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Agenda
for the FC-meeting in Roskilde on Thursday 2 October 2003
Address:
Slagteriskolen, Maglegaardsvej 8, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
(Time:
9.00 – 16.00)
1. Announcements
2. Minutes
of the meeting of the:
- Federal Council in Moscow on 28 - 29 April 2003
(enclosure E/D/F)
- Executive Committee in Amsterdam on 11 July 2003
(enclosure E/D/F)
3. Report
of the Vice Presidents (enclosure)
4. Actual
situation projects (enclosure)
5. General
Secretariat
6. Membership
- Austria
- South Africa
- Tanzania
For National
Reports, click against the name:
Bulgaria
- Canada - Scotland
- Israel - England and Wales
- Netherlands
7. Finances
8. Website
FICE International (enclosure)
9. PR Material:
• Questionnaire
• Brochures FICE International
• Annual report
10. UNESCO
/ ECOSOC / Council of Europe
11. Congress
in Glasgow
12. FC
in May 2004
13. FICE
Europe
14. Any
other business
Report
on the activity of FICE Hungary
The Hungarian civil organisations and associations – as FICE Hungary,
too – have permanent financial difficulties. In this year we had
a lot of possibilities of participation in competitions at public and
other kind of organisations, and we have stroven to profit most of them.
Our competitions had much of very considerable financial supports –
for programs’ organising, for realisations of surveys and researches,
for paying summer holidays of children and for the functionong of our
association.
Essentially
our activity had thre fields:
1. Professional
programmes:
- We
prepared a survey by quesionaries on the schooling of those children
who live in residential homes; we made a research on the circumstances
of these homes, too, and we have realised a measuring on the children’s
state of health; we have examined – among others – the possibilities
of their learning of language, of ICT and of continuation of studies.
- We will begin also a survey on young people who left the residential
homes and who now are in after-care.
- We
have organised also retraining programmes, i.e.
• groups for case’s discussion for the teachers os residential
homes (there is a very big demand on this kind of retraining programmes,
because there isn’t any regular supervision’s possibility
for them)
• widening of health’ knowledge in the frame of professional
workshop, ont he base of the above-mentioned survey
• acquirement of the method of the socialpedagogic diagnostics
- We
organised professional conferences
• on the experiences of the schooling’s survey (because
the results must be popularised and taken into consideration)
• on those children’s condition who need special care (because
there are a lot of problems and a lot of shortage on this field).
- We
have published a newer volume of our professional publication „Gyermekvédelem
– neveloközösségek”.
- We have created the FICE Hungary’s foster-parent’s section,
too (now there are 50 professional foster-parents among the members,
this situation gives us some newer duties, too).
2. As
children’s programmes
- we
have published the next copy of our magazin’s series by the children’s
writings, drawings, and the graffities which were prepared last summer;
- we have got up our traditional „ice.cream-party”; the
meeting of children and the editors of this magazin, with the intention
of their reward.
- on the base of the residential homes’ needs we have revived
the tradition of the inter-homes’ competitions:
? in table-tennis
? in five-man football for the boys
? in valley-ball for the girls
? in athletics.
- In
the traditional playing festival of the residential homes almost 500
children have participated, among other the winners of the springtime
festival; there were playful and sport competitions, and a competing
in cooking. The finals of the above-mentionned sport-competitions were
passed off also in the frame of this festival; the winners have got
the possibility of participating in the international championship in
the Czech Republic. And we have organised a very successful competition
for the children in connection with their knowledge of the European
Union.
- We
were presented in the „Island Festival”, too, which is one
of the most famous programme of Europe. We had also a camp in the „Civil
Island”, where we could present our association. The 6th National
Parliament of the Residential Homes took place here, too.
- We
have organised for 120 children a summer holiday in a camp, where the
protection of environment had the main subject.
- We
have organised summer holiday-programme for 1500 persons; for the children
and the teachers of residential homes and for professional foster-parents
and their children, too.
3. International
programmes
- A
delegation of 12 persons (members of the residential homes’ staff)
made a very useful study-tour in Finland. There is already a ten year
cooperation programme between Finland and Hungary, this visit was the
10th one, which is as worth as a very intensive retraining course for
the participants.
- There
have arrived guests from Germany with whom we have talked about the
future cooperation’s possibilities.
Plans
for the end of the year:
- we
have got a possibility to introduce ourselves in the programmes of two
civil organisation; one of them presents the activity of a youth-association,
the other programme familiarizes with all civil organisation;
- we will revise the utilization of the computers which were gained
by competition and were granted to residential homes; (We have already
built a national network from them, too.)
- we will appraise the efficiency of the children’s parliaments;
- for the sake of widening the children’s knowledge in ICT we
will make them courses and we will start an Internet-café, too;
- it would be also very important to give them a lot of possibilities
for learning foreign language, but this is very difficult;
- we will hold our traditional Christmas-presentation programme in the
Budapest National Theatre.
We would
like to represent in some our programmes the international cooperation,
too.
Budapest,
2003. 09. 29.
Dr.
Júlia Blumenfeld
president
Synopsis
of projects in south-eastern Europe (August 31, 2003)
(sequel to report dated January, 2003)
We are
getting an ever more detailed view of the state of matters in the youth
care field in the countries previously included in the Yugoslav Republic.
Thanks to a number of highly motivated FICE members in countries like
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia & Montenegro and Macedonia we were able
to visit remote regions and thereby gained a good understanding of the
problems that may widely vary between one region and another.
In some major cities in Serbia, various projects were started up and,
in a single case, already finished. In our previous report the opening
of the barbers' shop at Novi Sad was announced. As of now, this shop
has been operating for over six months, and with a measure of success:
three girls about to leave the youth care institution are apprenticing
here and are being educated in the barber trade under supervision of
a professional barber. This shop already makes a little profit and there
are plans for an extension including a solarium part. In the autumn
of 2003 a new set of girls will be starting their training. Should the
profit keep rising we will invest this in another employment project.
The Novi Sad Social Centre has by now taken over this project. In November,
2003 (i.e., after one year) there will be an evaluation with all concerned
parties attending. De Oude Beuk Foundation has made an investment. The
Novi Sad Social Centre already mentioned hopes to open a `safe house'
presently (October/ November). This will be a short-term stay house
for children in emergency situations who will be referred further or
assigned back home or to a foster family as soon as this becomes possible.
In itself, this is a significant change in a country where most children
removed from their families remain inmates of institutions up to their
18th birthday. De Oude Beuk has made a one-off contribution to the acquisition
of the inventory for this small-scale safe house. The regional authorities
have paid for the necessary structural alterations. During the planning
phase we were extensively consulted and had our say as well. After it
opens, the safe house must fend for itself. The furniture it was presented
with was made at a school where youngsters train to be cabinet makers;
the school was presented with machinery by a machinery and tools dealer
at Genemuiden six months ago. Finally we visited a rather large primary
school at Novi Sad, including 1,800 pupils. Many children attending
this school suffer of troubles at home. They are mainly gypsy children
and refugees from the Kosovo who are backward due to lack of education.
We have told Aad Vroon to take action in the matter of the huge lack
of educational tools and the need for co-operation with a Dutch school.
Possibly this school could benefit from a European programme.
At Belgrade we have, by now, established a useful contact with the directors
and management team of the major youth care institution named Centre
for the Welfare of Infants, Childern and Adolescents. This institution
offers guidance to some 750 children at six different children's homes.
One of these homes, named Drinka Pavlovic, will presently enter into
jumelage with De Eik Foundation of Oldenzaal. We, i.e., the board of
managers and several of our staff at De Eik, visited this home where
the staff badly needs training in skills in handling slightly mentally
disabled children. At the end of September we expect a return visit
and we shall receive a delegation at Oldenzaal where we shall make further
arrangement for co-operation. FICE-nl is `remote supervisor'. At the
same children's home we supported an overhaul of 8 therapy and creativity
classrooms made possible by funds from De Oude Beuk . These classrooms
were also important for Professor Vidanovic' Big Brother Big Sister
project, since some 60 of the children at the institution have student
buddies who let them practise their creative skills or take them out
to go downtown to improve their social integration.
To celebrate the end of the season, delegates from De Oude Beuk took
all children and their buddies for a Danube boat trip in June. This
was a major event and even made the National Television News broadcast.
Moreover we are negotiating with the Ministry at Belgrade about an adaptation
of the Law that will enable furher development of foster care in Serbia
& Montenegro. The Secretary has asked FICE-nl to implement the so-called
Pride programme in Serbia. This has to do with training of staff and
future foster parents. As we already mentioned in our last report, there
is an Infant Home at Belgrade that cares for some 300 babies and infants
who are staying there without any future perspective. The local people
agree with us that these babies have to be assigned to foster families
as soon as possible, in particular because the home is short of staff
to attend to these very young children adequately. This means no stimulation
of their activity, leading to a standstill in their education. At the
end of October we have arranged a workshop in co-operation with FICE
South-Eastern Europe where all those concerned and interested will be
invited. Under the supervision of Rob van Pagée, an employee
of the Op Kleine Schaal (Small Scale) Foundation we will see how the
programme can best be tailored to meet the situation in Serbia. OKS
has already done similar programmes in Estonia, Hungary and the Czech
Republic. We have applied for a grant with the Foreign Office, versed
in a request to include it in the Matra (Transformation of Society)
Programme. We also have plans for an employment project at Belgrade,
viz., an Internet Café that will be run by youths who at the
same time gain some knowledge end experience of IT. In the coming months
we will visit several other regions like Pancevo and Bela Crka in the
east.
At Uzice, central Serbia, we held the 4th South-Eastern Europe Dialogue.
Following Balaton, Bihac (in Bosnia) and Kotor (Montenegro) we held
this fourth meeting where delegates from Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina,
Macedonia, Montenegro and of cours the hosting country, Serbia, attended.
The theme was `social and employment integration for youths leaving
their residential institution'. During the conference the institutions
presented their projects that were testimony to their inventive and
creative designers. Again, we met the young people staying at the care
institutions who are about to make their own way. They stayed at a `friendship
camp' nearby. We are trying to prepare them for a job and to help them
fend for themselves. The youth unemployment figures in this region are
horrible.
We also work on several projects in co-operation with FICE Switzerland,
an organisation that is very active in the Balkans region as well. The
financial means for the Balkans conference and the Youths'camp mainly
come from Switzerland and the Netherlands (from private fundraising).
In 2003 we made over an amount to this project from the PCK/VKZ Foreign
Countries' Budget since we feel that it is very important. In order
to guarantee its contunuity up to 2006 we are working on an application
through the Matra-programme of the Foreign Office.
At Bihac in Bosnia-Herzegovina we have made contracts with several entrepreneurs
and a youth care institution about apprenticeships with companies for
youths, under the guarantee that 80% of these youths will have a paid
job within one year. Some apartments were bought, using loans, where
the apprentices can live for the time being. In the long run we will
have room for tens of youths each year! That is saying a lot in a country
where the outlook for the future seems bleak. The remnants of the war
are still clearly visible. Many villages have been razed to the ground
and the damage is huge. Besides, the country is still deeply divided,
resulting in a deplorable economy. In some individual cases we have
been able to support talented youngsters by paying for their extended
education at a university or polytechnic. The Zwolle Rotary Club donated
euro 1,000 to this end.
In the Tuzla region we visited a refugee camp on several occasions.
