RIGHT IS A NEED, LET THE KIDS ENJOY IT

36 Youth from 6 Countries in Antalya to Draw Attention to Violations of Children’s Rights!
 

As part of the Erasmus+ program, 36 young people and adults from Belgium, Italy, Spain, Romania, Slovakia, and Turkey gathered in Antalya from October 1-9 to highlight the importance of children’s rights and to raise awareness about violations of these rights. This project, conducted under the title of youth exchange, was coordinated by a youth group called Green Anatolia Volunteers, consisting of young people studying and residing in Antalya.

As part of the project, the participants received insights from experts at the Kumluca Social Services Directorate, gaining realistic knowledge about practices and policies implemented in Turkey to protect children and uphold their rights. Additionally, they visited Mehmet Akif Ersoy Middle School in Adrasan, where they engaged in an extended discussion with teachers about the issues related to children’s rights encountered in the education process and the potential solutions.

Those interested in seeing the project outcomes or exploring volunteering opportunities offered by the European Union through the Erasmus+ program can follow the Green Anatolia Volunteers Instagram account and visit the Turkish National Agency’s website at www.ua.gov.tr.

Project Summary

Each day, bad habits and addictions increasingly affect children, and numerous factors contribute to this. Legally, all individuals under the age of 18 are considered children and have needs and rights that adults (parents or the state) are responsible for meeting. When these needs and rights—whether in education, healthcare, social life, or legal areas—are not met adequately, children, the future adults, may experience unhealthy physical, psychological, or mental conditions for various reasons. The chance of a child who is deprived of their right to health or education to advance and succeed in life diminishes. Additionally, when these children become parents, it becomes challenging for them to raise aware and conscious children. As a result, issues like early involvement in crime, addiction, or an inability to become beneficial individuals to themselves or their country may arise. In this sense, losing a child can trigger a chain reaction of losing well-developed adults, responsible parents, and productive citizens.

The primary motivation for this project was to initiate a small step to change this chain reaction positively and raise awareness. While it’s essential for children to be aware of their rights and know what to do when they face injustice, it is even more crucial to educate and instill awareness in the adults responsible for them until they reach maturity. The individuals who directly interact with children include their families, teachers, and school counselors or psychological consultants who monitor their well-being. When these individuals are conscious, preventive measures can be taken when children under their supervision face negative situations. The likelihood of children who face abuse, violence, malnutrition due to lack of economic resources, forced labor, or deprivation of their right to education engaging in criminal activities is alarmingly high.

According to TÜİK data, Antalya ranks above the national average of 31.6% in terms of children involved in criminal activities. They also face challenges concerning child labor. By initiating efforts to address these issues, rescuing children from these situations, and perhaps, with state intervention, offering them a new chance or a quality education, it may be possible to surround them with conscious parents and support them to become responsible adults themselves.

In this youth project shaped by such considerations, participants engaged in various workshops. They created digital outputs like videos, podcasts, and online booklets that emphasized the importance of children’s rights and the need to prevent violations of these rights. The participants collaborated in producing these outputs, working together on each component.