« I study thanks to the WCYA« Boy from Cote d’Ivoire
« Through trainings, meetings and IGAs, our activities develop. » Boy from Benin
Vital information needed is given to me and the AWCY make me more confident in reading their newsletters. » Girl from Guinea Conakry
In 1990, an African Training Program (ATP) was set up by Enda, whose central theme was the « how » of participation. Its founders aimed to develop local expertise, from lessons learned and from released tools of the African experience and to place them at the disposal of the actors (animators) for their reinforcement.
In 1994, the African Movement of Working Children was formed in Bouake, by children and young people from four countries (Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast,, Mali and Senegal) at the time of a session of this program which, for the first time, integrated children. It was the first step in the ownership of the program by this new movement, the AMWCY and key stakeholders, the Working Children and Youth.
The Children and Youth
In 1997, the first training was given to delegates leaving for a conference in Kundapur, India. It was followed by a training to the WCYA members of Cotonou.. The research methodology, action expressed in simple teaching terms is fully mastered by the WCY.
Gradually, a generation of WCY trainers began to develop. They operate alongside trainers – facilitators from support structures.
Today, the AMWCY trains approximately 120 WCY and animators a year at its meetings of 4 technical Support Groups (teacher training).
They intervene particularly in « technical support visits » (about 80 per year) in the member towns or aspiring member towns each year since 2000. It then acts to reinforce the WCYA and support structures of the same city, country on the basis of the difficulties identified by these partners.
They also intervene in national training workshops held each year in the 22 member countries, whose main themes are:
1. Participation
2. Planning based on the rights
3. Listen especially to the younger ones by their ages.
4. Mobilisation and Resource Management
5. Income Generating Activities
6. Communication and advocacy (including comics, radio, etc
7. Protection and “Support of the children in migration ”
These Technical Support groups, Technical Support Visits and National Education Workshops, constitute one of the AMWCY pillars, bearer of technical tools to develop its objectives. Training is also a new beginning, as generations pass and do not always convey all of their achievements.
Example of the training sheet: educational fact sheet on the participation
Specific Objective 1 : Understand the participation and its importance |
Activities of the facilitator
Group Work Awaited Production 1 – Concept of participation (Having the same understanding of the word participation) 2 – children are members of grassroots groups and the AWCY – Children expose their situations, find the problems and causes 3 – participation is a human right and also a value Evaluation Material resources: Padex, notebooks, pens, markers |
Why training?
– To strengthen the tools that enable WCY realize their rights: to education, health, leisure, listening, respect, safety, training, etc.., developing their tools self organization, management, lobbying and communication
-To be able to develop and implement effective action plans and meet their priorities
-To facilitate the transfer of skills among WCY generations
With what results?
In 2010, twenty eight (28 national training workshops were organized in member countries by the WCY associations, with about 800 participants (485 children, 388 girls and 87 animators).
These workshops had the following effects
* Increased ability to identify problems and conflicts and to confront them from a collective consensus.
* Communication and listening Workshops increased the confidence of the WCY which attracted a greater number of children, parents and Koranic school owners. They also mastered the art of comics.
*The individual and community economic activities have also developed and facilitate self-management of the WCY. Parallel to that, WCYA management and national coordination has improved.
*The results were also very practical for sessions on educational activities, which have developed qualitatively and quantitatively
*A task force of 120 WCY and animators are today able to support the efforts of associations across Africa, by conducting support missions and responding to their requests, to carry out actions or solve difficulties.
*These workshops gave the WCY skills for the realization of their rights and have contributed to their recovery (as it is children and youth who did not have access to training) and strengthened their hope and will, to build a better life.
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