Some 1,600 refugees, most of them from Srebrenica, have been staying
here for 8 years. The conditions at the site are appalling and the conditions
are getting even worse since the local Government has ordered part of
the people living there back home. They, however, do not even think
of returning to a home where they have lost their families and everything
they had. At this moment the local Government is shutting down electricity
and water mains and is revoking even the very meagre benefit that the
people here used to receive. Talking about Human Rights…
Projects are being developed along with the school at the Tuzla camp.
There is a primary school at Amsterdam that wants to set up ties with
this school. Besides we are trying to set up a co-ordinated aid programme
with several other care organisations. Here, too, we have to work on
an employment project for the (nearly exclusively) women present there.
The ones `lucky' enough to have a job have to work six days a week for
some euro 100 a month.
In Bulgaria, ever more projects are taking shape, supervised by a very
active branch of FICE supported by professional staff. Recently we visited
the Education and Social Care ministries, along with the local FICE
Board, in order to point at the positive developments and to try to
ensure funds are made available to keep our effort up in the future.
Two Bulgarian institutions have entered into co-operation with Dutch
institutions, viz., the De Reeve with the Russe institution and De Reggeberg
with the Isperih institution.
This concludes our synopsis of matters as they stand now. As we have
mentioned before, we are directed at youths of over 16 with a combination
of `care and business' as the key word. Besides we take an interest
in developing the care given at the institutions where large numbers
of babies and very young children are staying. Finally we at FICE are
trying to extend the youth care network and to stimulate bilateral contacts
between institutions in south-eastern Europe and those in the Netherlands.
Zwolle,
September 1, 2003, Anton Tobé.
Report
to the Federal Council, 1-4 October 2003 , Roskilde/Denmark
Daniel
Vidaud – 19 September 2003
CURRENT
SITUATION
FICE Francophone Africa
7 countries:
Benin, Burkina-Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa), Côte
d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Mali, Niger, Senegal.
In each
of these countries one person has accepted the function of FICE Delegate
who will keep in contact with me by e-mail. The African countries have
problems in organising support for children in difficulties: socially
disadvantaged children, orphans, disabled children, children without
sufficient access to education, offenders, children affected by Aids.
FICE
cannot provide financial assistance to these countries but we can help
social workers and care workers there, by providing information and
documentation, etc.
Each month a newsletter is sent to the Delegates, by e-mail as well
as by post; the latest one, sent in September 2003, contained, as requested,
the text “Références Déontologiques pour
l'Action Sociale” (Code of Ethics) written by ANCE France.
The
Democratic Republic of Congo organised a meeting of 20 associations
to draft actions, develop a statute, and achieve official recognition.
In addition
I was able to obtain from the Centre Technique National d'Etudes et
de
Recherches sur le Handicap et l'Inadaptation (CTNERHI), which is part
of the French Ministry of Social Affairs, a donation of books on disability
and social problems for each delegation of FICE – Francophone
Africa. This could be the start of a professional library.
The
President of FICE Switzerland, Rolf Widmer, will organise another training
workshop of the International Social Service in Senegal or in Burkina
this coming December. It may be possible to arrange a meeting of FICE
representatives there.
REPRESENTATIONS
UNESCO
FICE
was represented at a number of special working meetings on the education
of children in difficulties. The most important one was “Children
of the cities”, with contributions by significant numbers of child
care experts, physicians, psychologists and representatives of countries
in Africa, South America, Asia, and Europe.
In the
report of the Director General of UNESCO FICE is listed as an international
NGO in a working relationship with UNESCO which will participate in
the 164th and 166th General Sessions of UNESCO. UNESCO above all requires
information on the role and the activities of international NGOs and
attempts to evaluate their contributions to its overall policy. The
Federal Council should take note of this issue and follow Rolf Widmer’s
suggestion regarding activity reports from each member country.
COUNCIL
OF EUROPE
At the
meeting of the Council with the International NGOs at end of June in
Strasbourg the focus was on actions taken in the 45 member countries
in Europe but also on aid for developing countries. For 2004 the Council
of Europe plans to give International NGOs participatory rights regarding
research and official documents, in recognition of their professional
expertise and their representative role within the civil society of
their countries.
Minutes
of the Federal Council in Roskilde/Denmark on 2 October 2003
Helga
Stefanov - Austria
Christine Karner - Austria
Dashenka Tashkova - Bulgaria
Rumiana Jekova - Bulgaria
Soren Hegstrup - Denmark
Ole Rasmussen - Denmark
David Lane - England / Wales
Ewan Anderson - England / Wales
Sirje Groosmann-Loot - Estonia
Sari Laaksonen - Finland
Martti Kemppainen - Finland
Daniel Colombet - France
Daniel Vidaud - France
Josef Koch - Germany
Friedhelm Peters - Germany
Xenia Spernau - Germany
Judit Cseres - Hungary
Lazlo Csola - Hungary
Malay Dewanji - India
Emmanuel Grupper - Israel
Theo Binnendijk - The Netherlands
Wim Kok - The Netherlands
Famke Schiff - The Netherlands
Anton Tobé - The Netherlands
Aad Vroon - The Netherlands
Albert Likhanov - Russia
Nikita E. Prokovsky - Russia
Andrew Hosie - Scotland
Jana Svetlikova - Slovakia
Sena Druzic - South East Europe
Adela Adzimomerovic - South East Europe
Audo Kuduzovic - South East Europe
Roland Stübi - Switzerland
Rolf Widmer - Switzerland
Suzanne Widmer - Switzerland
1. Opening and announcements
Theo Binnendijk welcomed the participants.
•
Estonian Union for Child Welfare will celebrate its 15th anniversary
on the 4th of October 2003.
• On the 25th of September 2003 was the inaugural meeting of FICE
Scotland. A group of 25 persons participated the meeting. The Board
of FICE Scotland was chosen. From 24th of April 2004 FICE Scotland will
be a Full Member.
• Roland Stübi sent greetings from Richard Joubert.
• Josef Koch mentioned the edited book of the papers given at
the FICE congress in Berlin 2002.
2. Minutes of the meeting of the
• Federal Council in Moscow on 28-29 April 2003
? Roland Stübi asked for a list of the abbreviations used in the
minutes.
Action: Famke will send a list of abbreviations together with the minutes.
? Josef Koch thanked FICE International for the Sfr.10.000 which FICE
Germany was offered for the shortfall of the congress Berlin 2002.
FICE Netherlands wondered why the shortfall was paid because it is not
the policy of FICE International to pay national sections if they have
shortfalls; it should be for the responsibility of the section who organises
the congress. On this occasion only an exception had been made by the
CE and FC.
? The FICE Foundation had been established and had started its work.
• Executive Committee in Paris on 11 July 2003
? The fee for the Federal Council in Bulgaria in May would be cheap,
but not as cheap as the €40 mentioned in the minutes.
3. Report
of the Vice Presidents
• Anton Tobé had prepared a report about the projects in
South East Europe; this had been sent to all members.
•
David Lane had written a report on his activities.
- Website
- The archives of FICE International were in Amsterdam. David Lane planned
to spend some time going through the FICE archives to see what would
be worth inserting in the web record.
- National sections were asked to make their journals available, together
with a summary of articles in one of the official FICE languages.
- David Lane said he intended to retire from FICE activities in two
years time. It would therefore be necessary to find a successor to run
the FICE-Inter website.
- Glossary
The FICE glossary needed to be upgraded. It would entail a lot of work
and require co-operation with other organisation, for instance a University.
It was propos that money from the European Union or other institutions
should be sought in order to try to bring out the glossary in more languages.
The project had to be financed properly. David Lane was authorised to
co-ordinate a small Steering Group to undertake initial work on these
items.
Robert Soisson and Leo Ligthart would be contacted to inquire if they
were interested in working on the glossary.
- ENQASP
ENQASP was made of different associations and keen on standards for
training and qualifications in the social professions. Organisations
such as IFSW and AIEJI participated, and FICE needed to consider whether
to do the same. Soren Hegstrup would join the meeting in Paris in October
2003 to see if it is worthwhile to be a member.
•
Explanation of the report of Martti Kemppainen:
- Nepal had been interested in FICE for a long time already. Martti
Kemppainen had been in contact with the organisation CWIN as a correspondence
member for more than 10 years. It was proposed that Nepal and India
should be encouraged to collaborate in order to strengthen the platform
Asia.
- Belorussia
wanted to be a section of FICE International. The Swiss government had
made a report on the situation in children homes in Belorussia.
- The
social ministry work and NGO in Albania wanted contact with FICE national
sections.
Action: Anton will see what he can do in respect of the contacts in
Albania.
•
Report of Daniel Vidaud:
- In respect of francophone Africa Daniel Vidaud had written a report.
Half of the francophone countries seemed to have a training system,
but others have none. Daniel Vidaud had had personal contact with people
in seven countries to build up bridges between education and social
work.
In Congo an association had been formed to work in different sections
of social care, especially AIDS which is a major problem, and on schooling.
Next December in Senegal a training workshop would be organised by Rolf
Widmer.
With the help of Belgium Daniel Vidaud would try to come into contact
with other French speaking countries.
- FICE
had been represented in a number of meetings on the education of children
in difficulties. The most important was ‘Children of the Cities’.
Because of economic difficulties a lot of children with an agriculture
background go to the cities and live there.
4. Actual
situation projects
• Educateurs sans frontières
To run the project it had to be clear what the profile of the project
was to be and how FICE would get what is required (database, people).
FICE would go ahead with Educateurs sans frontières on low profile.
Ewan Anderson was willing to assist in realising a plan to get the project
run.
•
PEP
During the stay in Roskilde Sari Laaksonen would have a short discussion
with the representatives of the countries in order to gather information
about the actual situation of PEP.
It was
explained that FICE offers only a network to arrange and monitor placements.
It offers no facilities like insurance in case of accidents, and the
responsibility rests with the candidate and the host organisation, not
FICE.
•
Baltic countries
Martti Kemppainen will have a meeting with Ukraine in the second week
of October 2003.
•
Canada
Canada was willing to pay the membership fee for FICE.
Australian
Soren Hegstrup had corresponded with an Australian organisation about
youth and children of the streets. Next spring he would visit Australia
and strengthen the contacts.
•
Partnerships with other international contacts
- David Lane and Theo Binnendijk had represented FICE in a meeting with
AIEJI, IFSW, ENSW in Copenhagen in May this year. All these organisations
had the same problems as FICE concerning the appointment of a Secretary
General, membership fees etc. They were all convinced about the need
for co-operation, but they had no intention to merge.
During that meeting FICE and AEIJI were wondering if it was necessary
for both organisations to be active in the same countries. Lars Steinov
should make a new appointment for a meeting towards the end of 2003.
•
Collections on policies of childcare
Again no information had been offered, and the FC agreed to drop the
project.
•
Training
The project was to consider what role FICE could have in training. In
Copenhagen there seemed already be documents about this item. The FC
decided to drop the project.
•
Children’s rights in institutions
No information about this project had been received from Robert Soisson.
The project was dropped.
FICE Switzerland had written a brochure about the rights of children:
‘Rechte haben, Rechte kriegen’.
Action: Andrew Hosie would send some information about children’s
rights.
270
universities in different countries in Europe offered a master programme
on citizenship. Soren Hegstrup would make a presentation on the identity
of children: what does it mean to be an inhabitant of this big society.
Action: Soren Hegstrup will make a presentation about this subject in
the next FC. Soren will send some information.
•
Collection of successful projects
This project would be held up until the results of the questionnaire
were known. The project would start when the results of the questionnaire
were shared with the members.
