The Youth Advisory Panel takes action on issues of public concern:

investigation on the consequences of financial crisis in the lives of children

The Greek OmbudsmanDepartment of Children’s Rights

ENOC 16th Annual ConferenceNicosia, Cyprus, 10-12 October 2012

Preparing an investigation with our young advisors

2nd meeting of the YAP (July 2011):discussion about the current economic crisis (how do we feel, how does the crisis affect our family, community, city, daily life)

3rd meeting of the YAP (December 2011): workshop “claiming our rights today!” > discussion in groups (ideas that could be included in a poster) > creation of posters (collage and painting)

Working on the questionnaire: > ppt presentation on the consequences of the crisis (by the Ombudsman)> work on possible questions & answers of a questionnaire

(plenary & 3 working groups):consequences of the crisis (school, family, community) state’s action (school, family, community) proposals on how to support children / how to cope with it

> summarize the ideas (lots of them!) of the 3 groups

Result: a big questionnaire! – to be shortened to 2 pages

Goals: > short, easy and not boring questionnaire > 1000 questionnaires to be completed from 25-30 different schools throughout Greece> YAP members to elaborate themselves the answers in an excel file given to them by the Ombudsman> Ombudsman's staff compile the results in one file and get the final results

It’s not a scientific survey – we want to have a general picture and exchange thoughts & ideas about the current situation

Preparing an investigation with our young advisors

The short version of questionnaire was sent by mail to the members of YAP & was discussed again in e-forum

Young advisor’s comments, ideas & proposals were taken into account to form the final version

A list of the young advisors that volunteered to hand out the questionnaire was made

Cooperation with the Ministry of Education: an authorization was given for the conduct of the investigation in schools (a circular was sent)

Instructions and an excel file (which the advisors would fill to have automatically the results of their own survey – complicated but it worked!) were sent to the young advisors

Preparing an investigation with our young advisors

The questionnaire

Data of the student (school grade, date of birth, nationality, gender) Consequences of the crisis

1. Do you think that the crisis has serious consequences (yes - no - I don’t know / I don’t want to answer)

in schools in family in the society

2. How much does the crisis affect your life (a lot – enough - a bit - it doesn’t affect me at all - I don’t know / I don’t want to answer)

your personal and family life (relations, tensions) your environment (classmates, friends etc)

3. Are there negative effects in your life, as far as for the following (yes - no - I don’t know / I don’t want to answer)

way of living / family expensespocket money foreign languages, private lessonsextra curriculum / leisure time activities (sports, arts, etc)

4. Has the crisis affected your parent’s job situation? yes (unemployment, loss of job for a short period of time, reduced working hours, reduction of income, 2nd occupation )no

The questionnaire

5. Do you discuss in your family the possibility of migrating because of the crisis? (yes - no)

6. Has the crisis affected your professional planning? (yes - no)

7. Have you noticed more incidents of violence in your environment lately? (yes - no - I don’t know / I don’t want to answer)

8. Were there changes in your school because of the merging of schools? (no – yes with negatives effects, yes with positive effects)

Suggested actions to confront the crisis 9. Do you think that the school supports adequately the pupils to confront better the consequences of the crisis?(yes - no - I don’t know / I don’t want to answer)10. Do you think that the school should be more “social” (eg distribution of food, confronting the needs emerging from the crisis) (yes - no - I don’t know / I don’t want to answer)11. Do you know any social activities organised in your community (eg distribution of food, clothes, books, free lessons for school support) (yes, describe… - no)

The questionnaire

Proposals! 12. In what degree do you agree with the following proposals / would you participate in such activities (0: no - 5: absolutely)

educational support inside school

a more “social” school

more opportunities and support to the pupils that need them

discussions and information about children's rights in schools

more artistic and expression activities in schools

the student’s councils should take action! (on informing students, on conflict resolutions, on improvement of the school environment etc)

social workers and psychologists in communities

meetings to inform and discuss about the crisis and how to cope with it

informing and supporting parents about their parental role

supporting organizations and institutions that give services to children in need

Give us your proposals!

Results

1211 pupils 13-18 years old answered anonymously

(396 high school & 815 lyceum)

22 schools (from various parts of Greece)

90% Greeks - 10% other nationalities

53% girls - 47% boys

Results

Consequences of the crisis 1. Do you think that the crisis has serious consequences…

in schools: yes 82%

in family: yes 89%

in the society: yes 92%

5. Do you discuss in your family the possibility of migrating because of the crisis?

yes: 29%

1. Πιστεύεις ότι η σημερινή κρίση στη χώρα μας έχει σοβαρές συνέπειες - στο σχολείο:

82%

11%

7%

ΝΑΙ

ΟΧΙ

Δεν ξέρω/Δεν απαντώ

1. Πιστεύεις ότι η σημερινή κρίση στη χώρα μας έχει σοβαρές συνέπειες - στην οικογένεια:

89%

6%5%

ΝΑΙ

ΟΧΙ

Δεν ξέρω/Δεν απαντώ

1. Πιστεύεις ότι η σημερινή κρίση στη χώρα μας έχει σοβαρές συνέπειες - στην υπόλοιπη κοινωνία:

92%

4%4%

ΝΑΙ

ΟΧΙ

Δεν ξέρω/Δεν απαντώ

5. Συζητάτε στην οικογένειά σας την πιθανότητα μετανάστευσης μελών της, εξαιτίας της κρίσης;

29%

71%

NAI

OXI

Results

2. Σε ποιο βαθμό η κρίση επηρεάζει τη ζωή σου;- την προσωπική και οικογενειακή σου ζωή

(σχέσεις, εντάσεις κ.λπ.)

