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RIGHT IS A NEED, LET THE KIDS ENJOY IT!

2023-2-TR01-KA152-YOU-0001684262023Mobility of young peoplefinalized
Countries: TR|RO|SK|BE|IT|ES · Grant: €24,342
Human rights and rule of lawPreventing early school leaving and failure in educationDigital skills and competences

Objectives

Bad habits and addictions are increasingly affecting children every day. There are many reasons for this. All individuals under the age of eighteen are legally considered children and have needs that must be met by adults (parents or the state), as well as rights they are entitled to simply by being children. When these needs and rights (in education, healthcare, social life, or legal matters) are not sufficiently and appropriately fulfilled, children—the future adults—can experience unhealthy physical, psychological, or mental conditions for various reasons. A child deprived of their right to health or education has a lower chance of progressing and achieving success in life. Similarly, since these children are unlikely to become conscious parents in the future, it becomes possible to talk about how the children of unconscious parents are more likely to become involved in crime at a young age, struggle with addiction, or fail to become productive individuals for their country and themselves. Losing a child in this context can trigger a chain reaction, leading to the loss of a well-educated adult, a responsible parent, and a valuable citizen in the future. The main reason for implementing this project was to take a small step toward changing this chain reaction in a positive way and to raise awareness on this issue. It is important for children to be aware of their rights and to know what to do when they face injustice. However, what is even more crucial is educating and raising awareness among those responsible for them until they become adults. When we talk about individuals who have direct contact with children, the first ones that come to mind are their families and teachers, along with school counselors and psychological advisors who monitor children's situations in schools. When these individuals are conscious and well-informed, necessary measures can be taken when a child is at risk of negative influences. The likelihood of children being involved in crime is extremely high if they suffer from abuse or violence at home, lack proper nutrition due to economic difficulties, are forced into child labor, or are denied access to education. According to TÜİK (Turkish Statistical Institute) data, Antalya ranks above the national average (31.6%) in terms of children involved in crime. Our situation is also not favorable in terms of child labor. We believe that initiating efforts in this field, rescuing children from the difficult circumstances they are in, and offering them a new chance perhaps through state intervention or by guiding them toward quality education and a life surrounded by conscious parents can help them become conscious parents themselves in the future. The European Union has a unique system worldwide in terms of its policies and fight for human rights protection. The mere existence of the European Court of Human Rights provides assurance to many and serves as a source of justice. The perception of rights that is taken as a model in Europe should be the same for our children, who represent our future. In this sense, working for children's rights means working for our future. Raising awareness among young people about this issue and ensuring its importance is understood was our motivation for carrying out this project. At the same time, one of our main objectives was to make Erasmus+, one of the most meaningful opportunities the European Union offers young people, and the various types of projects it includes more well-known among youth. This way, we aimed to encourage more work in both the field of children's rights and volunteering, and we have largely succeeded in doing so. Given the nature of our project, we gathered participants from different countries and cultural backgrounds to discuss and seek solutions for a global problem. In this sense, everyone who was involved in our project, either actively or passively, has gained new perspectives. The presence of different languages and cultures together has helped participants and target groups better understand how such diversity enriches individuals and communities. As Erasmus+ aims to promote international cooperation, our project has led to new agreements. After our project, our partner institutions were encouraged to establish new partnerships. Necessary connections were made to ensure that they continue to work together on human rights, particularly children's rights. Thanks to this program, institutions have gained confidence in themselves and have been motivated to take a leading role in matters concerning the Union. Lastly, while young people had the opportunity to develop key competencies, participating in an international project has also been a great chance for their personal growth.

Project partners (6)