•
Standards
It was reported that James Anglin was concerned about the prevailing
opinion of people about long term residential care. He referred to a
conference in Stockholm from 12-15 May 2003. The Swedish government
condemned residential care and was for foster care. James had the opinion
that residential care was needed, but discussion needed to focus on
how to realise it in the best way.
Jim
Anglin would have more members added in the project Standards. Emmanuel
Grupper, Andrew Hosie, David Lane and Ewan Anderson would participate.
Action:
Members of the project on Standards will produce a declaration from
the view of FICE and will prepare a proposal to identify to whom the
letter should be sent besides to the Swedish Government.
5. General
Secretary
It was and still is a task for FICE International to find a General
Secretary.
FICE Bulgaria was in the possession of an excellent bureau and with
a full-time and part-time secretary. It was proposed that the Rumiana
Jekova should be asked to support FICE International in some of the
General Secretary’s tasks for one day a week. FICE Bulgaria was
willing to work out this request together with FICE International.
6. Membership
• ANCE France
Daniel Vidaud and Daniel Collombet explained the critical situation
in which ANCE France found itself. René Bernard was unable to
participate in the FC because of the financial situation and the question
of ANCE France’s continued existence. On the 3rd of October 2003
René Bernard would have an appointment at the Court. The situation
of ANCE France was such that the organisation had to be dissolved.
In the 1990s ANCE France as a whole was a strong organisation with many
training institutions, associations and professional staff members.
The headquarters were located in Paris. The funds of ANCE France were
formed by membership fees, subsidies and training institutions income,
each for one third. In recent years the intake to training courses had
dropped enormously. As a consequences ANCE France had lost 20% of its
members. In 2002 ANCE France went to court to take measures. Finally
the Government had decided to cancel all subsidies from the first of
September this year on, which made it impossible to work under those
conditions.
René
Bernard was director of ANCE France and had been President of FICE Europe
since September 2002. He would not have taken this position if he had
known what was about to happen. A new President needed to be chosen
for FICE Europe.
ANCE
France had always a strong position in FICE. The participants of the
FC expressed their feelings for the people who worked for ANCE France
for so long.
Daniel Vidaud and Daniel Collombet said that some people intended to
make a new start for FICE France. FICE International would help to build
up a new organisation. Emmanuel Grupper suggested that FICE France should
be rebuilt in the way that Israel had done.
For
the time being members of FICE France would stay as members, and ANCE
France would make a proposal for the coming period.
Theo thanked the French delegation for the exchange of information.
•
Austria
Monica Niederle was the new President of FICE Austria. Theo Binnendijk
had met her during the congress in Victoria, Canada, in September this
year.
•
South Africa
The development of the youth care system in South Africa was impressive.
The problems the country was confronting were huge. There were 1,000,000
children with AIDS. The people in South Africa were working hard to
address the problem. South Africa intended to participate again in FICE.
The size of the membership fee might be a problem.
•
Tanzania
FICE had been approached by Tanzania for information about FICE International.
The secretariat had sent the general information and requested for more
information about interest in FICE. Until now no reply had been received.
•
The significance of visits of FICE sections or delegations for the public
relations of sections in the Eastern countries was mentioned.
Dasha Tashkova and Roland Stübi had organised a seminar in Bulgaria
which was also meant for people from the ministry.
In June this year Theo Binnendijk and Anton Tobé had visited
FICE Bulgaria and talked to the ministry responsible for childcare.
•
FICE International had received more and more emails from people who
were interested in FICE. The secretariat had asked for further information
from the organisations but had not yet received replies.
7. Finances
• Rolf Widmer, Treasurer, had for a long time had problems in
accessing the account of FICE International. In the mean time the problems
had been solved. Rolf apologised to those who had been expecting money.
•
Ten of the thirty countries had paid their membership fees. Rolf Widmer
urged other members to inform him how and when their contributions would
be paid.
Membership was the only source of income for FICE. Rolf Widmer would
try to find additional sources; therefore it was important to receive
the filled in questionnaires. (See item 9.)
•
The CE decided to have two FC meetings a year. One would be held in
a low-cost country. FICE delegates would pay an increased fee in order
to subsidy financially weak countries in the event that the FC were
be held in a more expensive country.
•
Rolf Widmer had been in contact with a sponsor who intended to support
FICE for Sfr. 10.000 a year; the sponsor wanted to be informed about
the activities of FICE.
8. Website
FICE International
See item 3 and the report of David Lane.
9. PR
material
• Questionnaire
Rolf Widmer had received seven questionnaires. Of these, three were
filled in very well and the other four were incomplete. It was understandable
that not all the requested information was immediately to hand, but
members were requested to find it out and to list their activities.
Some information must be well known. It was important to have an overview
of what FICE does.
Action: Members have to send the questionnaire to Rolf Widmer before
1 December 2003.
•
Brochures FICE International
The brochure of FICE International had been reprinted. The brochures
were distributed to the national sections. They also got labels with
the address of the secretariat of FICE International to stick on the
brochures
•
Annual report
An annual report is needed for the PR of FICE. Every country had to
write an annual report.
10.
UNESCO / ECOSOC / Council of Europe
UNESCO
FICE was represented in different working groups on the education of
children in difficulties. The most important were: children of the cities,
tolerance and migration. A lot of information was generated; the information
should be available for all the FICE sections.
UNESCO recognized FICE as an international NGO. UNESCO required from
all the international NGOs information on their roles and activities
and would evaluate their contributions to its overall policy. If FICE
were to keep its status as international organisation it had to report
her activities.
Council
of Europe
At the end of June in Strasbourg at the meeting of the Council of Europe
the focus was on action taken in the member countries in Europe and
on aid for developing countries. For 2004 the Council had decided to
give NGOs more rights regarding research and representative roles within
the civil society of their countries. Different working groups had been
formed on quality and educational matters.
Ecuador
was working on a project concerning street children. Ecuador needed
support form UNESCO to realize the project. FICE, created by UNESCO,
could have a role as intermediary and to endorse the project as NGO.
It was proposed that a project should be established to form a commission
in FICE to support and provide consultation for projects. Theo argued
that monitoring the progress of projects took time, and it was therefore
reasonable if a percentage should be paid for the consultation and administration
done by the project commission.
11.
Congress in Glasgow in 2004
• The General Assembly and Federal Council would be on 7 September
2004.
• The theme of the conference for young people was: ‘Creating
a place for me’. 100 young people (14 – 17 years old) and
supervisors could subscribe; participating adults would have to speak
English; there would be no entrance fee for the young people. Support
for their travel costs would be requested. There was a strong desire
from the organising committee for national sections to send two young
people and an accompanying adult to support the organisation of the
congress.
• There would be an exchange of information between the conferences
for adults and for youngsters respectively on the third day. There would
be a dialogue between adults and young people.
• It was proposed that the financially strong countries should
support the financially weak countries. Andrew Hosie would co-ordinate
this.
A symposium
Towards a European Policy on Secure Accommodation for Children in Renfrew,
Scotland, in November this year was being organised by Scotland, Germany
and Luxembourg. The programme and information were available. 40 persons
had applied.
12.
Federal Council in May 2004
Programme:
• 6 May 2004: Federal Council
• 7 May 2004: presentation by FICE Bulgaria, presentation by other
FICE members, FICE Europe
• 8 May 2004: visit to children homes
The meeting would be in Venika, in the countryside of Sophia. The fee
for the Federal Council was not clear yet. Members had to apply to FICE
Bulgaria.
FICE Europe
In the next General Assembly it would be necessary to elect a new President
for FICE Europe. The Vice President of FICE Europe would fulfil the
tasks of the President until the General Assembly in Scotland.
At the end of November this year FICE Europe was to have a meeting in
Paris. The Board would inform FICE International about the results of
this meeting.
Gerd Schemenau, Secretary of FICE Europe, had been in Bulgaria to conclude
the Bulgarian project in cooperation with Austria.
FICE Europe had participated in a project of a German organisation:
‘Young offenders in Europe’.
Only four members of FICE Europe had paid their fees. Members who did
not pay were requested to pay their €50 to Daniel Collombet.
13.
Any other business
Mr. Likhanov had the opinion that the way the Russian Children Foundation
was structured offered a suitable model for FICE in Russia. The Russian
Children Foundation consisted of 420 private organisations which were
legally organised. It did not receive financial support from the state.
Mr. Likhanov introduced an idea to facilitate and to strengthen the
popularity of FICE in Russia. Every year on the 1st of June a children
day would be organised concerning the needs of handicapped children.
10.000 children from all over Russia would come to Moscow. The project
had a charitable character. The Government paid for the accommodation,
and theatres supported performances on behalf of the project. Mr. Likhanov
proposed an opening ceremony of the project under the umbrella of FICE
International by Theo Binnendijk and himself. He asked FICE to participate
for 20% in the costs.
Theo thanked Mr. Likhanov for the invitation; FICE International had
think about the proposal.
ABBREVIATONS:
AIEJI
- International Association of Social Educators. (The initials have
been retained from the time when it was the Association Internationale
pour l’Education de la Jeunesse Inadaptee.)
ENQASP
- Quality Assurance Social Professions
IFSW
- International Federation of Social Workers
NGO
- Non Governmental Organisation
Minutes
of the Federal Council in Moscow on 28-29 April 2003
Helga
Stefanov - Austria
Christine Karner - Austria
David Lane - England / Wales
Ewan Anderson - England / Wales
Sari Laaksonen - Finland
Martti Kemppainen - Finland
Theo Binnendijk - The Netherlands
Famke Schiff - The Netherlands
Anton Tobé - The Netherlands
Janny Holwerda - The Netherlands
Gerd Schemenau - Rumania
Simona Farces - Rumania
Emilia Chervinskaya - Russia
Albert Likhanov - Russia
Andrew Hosie - Scotland
Roland Stübi - Switzerland
Carol Kelly - USA
1. Opening and announcements
Theo Binnendijk welcomed the participants. A special welcome was given
to Albert Likhanov, Ewan Anderson and Janny Holwerda. Some countries
could not be represented because of medical reasons (Rolf Widmer/Switzerland,
Robert Soisson/Luxembourg, Nicole Janze/Germany).
2. Minutes
of the meeting of the
- Executive Committee in Berlin on 16 September 2002
No comments.
- Federal Council in Berlin on 17 September 2003
? Item 8: There had been no response to the resolution from the United
Nations. There was discussion about follow-up action. See 6: ‘projects’.
No comments.
- Executive Committee in Paris on 31 January - 1 February 2003
? Item 1: Theo Binnendijk and Anton Tobé had been to the farewell
party of Wolfgang Trede. Wolfgang had got a new job as director of a
youth welfare institution. His successor was Josef Koch
? Item 3: ‘Lithuania’ was changed in ‘Latvia’
? Item 5: The membership fee for Israel (IRECA) had been paid. Austria
had paid their contribution for 2002.
3. Membership
- Proposal for procedures for the admission of new members
The CE had discussed the re-establishment of standards for admission
to FICE, and Rolf Widmer had drafted a procedure for this. The questionnaire
had been sent to all members with the request to fill in the form before
the end of May. The information would be collected and presented at
the FC in September 2003. The following items of the questionnaire were
deleted because the meaning was unclear: I/6 and IX/6.
- Fee
for all members
In countries where there is no National Section it would be possible
for people to join FICE as individuals or organisations to keep in touch
with FICE by subscription. This would allow FICE to have a membership
drive and build up numbers to create new National Sections. Although
there would be no obligation for individual members to make a National
Section, FICE hopes that National Sections would be created. It meant
that prospective National Sections need to pay up as corresponding,
associate or individual member. The fee for an individual member would
essentially cover administrative costs. The participants of the Federal
Council agreed with the proposal: individual membership 40 Swiss Francs,
organisations 200 Swiss Francs.
