15. YAP’ s investigation in the media… • The investigation: • circulated in the internet and the press • was presented by the Deputy Ombudsman on TV and radio programmes

  16. In the media…

  17. Last comments… • Results depicted the reality - what the children say when we meet with them • The picture is dark: students are stressed and insecure about the future, their daily life has changed • Students expressed some fresh ideas on what to do & how to help each other in the current situation • The investigation was a long but very interesting procedure. Young advisors liked the whole project, were content & proud of drafting the questionnaire and elaborating the results themselves – lots of job but rewarding! • The investigation was an opportunity to discuss with their classmates about a hot issue that affects almost every child & to think about possible actions and personal attitudes

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