9%

37%

44%

7%3%

Πάρα πολύ

Πολύ

Λίγο

Καθόλου

Δεν ξέρω/ Δεν απαντώ

2. Σε ποιο βαθμό η κρίση επηρεάζει τη ζωή σου;- το περιβάλλον σου (φίλοι, συμμαθητές, συγγενείς,

γνωστοί κ.λπ.)

8%

33%

41%

12%

6%

Πάρα πολύ

Πολύ

Λίγο

Καθόλου

Δεν ξέρω/ Δεν απαντώ

2. How much does the crisis affect…your personal and family life (relations, tension) Very much: 9%A lot: 37%A little: 44% it doesn’t affect me at all: 7% I don’t know / I don’t want to answer: 3%

…your environment (classmates, friends etc) Very much: 8%A lot: 33%A little: 41% it doesn’t affect them at all: 12% I don’t know / I don’t want to answer: 6%

Results3. Are there negative effects in your life, as far as for the following:

way of living / family expenses: yes 70% pocket money: yes 60% foreign languages, private lessons: yes 33%

6. Has the crisis affected your professional orientation? yes: 61%

7. Have you noticed more incidents of violence in your environment lately? yes: 38%

8. Were there changes in your school because of the merging of schools? no: 77%yes: 23% with negatives effects: 63% (e.g. lots of pupils in the classrooms) with positive effects: 37% (e.g. new friends)

Results

4. Has the crisis affected your parent’s job situation?

yes: 82%

unemployment of one parent: 16%

unemployment of both parents: 4%

loss of job for a short period of time: 11%

reduced working hours: 10%

reduction of income: 50%

2nd job: 9%

4. Έχει επηρεάσει η κρίση την εργασιακή κατάσταση των γονέων σου;

82%

18%

ΝΑΙ

OXI

4. Έχει επηρεάσει η κρίση την εργασιακή κατάσταση των γονέων σου;

16%

4%

11%

10%50%

9%

απώλεια εργασίας ενόςγονέα

απώλεια εργασίας καιτων δύο γονέων

διακοπή εργασίας γιαορισμένο χρονικόδιάστημααπασχόληση μεμειωμένο ωράριο

σημαντική μείωσηεσόδων

δεύτερη απασχόληση

Results

Suggested actions to confront the crisis9. Do you think that the school supports adequately the pupils to confront better the consequences of the crisis?

no: 57% - yes: 27%

10. Do you think that the school should be more “social” (eg distribution of food, confronting the needs emerging from the crisis)

yes: 76%

11. Do you know any social activities organised in your community (distribution of food, clothes, books, free lessons for school support)

yes: 52% - no: 48%

describe…

(various examples given)

9. Πιστεύεις ότι το σχολείο δίνει την αναγκαία υποστήριξη στους μαθητές, για να αντιμετωπίσουν καλύτερα

τις συνέπειες της κρίσης;

16%

27%

57%

NAI

OXI

Δεν ξέρω/Δεν απαντώ

10. Πιστεύεις ότι το σχολείο μπορεί και πρέπει να αναπτύξει «κοινωνικό» χαρακτήρα (π.χ. διανομή φαγητού, αντιμετώπιση αναγκών που προκύπτουν

από την κρίση κ.ά.)

12%

76%

12%

NAI

OXI

Δεν ξέρω/Δεν απαντώ

11. Γνωρίζεις αν έχουν οργανωθεί στην περιοχή που μένεις κοινωνικές δράσεις;

(όπως διανομή τροφίμων/ρούχων/βιβλίων, δωρεάν μαθησιακή υποστήριξη μαθητών κ.ά.)

48%52%

ΝΑΙ

ΌΧΙ

Suggested actions to confront the crisis(not included in the questionnaire) The school should inform us about professions that have a future More activities with “social” orientation in schools New lesson about conscious and responsible consuming More humanitarian lessons in school The voice of children should be heard more in schools We want to be informed by the schools, not by the media Open events should be organised by students and teachers Psychologists, social workers and other specialists should become

available in schools Free visits to museums, theatres, free activities in schools Private lessons should be banned (not all children can afford them

- it’s not fair!) School should provide free material to children in need Free or cheap food should be provided in school canteens

Students’ further proposals

YAP’ s investigation in the media…

The investigation: circulated in the internet and the press was presented by the Deputy Ombudsman on TV and radio programmes

In the media…

Last comments…

Results depicted the reality - what the children say when we meet with them

The picture is dark: students are stressed and insecure about the future, their daily life has changed

Students expressed some fresh ideas on what to do & how to help each other in the current situation

The investigation was a long but very interesting procedure. Young advisors liked the whole project, were content & proud of drafting the questionnaire and elaborating the results themselves – lots of job but rewarding!

The investigation was an opportunity to discuss with their classmates about a hot issue that affects almost every child & to think about possible actions and personal attitudes