- Terminology:
Full Members and National Sections
The use of Full members and National Sections was only a matter of language.
The Executive Committee agreed to the use of both terms.
- Tanzania,
Ireland, Latvia
? Tanzania was eager to obtain membership of FICE. It could start as
an individual member.
? Ireland wanted to be a National Section. It had been sent the questionnaire
to fill in.
? Latvia was a state organisation and therefore not able to become a
member. Martti Kemppainen had advised Latvia to find a couple of organisations.
He will keep in contact.
The
CE was disappointed and worried about the number of participants at
this Federal Council meeting. Few people had given a reason for their
absence. Some information was presented about the National Sections
which were not present:
- Estonia had organised a conference on a project concerning fathers.
- Hungary had had a Christmas postcard project which had had a good
result.
- The activities organised by FICE Bulgaria and South East Europe were
impressive.
- Carol Kelly mentioned that Jim Anglin was active with a restart of
FICE Canada. The USA, presented by Carol Kelly, tried to generate funds
for poor organisations who had no money for membership.
- Denmark and Finland had participated in a conference of the Nordic
Countries. In the next meeting (in August 2003) Norway, Sweden and Iceland
would also participate. Sari Laaksonen would speak more about FICE then.
Action:
Those countries which were not represented in Moscow will be contacted
by FICE members to inform them about the questionnaire and meeting:
Martti Kemppainen ? Baltic countries, Slovakia
Theo Binnendijk ? France
Anton Tobé ? Slovenia, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic
David Lane ? Denmark
4. Sources
of finances
Because of his absence Rolf Widmer had asked Roland Stübi to inform
the Federal Council about the finances.
Although FICE Germany and Holland had financed a part of the Friendship
Camps there was still a lack of money.
The organisers of the next Friendship and Expert Camp in Serbia in August
were optimistic.
With reference to the evaluation of the former Friendship Camp two changes
had taken place in organizing the camp:
- as the overall theme for both the friendship and expert events there
was to be a focus on the issue of social and vocational integration
- the management was to be organised more locally.
- A bid for finance had been presented to the European Union and an
application was submitted in Sarajevo.
Anton Tobé asked a professional bureau to sort out what the possibilities
were for getting money from the European Union.
Roland Stübi and Anton Tobé were to discuss the minimum
amount of money needed for the camp.
Professional
fundraising was seen as a way to get structural money. The questionnaire
concerning FICE membership was of great importance for getting structural
money.
Action: Theo Binnendijk will contact Rolf Widmer about the costs of
professional fundraising.
5. Finances
- Decision of membership: Italy
According to the statutes National Sections would be excluded from membership
if the Section did not pay for two years. There had been no contact
with Italy nor had it paid the membership fee for several years. The
Federal Council excluded Italy for membership as a national section.
Individuals or organisations could join FICE in order to maintain links.
Action: Italy will be informed about the exclusion and will be asked
for individual membership.
- Single
payment to Germany for shortfall of the Congress in Berlin
The organizers of the Congress in Berlin had counted on more persons
than the eventual amount of participants. As a consequence there was
a shortfall. FICE Germany had asked FICE International for a contribution
in this shortfall. Although the financial consequences of a congress
were for the country that organizes it, this time the Federal Council
made an exception. Germany would receive 10.000 Swiss Francs to reduce
the pain.
Action: FICE Germany will receive a letter about the decision.
- In
the CE there had been discussion about the support for financially weak
countries by FICE. Anton Tobé made a proposal for a foundation
separate from FICE to get money for the support of the financially weak
countries and to support or start initiatives. These countries could
ask the Board for support. He proposed that there should be a Board,
consisting of members of the Federal Council, to make the rules. The
funding would be for individuals as well as for National Sections.
It was noted that:
? the fund was to promote the work of FICE, and there would be no competition
with the work of FICE.
? the experiences in South East Europe and Bulgaria had proved that
not only was it necessary to give money but also support for two or
three years. Personal commitment was of great importance for the success.
The question was raised why this fund would provide money when FICE
had not been able to do so until now. For foundations it was difficult
to judge if the money was really needed.
Members
agreed with the idea of the foundation, but it was argued that FICE
also needed to see how meetings and conferences could be made cheaper,
for instance by holding them in cheaper areas or in the same area for
three years.
The following members were chosen for the Board of this foundation :
Anton Tobé, David Lane, Sari Laaksonen. It was also suggested
that the Treasurer should be a member of the Board.
The first tasks of the Board would be to draft the rules and to make
the foundation well known. It was noted that the Board would need advisors
knowledgeable about the countries to which the money would go. The first
donation for three years was €45.000 for each year.
6. Projects
: the Current Situation
- Educateurs sans frontières
Ewan Anderson had undertaken the same kind of project in Northern Iraq,
and it had turned out to be successful. A key input which was needed
for survival had been training the people at the University and sending
them to the area to work with the children. Two or three times a year
people from the University had been to the area to work with the persons.
The British Government had been behind the project.
Unfortunately FICE had not been successful in getting the project going,
and it was suggested that the reason was that the project was too big
for FICE and it has no government behind it. The idea of FICE was to
exchange knowledge with NGO’s, not to manage it.
Action: Ewan Anderson will write a short paper about the project and
his experiences, so that FICE can compare it with Educateurs sans frontières.
Before FICE makes a decision about the project it will contact Jean
Pierre Trinquier.
Resolution
Iraq
It was agreed that FICE should not ignore what happened had in Iraq,
and there was discussion about the concrete help which FICE might offer.
Action: FICE will send a letter to the United Nations as follow up on
the first letter. It will not be a political letter, only one to show
our concern about children and seek a reaction. It will also be sent
to UNICEF to draw attention to the situation. (David Lane/Theo Binnendijk)
- PEP
The International Co-ordinator of the project had been Wolfgang Trede,
but he was no longer active in FICE. In Berlin there had been two meetings
with the PEP co-ordinators. Sari Laaksonen had proposed that a mailing
list should be drawn up, but except Wolfgang Trede and Kathleen Lane
nobody had responded. Although Holland was active, the Dutch co-ordinator
had not replied. There appeared to be a co-ordination problem, especially
in the absence of an International Co-ordinator. The tasks of the International
Co-ordinator were to send information around, to make arrangements where
there was no co-ordinator and to visit the countries to make contacts.
Sari Laaksonen was asked to fulfil the task. She agreed under some conditions:
? She delegated the task of travelling to Martti Kemppainen
? She would do it for one year in the first instance.
- Friendship
Camps
Roland Stübi gave information about the project. The Friendship
Camp had been started as an isolated project. Thanks to the help of
Anton Tobé there was now a large network and it was well established.
Theme of the next Friendship and Expert Camp would be social and vocational
integration, since this needed to be emphasised in education and schools.
The problem was that the infrastructure was inadequate to implement
it.
- Partnerships
with other international organisations
Theo Binnendijk had had a meeting with the President of IFCO. In August
this year there would be a congress of IFCO in Argentina. The President
of IFCO would resign after this congress. IFCO was confronted with the
same problems as FICE and it wished to cooperate with FICE on foster
care. During the opening of the new IFCO office in September 2003 there
would be a meeting about co-operation in projects.
On 27th
of May in Copenhagen there would be a meeting of IFSW / AIEJI / FICE
/ ENSW(?). Unfortunately, IFCO would be unable to attend. Participants
of FICE: Theo Binnendijk and David Lane. If possible members of former
EFCW would be invited for the meeting.
Action: Sari will send some information about EFCW to David Lane.
- Baltic
countries
Martti Kemppainen’s report about his activities had been sent
to all members.
He had planned a trip to Latvia. There would be a meeting together with
Emilia Chervinskaya and Albert Likhanov to seek new members, since both
had many contacts there.
- Strengthen
contacts in East Europe
Anton informed the members about his visit to orphanages in Serbia.
There had been 300 babies in one house. Besides the physical care there
had been no programmes for the development of the children. When the
children were three years old they would go to a children’s home
and stay there until they were eighteen. Fostercare was urgently needed.
Anton had had a meeting with the ministry. He spoke about the start
of a foster care programme together with IFCO in September 2003. Serbia
would get a new law for youth care in two months’ time.
In Serbia
programmes had been developed directed to creating jobs for those who
had to leave children homes. In Novisad a barbershop had been started
for four girls. After half a year there had been a change of children.
The four girls had started a new saloon. The opening of the barbershop
had been visited by the Board of FICE South East Europe , the television
of Novisad had been there too. In that area a bakery had also been started.
Anton
Tobé was worried about the situation in Bosnia. He reported that
many people were living in places where they did not belong. They wanted
to go back to Serbia, but that was not possible for everybody. Many
children there were owners of destroyed houses. Anton Tobé told
about the initiatives to create contacts with constructors to help the
children to rebuild their houses.
In his
contacts with the South East European countries Anton tried:
? to strengthen the youth care
? to strengthen bilateral contacts with the Netherlands
? to solve the baby-problem with a foster care programme
? to create opportunities for 18 year-olds by combining care and business
It was important that the people in the countries became self-supporting
by empowerment and stimulating the economy.
Anton
Tobé had visited all the members of the Board of FICE South East
Europe. In the meeting there had been discussion about the conference
in Sarajevo in 2006. A committee had been formed to start the preparations.
Bulgaria:
FICE Bulgaria had moved to a new apartment in Sofia. Besides the bureau
there were a living room and three bedrooms to rent for FICE members
In Belgrade
a project had been initiated to open an internet café for youngsters,
where they would get training.
Compliments
were paid to Anton Tobé for all the work he had done.
Gerd
Schemenau informed the Federal Council about a care programme in cooperation
with Austria, Bulgaria and FICE Europe. The consortium was working in
Bulgaria under the leadership of FICE experts. The overall purpose was
to stop putting disabled children in homes where there were no programmes.
In Bulgaria when a disabled child was born, a committee decided where
to place the child based on the degree of the disability. Nobody took
the responsibility for a perspective of the child. Gerd said that of
the fourteen institutions for disabled children one third might be developed,
one third were in moderate condition and one third of the institutions
should be closed because of the bad circumstances.
Regarding training, there were special vocational schools. To improve
the situation it was of importance that the different disciplines (therapists,
educationalists, etc.) worked together. The problem was that there was
a strict separation between the disciplines. The programme would conclude
on 15 November 2003. It was hoped that the project would influence the
balance of residential and non residential care, and influence legislation.
The idea was that European experts should stimulate Bulgarian experts
to work on this. Bulgaria had had the idea of closing the houses and
starting foster care. But when a child had a disability it was essential
is to look carefully into the situation to assess what they needed and
not only to give money.
There
was a parallel programme managed by the World Bank; there should be
cooperation between the World Bank and the Bulgaria / Austria project.
- Northern
America, Canada and Australia
David Lane will make contact with Australia in the near future.
- Africa
Rolf Widmer and Daniel Vidaud had made their first contact about FICE
during a seminar for countries of West Africa. The seminar had been
about how to deal with refugees and their rights. A second seminar would
be held at the end of this year with the intention of establishing a
platform in Africa. It was felt that co-operation should first be initiated
with training institutions. Rolf Widmer would report about his activities
during the Federal Council in September 2003.
- Collections
on policies of childcare
David Lane reported that he had received no policies. There were many
organisations had their own policies, which FICE could accept as its
own, and which could be published in the FICE-Inter website to indicate
the standards which FICE advocated. This could only be done if policies
were submitted for inclusion.
