Regional Project Delegates send positive message on 11.11.11

Project : Regional Office 15 Nov 2011 | child participation protection systems

Sofia, Bulgaria, November 11, 2011: During their annual meeting, the team of Terre des hommes in Central and South Eastern Europe proposed to mainstream child participation in their work in the region and discussed the specific steps that can be taken both in the short- and mid-term to work towards this goal. On the famous day of 11.11.11, colleagues sent a positive message to the Headquarters in Lausanne Switzerland with the following succinct text: “Child participation is our goal; Reducing the risk of migration is our aim; Inclusion is our game.” Their fingers in the photo symbolize the number eleven (two times the number one).

Delegates – including Joseph Aguettant, who has started working in Bucharest Romania over the Summer – have reviewed the regional strategy and also discussed how their work on the child protection systems in the four countries can be harmonized. Regional Protection Advisor Neil Whettam and resource person Maria Bray provided input and proposed some ideas towards this goal of harmonized approaches, including the promotion of dedicated child protection workers, inter-disciplinary working groups (or Task Forces) and community counseling groups.

On the first day Peter Brey, the Secretary-General of the Foundation also participated and provided a presentation on the financial situation of the foundation as well as on “technology-driven” changes. Social media, but also other technologies like skype or video conferencing changes the way we work globally and the Foundation is adapting to these new possibilities and realities. [JA]