Every child matters – and every child’s voice matters
What does it mean to a child to have a right to something? How do they know if they are being treated unfairly? And do they believe that their opinion matters?
At Élmény Tár, we have long believed that creating opportunities does not end with supporting learning. It is not enough to help a child prepare for a test, do their homework or discuss further education together. It is just as important that children learn about their own rights, have the confidence to ask questions and express their opinions, and realise that they can make a difference to the community in which they live.
That’s what this is all about Every child counts! – defenders of children’s rights, from the youngest to the oldest our programme entitled ….
We don’t just want to talk about rights
It’s easy to talk about children’s rights as an adult, using long sentences. It’s much harder to make the topic relevant to children in a way that relates to their own lives.
That is why we are once again drawing on the well-known methods of the Experience Repository: we play games, debate, take on different roles, analyse situations and create things together.
As part of the programme, we organise interactive sessions on children’s rights and equal opportunities. Through role-play, situational exercises, mock debates and drama-based activities, we explore what constitutes fairness, how to recognise discrimination, and what we can do if we feel that our own rights or those of others are being violated. The project proposal includes five group sessions on children’s rights and five workshops focusing on gender equality.
Girls, boys, and the boxes we grow into
„That’s just how girls are.”
„Boys don’t do that sort of thing.”
„That’s a man’s job.”
„A girl shouldn’t behave like that.”
Children are confronted at a very early age with the expectations that tell them what they should be like should to be.
The programme devotes specific attention to the issue of gender equality. We examine images, everyday situations and social roles; we discuss them and, through drama exercises, explore where our stereotypes come from.
We are particularly keen to boost girls’ self-confidence and encourage them to take an active role, whilst working with the boys to reflect on the prejudices and expectations that actually limit opportunities for all of us. The programme is deliberately designed to strengthen girls’ voices and self-confidence, and to break down stereotypes between boys and girls.
From the little ones to the big ones
The programme involves 60 young people aged between 8 and 18 from disadvantaged backgrounds. They are joined by secondary school and university student mentors. The mentoring programme includes academic support, confidence-building, career guidance and one-to-one counselling sessions, home visits, liaising with teachers, as well as cultural and leisure activities.
This is particularly important to us because, whilst the children receive support, the young people training to become teachers, social workers or support workers are also learning. They do not encounter social inequalities through textbooks, but by building relationships, asking questions, making mistakes and gaining experience. This is how we can build a new generation of professionals for whom children’s rights, equal opportunities and respect for children’s views are a natural way of thinking.
The „Every Child Counts! – Defenders of Children’s Rights, from the Youngest to the Oldest” programme is being implemented as part of the Baptist Charity Service’s Rural Voices initiative. The project combines issues relating to children’s rights, equal opportunities, global responsibility and sustainability through non-formal, interactive learning methods.
„This document has been produced with the financial support of the European Union. The content of this document is the sole responsibility of the Élménylelő Youth Association and cannot under any circumstances be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.”