Training
David Lane raised the question of roles that FICE might play in relation
to training, and offered to head up a short-term feasibility exercise
for discussion at the next Federal Council.
Action: David will call Soren Hegstrup, Emmanuel Grupper, Andrew Hosie,
Emilia Chervinskaya and Ewan Anderson if they have interest in the project.
- Experts
in the extra-familial care and education of children
No information from Rolf Widmer.
- Children’s
rights in institutions
Andrew Hosie had sent an email to Robert Soisson. No reaction had been
received.
Action: Andrew Hosie will send the information to Famke Schiff.
- Collections
of successful projects
This project concerned finished projects as well as going on projects.
The outcome of the Scottish Seminar on secure care would be translated
into the FICE languages.
- Standards
David Lane reported that James Anglin had gathered material but had
not yet circulated a discussion document.
7. Reports
of the Vice Presidents
The reports had been sent to all members.
8. PR
/ Information about FICE International
A printer had given a quotation for reprinting the brochure of FICE
International. The brochure contained some general information about
FICE International. The website gave more specific information.
Action: Members will receive an email about the amount of copies they
require and will be requested to reply in a fortnight.
9. Website
FICE International
David Lane reported that reports about the Congress in Berlin in September
2002, the history of FICE up to the 1980s, articles by Franz Züsli
and Thomas Mächler, more photographs, a report of activities of
Anton Tobé, and the glossary (old version) had all been put on
the website. The texts were now in the three FICE languages thanks to
Christine Karner.
The
archives had arrived in Amsterdam. David Lane had the intention to have
a look in the archives to see if there was some more relevant information
for the website.
Until now the website had been used as historical archive but not as
a place for discussion of current issues.
Regarding
the glossary, not everyone was happy with the old version on the website.
The glossary was seen as a very basic tool. The explanations of words
were inadequate because basic words could have complete different meanings
in different languages or even within one language.
Updating would be of importance for the understanding of FICE workers
themselves. To update the glossary was an immense job, and it was suggested
that the glossary should be updated in co-operation with IFSW as they
were already working on it.
Action:
? David Lane will send a reminder to all the members for sending information
for the website.
? The proposal concerning the glossary will be introduced during the
meeting in Copenhagen.
9. UNESCO
/ ECOSOC / Council of Europe
Daniel Vidaud is contact person for UNESCO / ECOSOC / Council of Europe.
FICE is on the mailing list of UNESCO.
9. Meeting
with AIEJI / IFSW / FICE in Denmark
See projects: Partnerships with other international organisations.
10.
Congress in Glasgow in 2004
In April
2002 Scotland had become an Associate member of FICE. It would get its
Full Membership in September 2003. This formal state was needed for
signing the contracts concerning the congress. At the moment SIRCC would
take the responsibility to sign open contracts. In case of financial
problems it would stand surety for £10.000.
Britain
was a country with a high cost of living, and Andrew Hosie had looked
for different options to minimize the costs:
- It was possible for National Sections to invite the British Council
to support the Congress. Financially weak countries would have to send
a letter to the British Council to ask for financial support.
- Many cities had links abroad: ‘twinned towns’. Andrew
intended to write to every city and to ask it to support one member
of their twin town to come to the Congress in Glasgow.
- Some airlines (Easy Jet and Ryan Air) had very cheap tickets if one
booked in advance.
The
Congress would be from 6-10 September 2004.
Bookings were possible in a variety of accommodation: youth hostels,
5* hotels, middle class hotels.
FICE Scotland counted on 500 participants, with a maximum of 600. The
Congress would be held in the main campus of the university, and it
should have enough capacity.
For the plenary meeting there would be two translators, for the parallel
sessions one interpreter would be available in each. There would be
48 workshops.
The preparations were supported by ‘Meeting Makers’, an
organisation set up to organise conferences and based at the university.
Princess Anne was to be invited to open the Congress.
James Anglin had been asked to be there as the opening speaker.
The central theme of the Congress was creating a place for children,
and it dealt with children in the broadest way.
On the second day there would be a discussion on children and human
rights. Cherie Blair was to be invited. Mary Robinson was being also
invited as the closing speaker.
Separate
from the FICE Congress there would be a Congress for young people in
the same period, 50 km far from the FICE Congress. The Congress was
for 100 youngsters from different countries with adult support. The
National Sections would select the youngsters. Andrew Hosie was hoping
to arrange financial sponsorship so that the Congress would be free.
Youngsters had been asked who should open the Congress: David Beckham
had been chosen.
Andrew Hosie was open to suggestions concerning the Congress.
Theo
Binnendijk was impressed by the way the preparations were going.
11.
Planning
- FC October: Denmark
The meeting was to be from 30 September – 4 October 2003.
- FC
April 2004: FICE Bulgaria had offered to organise the FC
It was agreed that FICE Bulgaria should organise the meeting in the
first week of May 2004. It would be held in the countryside, rather
than Sophia. It was also suggested that the Federal Council meeting
should be held at the weekend because of the costs.
12.
FICE Europe
Gerd Schemenau informed the members about FICE Europe.
- The last meeting of FICE had been in January 2003.
- In the past FICE Europe had got €5.000-7.000 a year. For next
year it was expected to receive €35.000.
- The network of FICE Europe had many deficiencies and it needed to
be improved.
- FICE Europe had sent emails to its members but no replies had been
received.
- Project Austria / Bulgaria: Bulgaria should pay for the work / support
it got from FICE Europe. If FICE were to sell the project or get money
for the administration it provided for Bulgaria, FICE would have money
to undertake new projects.
- FICE Europe and Germany had started - together with some other countries
- a project about the development of quality standards. FICE Holland
was interested in cooperation with FICE Europe.
Action: Theo Binnendijk will call René Bernard about the current
situation.
13.
Any other business
? In Scotland a conference on secure care was being organised. Foreign
speakers and two politicians had been invited. More foreign speakers
were welcome.
Action: Theo Binnendijk will ask two Dutch speakers (Kees Kleingeld
and Jaap van der Geest).
? People interested in the congress book of Maastricht could contact
Anton Tobé.
? The cost of FICE meetings: it was proposed that some costs of the
meetings of the Federal Council should be paid by FICE-Inter or by all
members and not only by the participants present at the meeting.
Minutes
of the meeting in Amsterdam on 11 July 2003
Present:
Theo Binnendijk (President), Anton Tobé (Vice President), Rolf
Widmer (Treasurer), Famke Schiff (minutes)
1. Federal
Council Denmark October 2003
• Wednesday 1 October in the afternoon: CE meeting
• Thursday 2 October: Federal Council
- Activities of Serbia: theme will be job-finding; besides Sena and
Adela someone will be invited for the presentation
- Foundation for financial support: Sari/Anton/David and Rolf as advisor
• Friday 3 October:
- Presentation of the youth care situation in Hungary
- Presentation of the youth care situation in Denmark
- Presentation of Ewan Anderson: 'educateurs sans frontières'’
and a generic training course for all staff involved in residential
education and care
- Visit to museum
• Saturday 4 October: visit residential homes
Action:
• Anton will ask Julia Blumenfeld for a presentation and will
make a format for the presentation.
The
price of the meeting of the Federal Council was considered to be rather
high (€160 a day) especially for the economic weak countries. (The
FC near Sophia in May 2004 will cost €40 a day.)
Switzerland will pay the fee for South East Europe.
Hungary will get financial support.
The
foundation for financial support is not functional yet. Because of the
fact that few members attended in Moscow, the foundation will support
some countries in their attendance in Roskilde.
The below mentioned countries will asked if they have the intention
to come to Denmark.
If finances are the problem for not coming they will get an offer of
support: 75% reduction of the fee; travel costs will have to be paid
by themselves.
Action:
Theo: Estonia, Belarus, Vilnius, Ukraine (Theo ? Martti); Morocco; Romania;
Russia; Slovakia; Slovenia; South Africa
Anton: Hungary; Poland
Rolf: South East Europe
Theo will inform Soren.
2. Organisation
of Federal Council in future (location, programme)
• Fee:
It was proposed to have a meeting once a year in South East Europe and
the other in one of the West European countries. The prices in the South
Eastern countries are much lower. The idea was to increase the price
( f.i. €20) of the meetings in the South East to create a fund
for the support of the economically weak countries for the meeting in
West Europe.
•
Overhead expenses:
Should the overhead expenses be paid by the participants of the meeting,
by all members or by FICE Inter? If it should be paid by FICE Inter,
FICE will have to raise its membership fee; it was considered not to
be the right time for that now.
•
Programme:
- Presentation by the host country and one of the other members about
the youth care situation in their country.
- Federal Council meetings will have a theme
- Agenda: indicate clearly what the status of the item is (for decision
/ discussion)
3. Contribution
for Germany : Congress 2002
Rolf will pay Sfr. 1.500 to FICE Germany; it is the difference between
the contribution fee and the support it will receive for the Congress.
4. Budget
for the Congress : Scotland 2004
On Thursday 17 July there is a meeting of the programme group. Theo
Binnendijk will attend this meeting.
FICE International will not support the Congress financially. Only some
members may be supported financially.
5. Current
situation in France and consequences for FICE
The situation of ANCE France was critical and will have consequences
for its membership fee for FICE. FICE France was the founder of FICE.
René Bernard is not involved in FICE Europe at the moment; it
was not clear if he will be in Denmark. Daniel Vidaud and Daniel Collombet
will participate in Roskilde.
Action:
Theo will contact Gerd Schemenau to speak about FICE Europe in Denmark.
Theo will try to contact Robert Soisson before the meeting in Denmark.
6. Network
in Africa (request of D. Vidaud)
The French speaking African countries are interested in FICE.
On 15 July there is a conference in Kinshasa. 20 Associations will be
present; FICE will be represented there. The first step with schools
of social work is to make FICE known and to exchange information. It
will be important is to get clear what FICE can offer these countries.
7. Iraq:
living condition of children in shelters after the war
Rolf Widmer proposed to do research on the living condition of children
in shelters in Iraq after the war and to see what FICE can do in the
future.
The results of the research can be sent to the European Union, UNESCO
and UNICEF. There are reports about children in Iraq but not about children
in institutions in Iraq.
It was felt that there should be a pragmatic approach by Ewan Anderson,
Anton Tobé or colleague and Rolf.
Action: Rolf will make some preparations.
8. Project
friendship camp and expert camp 2003
The camp for children: 6 – 16 august
Conference for experts: 11 - 16 august
35 adults were expected.
The Swiss Board is responsible for the project. The costs of the project
were considered to be high. 1/3 of the costs are spent on the project
management by external personnel. The CE members have the opinion that
the project management has to be undertaken by the local people next
time; because of the principle and because of the costs. Roland and
Anton will supervise the project.
9. Clarifying
the membership list (Italy, Sweden)
Action:
• Rolf: will find out how youth care institutions in Italy and
Croatia are organised; make new contacts
• Rolf: will contact Morocco if it does not pay its invoice
• Sari: she has contacts with Sweden; see how it works out
• Anton: will contact Poland
10.
Individual membership: what does FICE offer, what does FICE demand
See: report on Membership made by David Lane in 2002.
11.
Membership fees: individual, organisational, associate members, correspondents
Individual membership fee: Sfr. 40
Organisational membership fee: Sfr. 200
According to the statutes Associate Members have to pay; Associate Members
pay Sfr. 1000
Financially weak countries pay: Sfr. 400
Candidate members have to pay from the beginning. After two years they
pay the full membership fee.
