article from Mobiel 3, june/july 2001

Youth participation in the spotlights

at the international IFCO conference

By: Lennie Haarsma

Children’s rights and youth participation

The twelfth international IFCO conference has marked Tuesday the 17th of July as the day on which children’s rights and youth participation hold the spotlight. The results of three different projects will be presented there. The first project deals with the work methods of the youth inspection team within the field of foster care. Foster care agencies in Utrecht and Tilburg teach foster children and children of foster parents to interview foster children on their experience with foster care. The second project concerns an English publication on case examples of youth participation. The third project consists of a video with views of foster children and children of foster parents from the Netherlands and abroad; with the training sessions organized for the youth inspection team and shots from the YIF- or JIP-camp.

Youth programme

Tuesday’s programme is especially organized with the help of and for young people. The day is all about their voice and plans for it are largely complete. Howard Komproe and Andjena Ramadhin will open te programme and introduce the various events. The travelling play "Living Together in a Foster Home; Together Constructing a Future" will be officially opened by Secretary of State Kalsbeek. Under the inspiring leadership of Emine Bozkurt, a youth debate will take place on the following propositions:

• a foster child who thinks of his/her foster family as his/her family is better off being adopted;
• foster children have a right to break with their own parents;
• every child has a right to someone they can speak to in absolute confidentiality;
• foster children are just like other children and shouldn’t be called "foster" children;
• children of foster parents have a right of veto if they think that the foster child doesn’t fit in their family anymore;
• if my father and mother had been given proper help, I would never have become a foster child;
• if you can’t live at home anymore, grandma and grandpa are second best;
• black children don’t belong in a white foster family.

In addition, there will be lots of musical performances and interesting workshops. Children will be organizing a number of workshops themselves. The day will be closed with a reception in the Provincial Hall in Den Bosch, including a disco for children. All participants will receive as a memento of the conference a photoalbum with approximately twenty black and white portraits of foster children.

The attendance of foster children and the children of foster parents will be made possible by financial assistance from the provinces and foster care agencies. If you are interested in taking part in the youth day of the IFCO, ask for more information at your Foster Care Agency.

JIP camp

It’s slowly becoming traditional that the JIP-camp is organized parallel to the IFCO conference. Again this year experienced and creative camp leaders are poised in the starting block to provide 30 to 50 children, from twelve to 18 years of age, with an unforgettable week. All sorts of activities, such as survival trips, painting, drama, and -of course- extensive exchange of experience are included in the programme. With the help of funds from the provinces and foster care agencies, it will be possible for children to participate in this camp. Children can still sign up!