South
East Europe was formed by several countries. Proposal: each country
will pay Sfr. 100
It was
a mistake that Scotland received an invoice for the membership fee.
It becomes an Associate Member in September 2003. Proposed fee: Sfr.
250 (4th quarter 2003)
Action:
• Theo will inform Andrew Hosie
• Anton will contact South East Europe
12.
Programme priorities : FICE-International 2003 – 2005
• Iraq: the living condition of children in shelters in Iraq after
the war
• Development of cooperation with other umbrella organisations
• Continuation of projects
• Network Africa / Asia
• Finding sources for structural finances
13.
Results of questionnaire and consequences
People had difficulties with filling in the questionnaire; Rolf received
six papers back. The information was seen as important for PR material.
Action:
Famke will send a message to all members with the request to complete
the questionnaire as much as possible and send it to Rolf or bring it
to Denmark.
14.
PR-material for FICE
The printer will make 5.000 brochures; they will be ready in August
2003.
Annual
report: FICE needed an annual report; this kind of information is of
importance for getting finances. It was decided that every section should
write a report covering three years’ activities? A journalist
should edit it together.
Action: agenda item for FC Denmark.
15.
Report to Executive Committee by David Lane:
• Website
David will resign in three year. FICE has to find a successor to run
the FICE-Inter website; He proposed to hand it over at the Glasgow Conference.
David proposed to announce it beforehand, so people could think about
it.
The historical part will be completed when David has been through the
FICE archives in Amsterdam.
The website was not yet being used actively; this should be encouraged.
• Educateurs sans frontières
Action: David will speak about his proposal with Ewan Anderson, who
will give a presentation in Denmark about 'Educateurs sans frontières'
• Glossary
Leo Ligthart (FICE Holland) was willing to work on the glossary; he
will contact David.
If FICE seek funding for the glossary the work can be done by staff.
If the work could be done in partnership with AIEJI and IFSW it should
be useful to expand the number of languages.
Action: David will do some inquiries.
• ENQASP
Next meeting will be in Paris on 16 October. If FICE is to be actively
involved it will need to subscribe. Soren will be representative for
FICE in ENQASP.
Action: David will inform Soren about the meeting.
• AIEJI
From 7-10 October in Spain there is a symposium of AIEJI about social
education. FICE has not been invited; in view of the wish to cooperate
we should request an invitation.
Action: Theo will contact Gerd Schemenau to ask if someone of FICE Europe
will participate.
16.
Expenses at the Federal Council Moscow
Rolf got handed over the expenses made in Moscow.
17.
Expenses: Christine Karner
This has been settled.
18.
Renewal of membership of NGO Committee
To renew the membership of the FICE in the NGO Committee on UNICEF FICE
has to pay its annual fee. Rolf will deal this item.
19.
Sarajevo 2004
Organisation of the Congress has to be started by South East Europe
in a meantime.
• Theo, Anton, Rolf will be the supervisors of the commission
who will organize it.
• Contact is needed with the Bosnian government about conditions
and guarantees.
Action: Theo will send a letter to Sena for an official meeting in Denmark
about the organisation of the Congress.
20.
General Secretary
Theo suggested that the secretary of FICE Bulgaria may be could fulfil
the role of General Secretary. May be there is a possibility she could
combine it with her activities for FICE Bulgaria.
The work required was:
a. prepare for the Federal Council
b. organize the East European contacts
c. maintain relationships between the countries
d. travel to the countries involved
e. secretary / representative function.
f. This would amount to eight hours a week
Action: Theo will work out this proposal, will send it to Anton and
Rolf and will talk it over with Dasha and Romy. It was suggested for
two years, to see how it works out.
21.
ECOSOC
Helga Stefanov sent an e-mail that FICE is on the list of ECOSOC again.
The main representative will be Theo Binnendijk and the additional/local
representative Helga Stefanov.
Action: Helga will be informed about representatives.
22.
Lebanon
In Lebanon Rolf made contact with a professor of sociology and a leader
in social work who was interested in the work of FICE. Rolf will suggest
that he should become an individual member.
23.
India
FICE Holland was in contact with India. Someone from FICE Holland will
go to India this summer to see how the youth care situation is organised.
May be it can get some support.
Report
to Federal Council
Roskilde : October 2003
FICE-Inter Website
1 All
papers made available to the Moscow Federal Council and Executive Committee
meetings have now been put on the website.
2 I
plan to spend some time going through the FICE archives to check what
should be inserted in the web record when I am next in Amsterdam. When
that work has been done, I think that the website will be broadly complete
as far as historical reference material is concerned. It will, of course,
be possible to continue adding reports, historical articles and other
material to fill gaps, and as further Federal Council meetings and Executive
Committee meetings take place, the archive will carry on expanding with
a full record of proceedings for future reference.
3 The
Glossary was criticised at the Moscow Federal Council meeting, and it
is in need of updating. This is addressed below as a separate project
in this report.
4 I
also propose to contact FICE Sections which publish journals, to see
whether they can make their material available electronically, so that
we can add them to the website for world-wide reference.
5 The
main problem is that the FICE-Inter website is not being used for current
material as a live site, however, and this is a serious shortfall which
needs to be remedied if FICE is to be seen as a place where ideas can
be shared. Partly this may be technical in that the website does not
have a chatroom. However, it would be easy for people to send emails
to the website for publication, but they do not.
6 As
I will probably retire from FICE activities before the Sarajevo Congress,
I think that it would be appropriate for the Executive Committee to
seek a successor to run the FICE-Inter website, and for handover to
take place at the Glasgow Congress.
Education
Sans Frontières
7 This
proposal has been around for a long time now, and in practical terms
it has had three elements :
The
creation of a register of social educators / pedagogues who are prepared
to assist in the provision of follow-up services for children and young
people after natural and man-made disasters.
The
provision of training for people on the above register.
The creation of a register of experts for use by international organisations
to assess problem situations concerning children and young people and
prepare plans to remedy them.
8 At
the meeting of FICE with AEIJI and IFSW in Copenhagen in May 2003, it
was clear that all three organisations had contemplated the establishment
of registers of this sort, but none had the infrastructure to set up
and maintain the data-bases required. Nonetheless, between them, the
three organisations have direct or indirect memberships amounting to
several hundred thousand people, which offer a massive pool of people
who could be considered for registration.
9 Furthermore,
through these members, there is the scope for networking in virtually
every country of the world, and this is important because in crises
the main role of experts is to assist and enable the indigenous people
to deal with their problems, rather than to replace them.
10 From
my enquiries I understand that the World Bank, the European Commission
and other bodies already have registers of experts. The EU Register
(Dacon?) holds about 650,000 names. These registers cover all types
of subjects, and the number of experts in social education / pedagogy
may be small. More importantly, the registers are said to be little
used and tend to sit on shelves gathering dust. In practice, people
use their personal contacts, and if FICE members are to be used following
crises, the best way will be to create working links with key officials
at the World Bank, EU etc..
11 I
have met John Stotford, the International Director of SOLACE (the Society
of Local Authority Chief Executives for England and Wales). He has extensive
knowledge of work with key international organisations and of the creation
of partnerships in large-scale international projects. SOLACE has a
register of about 1500 experts in public services, and although the
core of the register is made up of former senior managers from local
government in the United Kingdom, there are also people from academia,
experts from the social professions and people from outside the United
Kingdom.
12 The
work entailed in establishing registers is obviously considerable, as
they need to be kept up to date, and checks are required to ensure that
details about people on the register are accurate. If a register is
set up by FICE and/or other organisations, therefore, consideration
should be given to adding names to an existing register (such as that
run by SOLACE) which is already functioning effectively rather than
setting up an entirely separate entity. Whichever option were to be
chosen, additional funding would be needed to undertake the work.
13 The
next stage, if the idea is to proceed, is to be clear whether there
is a market for this work. Would the EU, World Bank or other international
organisations be prepared to fund the creation of such registers in
order to have access to the networks of contacts which FICE and other
organisations can offer? If Education sans Frontières is to proceed,
potential funders need to be identified first and then sounded out,
to find out if they require this type of service and are prepared to
provide finance to establish a register.
14 I
suggest that it should be for the Executive Committee to identify the
organisations to be approached, and the people who should make contact.
Perhaps Daniel Vidaud, for example, could make enquiries in the course
of his contacts in Paris and Brussels.
15 Professor
Ewan Anderson will be making a presentation about work he undertook
in Iraq after the First Gulf War, and his paper may suggest alternative
lines of direct action in addition to the proposals I have made.
16 Jean-Paul
Trinquier is due to report on the possibility of training being provided
in France. In view of current pressures on ANCE-France, this may no
longer be an option.
17 If
the Federal Council concludes that none of these possibilities is worth
following up, the idea can be dropped.
Glossary
18 The
FICE Glossary was prepared several years ago in the three FICE languages,
and Dutch was added later. Although now open to criticism for being
dated, the Glossary has been made accessible on the FICE-Inter website.
19 Clearly,
if a FICE working group is to update the Glossary, a lot of work will
be required, and it is questionable whether there is the motivation
and time to draw together an expert group to complete the project within
a reasonable time-scale, although Leo Ligthart has expressed an interest.
20 Alternatively,
FICE could turn to its interpreters to undertake the work on a paid
basis. This approach would ensure a high standard of translation, but
they would probably still require the support of a group of social education
professionals to ensure that current terminology is included.
21 In
addition to the Glossary, which essentially attempts to offer equivalent
terms in each language, there is an argument for preparing a publication
which analyses the concepts underlying a small number of areas of terminology,
to explain the significance of these words and phrases in different
countries in greater detail.
22 In
the recent meeting with IFSW and AIEJI in Copenhagen, interest was expressed
in the idea, and any future development might have a more solid foundation
if it were based upon such a partnership.
23 However,
work is currently being undertaken by the Universities of Hull and Vienna
to update an English-German Dictionary for the Social Professions, which
was first prepared some years ago through European Union funding. One
approach would be to expand this Glossary to include other European
languages, perhaps to reflect the expansion of the EU.
24 Ultimately,
it would also be helpful to include other major international languages
used outside the EU, such as Russian, Arabic, Chinese and Japanese.
25 Whichever
approach is used, the project will need to be properly financed. If
so, finance should permit the work to be undertaken within a reasonable
time-scale and to a high standard. The EU might be approached to expand
the work undertaken by Vienna and Hull Universities.
26 For
the present, the Executive Committee is asked to endorse discussions
about the expansion of the English-German Dictionary as the most practicable
next step, perhaps including representatives of IFSW and AIEJI on the
Steering Group, to decide on a method of work and seek finance. The
work on the detailed publication could continue as a separate venture.
I am prepared to co-ordinate a small Steering Group to undertake initial
work on these two ventures.
ENQASP
27 ENQASP
is a new body, not yet formally established, which has held two or three
Steering Committee meetings only to date. Its aim is to establish European
standards for training and qualifications in the social professions,
and to register or authorise courses and programmes as meeting required
standards.
28 Clearly,
the task will be massive, and it may take some time to establish properly.
However, it is an important piece of work, and I propose that FICE should
formally join the Steering Group as soon as possible. Currently, IFSW,
AIEJI and other organisations are participating. If FICE does not participate,
it risks being sidelined.
29 All
participants will be expected to contribute to the funding of ENQASP,
and presumably the FICE representative(s) will also need to be able
to claim expenses. I assume that in due course fees paid for registration
will produce a surplus, and so the ongoing costs to FICE should be minimal.
30 At
present this could be seen as a European venture and referred to FICE-Europe
for action. I suspect, however, that if it is successful, ENQASP will
develop a world-wide remit, and that FICE should be represented by a
Vice President responsible for training matters.
31 I
attended one meeting in Copenhagen on an informal basis, and I would
urge that Soeren Hegstrup participate on FICE’s behalf, as he
is a European academic who already has a good network of contacts. The
next meeting is in Paris in October.
AIEJI
32 AIEJI
is setting up an international meeting in October to address the nature
of social education / pedagogy. The symposium is also intending to consider
the implications for social education of EU Directives on professional
training. Participation will be by invitation only, and delegates will
have to fund their own travel.
33 This
project was discussed at the Executive Council in July and it was decided
that the President should approach Gerd Schemenau, to see if a representative
of FICE-Europe could be identified to participate, especially in view
of the agreement that there should be greater collaboration between
FICE and AIEJI. (I have not approached AIEJI to seek their agreement.)
Other Engagements
34 I
participated in some of the Executive Council meeting in July by telephone.
35 In
August 2003 I attended a conference in Victoria in Canada, where Jim
Anglin was one of the co-ordinators. The conference was well attended,
with 700 - 800 delegates, including a number of FICE members, (the President
among them). The event was well organised, with a large number of workshops,
and a fuller report will be published in the Webmag on www.childrenwebmag.com.
I also participated in one of the sessions as one of a dozen contributors,
co-ordinated and chaired by Carol Kelly.
David C. Lane
Vice President
2nd
September 2003
Bulgaria
Report
Two
years have passed since FICE Bulgaria started its activities in Bulgaria
in March 2001. During the second year of its existence FICE Bulgaria
have worked in several fields/
directions and has achieved satisfaction results. The efforts of the
Bulgarian Section of the International Federation for Educative Communities
are directed towards introducing and popularizing FICE Inter as an Organization,
which works with and helps children from disadvantaged background and
are at risk. We worked as well on presenting the Association for Pedagogical
and Social Help – FICE Bulgaria as a Society of people, who are
interested in work with children at risk and are well-disposed to the
International innovations in childcare system. Our main efforts were
orientated to the following directions:
1. To establish and maintain contacts with the State Institutions, involved
in the field of child care and keep going on the existed already relationships.
Several meeting were organized with representatives from the Ministry
of Education and Science and as a result of these meetings we have signed
an agreement for cooperation in the field of Reform of the Childcare
System.
2. The Association for Pedagogical and Social Care for Children Activities
popularization among the organizations and people, concerned in children
welfare and care. During the last year 24 organizations and 24 individuals
applied and were approved as FICE Bulgaria members. For example 2 theatrical
groups and 1 sports club applied and became our members.
3. Media popularization of FICE Bulgaria’s activities. Four editions
of FUCE Bulletin were published; The President of FICE Bulgaria –
Mrs. Tashkova took part in TV - discussions in the field of Child welfare
Reforms in our country; there were few publications on projects realization
and children problems at Children Homes in daily newspapers; participation
in a round table – town of Isperih works.
4. Organizing and holding trainings for FICE Bulgaria members was one
of the essential moments of our work through the last year. 54 FICE
members were interested to attend and took part in the work of the 4
organized trainings. There were lots of discussions and debates during
the meetings; lot of internal and foreign experience was shared. There
were interesting talks over alternatives like day care, part time care,
foster families, etc. Most of the participants, who have passed successfully
the trainings, have received Certificates for passing the training.
5. With respect to International activities we have to mention the seminar
“Childcare system for children in risk” organized by FICE
Bulgaria and FICE Switzerland in collaboration with the State Agency
for Child Protection. Mr. Roland Stuebi was invited as a speaker. He
presented the “Beo Bollingen” Canton center experience and
practice in accordance with the Law for minor offenders in Switzerland
and the Ambulance and Institutional Services in the a. m. Center as
well. Another successful FICE Bulgaria and FICE the Netherlands initiative
was building up contacts and partnership between Bulgarian and Dutch
Institutions - for example between “St. Dimitar Basarbovski”
town of Rousse Children’s Home and Stichting De Reeve, Kampen;
“Ludogorie” town of Isperich and De Reggeberg – PCK,
Hellendoorn
6. FICE Bulgaria has nominated two of its members to PEP /Professional
Exchange Program/. One of them already has attended three-month Program
in France and the other one will attend a course in the Netherlands
next year.
7. Participation of the President of FICE Bulgaria in the work of FICE
- Inter Federal Council in Budapest, Hungary and Berlin, Germany and
Mrs. Gjurova’s – member of the FICE Bulgaria Managing Council
in Berlin FC.
8. Participation of the President of FICE Bulgaria in the work of FICE
South East Europe Balkan Conference in Montenegro.
9. Visits of and meetings with FICE International, FICE the Netherlands
and FICE Swiss Representatives.
10. On the invitation of FICE Bulgaria 2 FICE Macedonia and 2 FICE South
Eastern Europe representatives have attended the Assen Zlatarov’s
Conference in November 2002.
11. Foreign donations utilization and distribution:
• Financial means Donation from the Belthoven Church was spent
on medicines and school equipment.
• Wood processing machines have been placed at disposal of “St.
Kliment Ohridski” children’s home, village of Lik.
12. The FICE Bulgaria Project Commission played an important role during
the last year. More than 20 projects were consulted and got ready to
apply for financial support. During the year under review we can make
a boast of 4 approved projects – “Ability to be a parent”,
“Profession for everyone”, “The good in the people
– in themselves”, “The Home”.
13. Two new Commissions were set up with FICE Bulgaria. The first one
- for Social and Pedagogical Management, because of Children Homes Directors’
activities have gained momentum. And the second one – Commission
for support for the Children of Bulgaria Dutch Foundation, which started
its activities in the winter of 2003 and already has nominate for approval
another 5 projects.
14. The management of FICE Bulgaria has held 11 meetings though the
last year. During the meetings FICE Bulgaria activities were discussed,
as well as the further plans and programs. All the applications for
membership were considered by the FICE Bulgaria Management and most
of them were approved.
====================================================
National
Summary Report on FICE-Canada
To:
All National Sections, FICE-International
From:
Prof. Dr. James Anglin
FICE-Canada Representative and
Director, School of Child and Youth Care
University of Victoria
Date:
July 28, 2003
1. International
Conference
I am
pleased that some of the FICE national section members will be attending
the 7th International (North American) Child and Youth Care Conference
in Victoria, BC between August 20 and 23, 2003. As of July 28, approximately
550 participants are already registered. It promises to be an exciting
international gathering.
2. Current Developments in Canada
It is
a challenging time for child and youth care services across the country,
and especially in British Columbia. In general, provincial governments
prefer to offer tax breaks and cuts to the well-off, and are cutting
services and supports to the poor and in-need. Residential care is an
easy place to make cuts, and some very good residential programs are
being terminated in BC.
There
is also rhetoric about “rebuilding community capacity”,
and an intention to devolve more responsibility for child, youth and
family services to regional and local community authorities in many
parts of Canada. But is remains to be seen if this can be done effectively,
and especially with substantial budget cuts at the same time in some
provincial jurisdictions. There is great concern in the community service
sector for the safety and well-being of children and youth at risk.
3. Re-Newing
Membership in FICE -
The
British Columbia Child and Youth Care Education Consortium has resolved
to pay the dues for the Canadian section of FICE-Canada for the coming
year. It is intended that in the next few months, the dues will be paid
and that FICE-Canada will once again be a voting and full member of
the FICE family.(Speaking personally, I am very excited and pleased
about this!)
Best
wishes to all colleagues and friends in FICE-International!
======================================
FICE
Federal Council Meeting: Roskilde September 2002
Report of the FICE Scotland Section
1. FICE
Scotland
Since the Council Meeting in Moscow, considerable progress has been
made in the forming of the National Section. Our first General Meeting
will be held on the 25th September 2003 in Glasgow City Chambers, at
the invitation of the Lord Provost of Glasgow Councillor Elizabeth Cameron.
Mrs Cameron will be present to welcome the FICE members to the City
and to meet the FICE International President who will also be present.
The City Council are hosting a Civic Reception for all members attending
the 2004 Congress and so the FICE Scotland meeting will give the Lord
Provost an opportunity to hear about our plans and will give Theo an
opportunity to see the City Chambers as he will be invited to respond
to the toast to FICE at the Civic Reception. The Planning Committee
intend to propose that our first Chair will be Ranald Mair, the Principal
of a residential school run by the Church of Scotland and that the proposed
Secretary will be Andrew Hosie, SIRCC. The inaugural seminar will have
as its title “Thoughts about Children Growing up in Scotland in
this Young Century” and will be addressed by Mrs Meg Lindsay,
Director of CareVisions and Ms Judy Furnivall, a Lecturer and Consultant
in SIRCC.
2. Congress
2004
The Congress planning for the Congress 2004, based on the title “Creating
a Place for Children,” continues. Congress will be held in Glasgow
at the University of Strathclyde. The Congress has a UK rather than
a Scottish feel about, the event and the membership of the planning
group reflects that desire. The opening speaker of Congress will be
Professor James Anglin, well known in Federal Council. The last Planning
Meeting was held in London while James was on holiday there and we were
able to discuss the theme with him and our hopes for the Congress as
a whole. There will be a separate conference for 80 young people (14-17
in age) and twenty adults. We hope to have one child from each continent
present with an adult mentor. The adult mentor is expected to have a
working knowledge of the young person and also a working knowledge of
English, as there will not be a translation service. Finance: The Conference
fee is hoped to be free to young people with possibly some help towards
travel fees, but would normally we expect young people to raise travel
costs in their own country. On Day 1 of the Congress Theo, James and
Andrew will go to young people’s conference after the main conference
is opened in the morning.
3. Secure
Care Symposium
This is a joint venture between SIRCC and FICE Scotland. It is planned
to hold this event in Paisley on 12th to 14th November 2003. The programme
is completed with the title being Towards a European Policy on Secure
Care for Children?
5. Web
Sites
Web sites have been created for FICE Congress 2004 and FICE Scotland.
Both will be online in late September and linked to other sites. Meantime
the sites can be seen on http://www.sircc.strath.ac.uk/
Andrew Hosie
Correspondent FICE Scotland September 2003
========================================
Fice
Federal Council Meeting: Copenhagen, September 2003
Israeli Residential Education & Care Association (IRECA)
Report of the ISRAEL Section (years 2002-2003)
1. New
reorganization in the residential child care system in Israel
After many years that residential education and care was scattered among
different governmental bodies, The Ministry of education has decided
to hand over the responsibility to coordinate all the activities concerning
residential care in one department: The administration for rural education
and youth Aliyah. Therefore, there are now two main governmental bodies
dealing with residential care: one coordinating the institutions of
the "Education" type, under the ministry of education, and
the other coordinating the "rehabilitation and treatment"
type, under the umbrella of the Ministry of social welfare.
The only place where all residential educators from the various types
and orientations are meeting together is under the umbrella of Fice-Israel
(IRECA). We are particularly proud of the fact that in IRECA's activities
people working in residential care, no matter what affiliation they
have, feel at home. It includes Jews and Arabs, religious and non-religious,
persons working in large youth villages together with people working
in group homes etc.
This governmental reorganization has the advantage that it will enable
the application of optimal norms and professional standards on all institutions,
it should also save money that was spend on duplicates between different
agencies operating on the same field.
2. Legal Applications of the UN convention on children's rights in the
extra familiar care in Israel
Israel
ratified only lately the UN convention on children's rights. A huge
work had been done by an inter-ministry commission in order to explore
all legislations related to children and change it in order to adapt
it to the demands of the convention. A special group was working on
the subject of extra-familial care and the final report was published
in September 2003. It is making a clear distinction between residential
placements in institutions of the "education" type, mainly
initiated by the family, and placements in institutions of the "Rehabilitation
and Treatment" type, mainly initiated by the legal system or social
services.
3. University
degree in Residential care and teaching
Like in many other Fice countries, in Israel too, one of the major concerns
is the level of training of workers in the child and youth care field
in general, and in residential care institutions in particular. Part
of the problem is solved by on-the-job in service trainings. However,
it is not a satisfactory solution. Therefore, we started to develop
a University degree in Residential education and care together with
a teaching diploma. The four year program started in Hakibutzim University
Teacher's College. Residential educators who are already on the job
are studying a full University program for the obtention of a B.Ed degree(Bachelor
in Education).It gives them the possibility to combine residential work
with teaching in a school.
4. Search for a formal status to the child &Youth care workers
As part
of our efforts to improve the quality of personnel attracted by residential
work, we are preparing a mandatory license, to be imposed on all of
these occupations. We are studying attempts done lately in South Africa,
and the issue of validation of diplomas in Europe. All this in order
to develop our own way of certification, that should guarantee that
every person working with children and youth in residential institutions
is well qualified to do it. In a way, it is another dimension of our
commitment towards children's rights while they are in care.
5. collaboration with Fice-Romania
In the spirit of Fice's close collaboration between residential educators
of all countries; we developed very good relationships with Fice Romania,
under the leadership of Prof. Toma Mares. We had had in these period
two very interesting joint-seminars, one hold in Israel in October 2002,
and another which took place in Romania on March 2003.
The subjects discussed in these seminars were:
a. Education for Health: topics, values and praxis
b. Prevention and reduction of violence among youth
We are particularly proud that due to the dedication of our Romanian
colleagues, every seminar is being documented in a book published both
in Romanian and English languages.
In addition to the formal seminar, mutual visits were organized in a
variety of residential homes, both in Israel and in Romania.
6. Publication
of a booklet summarizing Fice-Israel visit to Berlin
IRECA's
delegation to Fice's Congress in Berlin had had the opportunity to make
very interesting professional visits to residential and social care
services in the Berlin area. These visits were made possible because
of the good collaboration and hospitality of our German Fice colleagues,
who took upon themselves to organize it, after the congress was over.
The impressions collected during these visits and discussion we had
had with German colleagues, were published by IRECA in a book (unfortunately
it is only in Hebrew), that was highly appreciated by professionals
in our country.
Among our plans of activity for 2004, we plan to organize such a program,
that will includ participation in Fice congress and professional visits
in residential care institutions in Glazgo, for Fice's next congress
in Scotland, in September 2004.
Sincerely
yours,
Dr.
Emmanuel Grupper
President of Fice –Israel (IRECA)
Tel
Aviv, September 2003
========================================
CARING
for CHILDREN
Campaigning for Quality Services for Children
Report
of the FICE England and Wales Section to the Federal Council Meeting
at Roskilde, Denmark in October 2003
1. Caring for Children
The
main focus of our work has continued to be the development of the Children
Webmag: Caring for Children assumed full ownership and management of
this at the beginning of 2003. ‘Readership’ (measured by
the number of ‘hits’) has been averaging at over 40,000
per month in recent current issues, with between 130,000 and 145,000
for back issues per month.
We established
a Web Operations Team to run the magazine and this meets monthly. The
main challenge remains the financing of the venture. In an emerging
field, prediction and financial planning is difficult. Charging for
job adverts, for example, has produced only a very limited income. We
are looking for sponsorship and grants to continue the magazine.
The
webmag has a lively international dimension, and we are pleased to continue
hosting the FICE Web Site alongside the webmag.
We have
continued to play an active role in FICE, notably through David Lane,
a FICE Vice-President, but others have attended and contributed to FICE
events. The group which we convened originally to plan the FICE congress
2004 has worked well. We are pleased that the Congress will be held
in Glasgow in September 2004, with the emerging FICE Scotland Section
acting as hosts.
The
future of Caring for Children lies, we believe, in our becoming a campaigning
movement able to consult and mobilise practitioners through the webmag.
At present we remain a small, though committed group of individual and
organisational members.
2. The
wider context
We have
seen a triumph with the appointment of the first Minister for Children
in our Government. Unfortunately the person chosen is not regarded highly
by many professionals, who feel that during her years as Chair of the
London Borough of Islington Social Services Committee she did not do
enough to protect children who were being abused in children’s
homes in the borough. However she has been keen to tackle criticism
head on and has made several well thought out presentations of her intentions,
while claiming to have learned from the past. ( A report on her speech
to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Children given on 14th July
can be found in the August issue of Children Webmag at www.childrenwebmag.com
)
Unfortunately
the Minister was very proud of having engineered a change of title immediately
upon taking up her new post. She wants to be known as Minister for Children
and Families, which dismayed many who had campaigned hard to get someone
senior in the Cabinet whose focus would place children at the centre.
Another
disappointment of the summer is that the publication of a long awaited
Green Paper on Children at Risk has now been delayed until the autumn.
When it is developing new legislation the Government produces a series
of papers and puts them out for consultation. This Green Paper is meant
to set out the government’s agenda for children for the life of
the rest of this parliament and beyond. The excuse being given is that
the Prime Minister wishes to give it greater importance by taking part
in a high profile launch.
I have
reported before about the contentious issue of smacking children. While
on the one hand there is an influential group called Children are Unbeatable
(CAU), who want to see all smacking of children banned, there are equally
vocal forces at work who do not want to have the government interfering
in parenting in the privacy of the family home. A compromise of ‘reasonable
chastisement’ has been suggested, but it is felt by some that
the parents or guardians of children like Victoria Climbie, Lauren Wright
and many more, who have died as a result of horrific injuries, started
by giving them a ‘reasonable smack’, because, legally, they
could.
Sadly
the Home Secretary, David Blunkett failed to include any mention of
smacking children, when he presented the Government’s consultation
on Domestic Violence on 1st July. While in no way wishing to diminish
the mental and physical traumas and even deaths which occur, mainly
to women, during domestic violence, the acute sufferings and deaths
of numerous children as a result of adult violence towards them in the
family home should not be ignored. However the lobby of women who have
experienced domestic violence is active and articulate and women vote,
children do not.(For a full report on the Home Secretary’s Speech
see the September issue of Children Webmag)
3. Educateurs
sans Frontiers
In my
report to the Federal Council in April I made a plea for colleagues
to explore ways of taking forward this project with all speed. Since
that time we have seen so much more suffering by children in Iraq, Israel,
Palestine and Liberia. People like Pestalozzi and the founders of FICE
thought the situation of many children was acute in Europe in the aftermath
of World War Two. Surely the situation of children has reached world-wide
crisis proportions as we see daily children who are orphaned, maimed,
starving or who are being brutalised by being turned into child soldiers.
Without the planned intervention of people with an understanding of
child-hood, normal growth and development and the ability to communicate
with children what kind of world will these victims create for future
generations ?
Kathleen
Lane
Secretary CfC
August 2003
======================================
Report
FICE The Netherlands August 2003
Introduction
This report covers the period September 2002 – August 2003. The
greatest part of it is similar to the report that at the CF in Moscow
is distributed on paper. Because only few members were present at Moscow
we send it now to all the members with some completions about recent
activities.
Continuing
the policy that started some time ago the Dutch section of FICE International
also in the last period has given priority to its contacts with foreign
youth-care. Being a small organisation the board of FICE-NL accents
to stimulate its members to be interested in contacts and exchange with
institutions of youth-care in other countries, especially in Eastern
and South-eastern Europe Slowly the number of Dutch institutions that
have bilateral contacts and co-operation with colleagues abroad is increasing.
For that goal FICE-NL brings these institutions together, organises
first acquaintance and gives information and advises how to start these
things and what are important matters.
Honestly
it must be said that there are many long-time co-operations between
institutions in Holland and abroad without the intervention of FICE-NL.
More and more organisations of youth-care share large-scaled bilateral
contacts between regions or local communities in different countries.
As far as FICE-NL is involved in such international bilateral contacts
the start is always based on personal contacts within FICE International,
where people make known that there are institutions in their country
looking for bilateral contacts. When the willing is serious FICE-NL
organises in both countries visits of small delegations to make reconnaissance.
During these visits they try to find out if there are real chances for
co-operation, what are the needs on both sides, what can the institutions
and workers learn from each other, do the workers can communicate with
each other (languages!) and so on. In the last period three initiatives
in this way started between The Netherlands and residential institutions
in Bulgaria, all members of FICE-Bulgaria. In the recent past study-courses
are already given by Dutch professionals to their colleagues workers.
FICE-NL
continued the co-operation with the new FICE-section of Russia by finishing
the business plan of the Association of Experts on the problems of Children;
and by offering a training in Moscow about special methods of youth
care. The partners are in deliberation how to go on in the right way.
New contacts are made with the District Dmitrow near Moscow to support
youth-care in that area.
Based
on the intense co-operation in the history between FICE-NL and FICE-Hungary
there were mutual study-tours for youth-care workers. For the second
year FICE-NL sold to Dutch youth-care institutions Christmas-postcards
with drawings, made by Hungarian children and printed in Hungary.
The proceeds of one million Forint is carried over to FICE-Hongary.
We plan to continue for more members abroad.
A greater
part of the foreign activities of FICE-NL in the last period was addressed
to the youth-care in the previous Yugoslavic Republic, organised in
the FICE-section South-eastern Europe. Thanks to some funds we could
contribute financially to the third Friendship-camp and support some
new initiatives for children-homes and schools (machinery and tools).
A very special event was the opening in the end of November of a barbershop
at Novi Sad (Serbia).
The barbershop offers 4 female barber’s apprentices the opportunity
to work under professional supervision. They are aged 18 and must therefore
leave the children’s home. Since they have no family left they
must fend for themselves, which is very hard in this country with an
excessive number of unemployed. Thanks to this barber project these
young ladies may possibly be able to open their own businesses in the
future. In order to purchase the premises, a Dutch fund has provided
a loan without interest. All has been laid down in a legally sound contract.
The first evaluation will take place in six months’ time, when
it will be seen whether the project can be extended or must be adjusted.
New contacts are made in Belgrade where is a great need of help for
young children and babies without parents. After deliberation with the
organisations and the government in Serbia a great trainingsprogram
for foster care by Dutch experts will be realized.
In The
Netherlands FICE-NL organised two conferences for workers in the field
of minor asylants. The new policy of the government makes it difficult
to go on in preparing them to a perspective to a future in our country.
In co-operation with other organisations we try to assist the workers
in changing there methods (and minds!). Also FICE-NL took part in organising
congresses for youth-care workers and workers in the field of justice.
Following the new strategy of FICE-NL we changed our organisation to
make it easier for other people who are not members of the board to
are active in our field. So we hope to can do more in the future.
After many active years Mrs. Ineke van Gageldonk left the board of FICE-NL
owing to ending her professional job in youth-care; Peter van den Bergh
and Kees Kleingeld are leaving soon. New members came in and are coming
in.
In the meanwhile the office of FICE-NL is moved to the office of president
Anton Tobé:
P.O. 65, NL-8000 Zwolle; phone: *31-38-4225155; e-mail: ficenl@kinderzorgzwolle.nl
Wim
Kok, Secretary FICE-NL
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