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LIGHTHOUSE ECUMENICAL YOUTH HOME: ENYA has been involved in capacity building and training with the Churches over the past six years. One of our priority areas is developing partnerships between the Churches and with young people in institutional care (children’s homes, reform educational centres and youth in state prisons). This programme grew out of our Spotlight Programme on Comabtting Forced Prostitution, Traffciking and Sexual Exploitaiton of Children and Youth. There have been several programmatic elements involved in building these bridges including children / youth rights programmes, Roma/Sinti children/youth rights programmes and discrimination awareness campaigns, prejudice reduction sessions in all events and youth leadership training. Through these programmes and with the discussions with the young people in care the need for a transition home for those leaving care before independent living has become more and more apparent, especially for young Roma women. The main aim of the project is to co-develop and co-manage with the Churches and with young people in care (or soon leaving care), a challenging ecumenical pilot TRANSITION HOME (from care to independent living).
One of our hopes is to assist in strengthening the Churches and related organisations including ecumenical youth organisations to becoming better equipped to real live and serve in the community - "the liturgy after the liturgy".
At the same time there is a strong need within the Churches for the development of skills in working with these young people, of whom over 80% come from Roma and Sinti families. The situation in the Czech Republic for youth in care needs improvement in many areas including the fighting of the deselection of young Roma/Sinti children out of the mainline educational system into the "special schools" at the age of 5 and 6.
This deselection process condemns the young people to limited occupations (flower arranging, cooking, road works, etc) in very low paid jobs in the future and in the case that someone will hire them in the first place. This streaming out of the main educational system also continues the cycle of structural racism, which is endemic in our society towards Roma/Sinti, and people of colour. Roma/Sinti in the Czech Republic live in general exclusion from the opportunities enjoyed by the majority community and a horrific pattern of racially motivated violence.
Those coming out of institutional care face a double burden and the young women a triple oppression and exclusion. Through this project we hope to enable young people moving out of care situations to strengthen their own voice and to develop constructive ways to deal the political and economic situation injustices; as well as the erosion of the human and civil rights oppressions. We hope to be able to contribute to this process by listening carefully to the needs of the young people, building bridges of community, developing transition from care joint training seminars (needs analysis and action orientated) and mutual partnerships with the Churches.
For the Churches, the project will:
- Create a needed space for analysing the needs of young people at risk in our communities,
- Develop new visions and risk taking,
- Initiate people-centered ministries,
- Engage them in prophetic ministry while responding to the needs of one group within our community that is marginalised and excluded by the transitions and growing poverty within our societies.
The project assists in developing partnerships and tries to bridge some of the gaps inside the Churches; and between the - Churches, related agencies and diaconial projects - and those who are most vulnerable and at risk in our Churches and society.
The main problems facing the young people when leaving care
is that for many they have not been allowed to develop
the self-esteem, self-confidence, relationship – peer skills,
critical thinking skills, and home skills needed
to deal with their new freedoms and self-responsibilities.
is that for many they have not been allowed to develop
the self-esteem, self-confidence, relationship – peer skills,
critical thinking skills, and home skills needed
to deal with their new freedoms and self-responsibilities.
In addition the project aims to further provide intensive work/studies programmes, projects and campaigns for those who are interested in developing their skills in Christian ministry with youth in care, youth at risk and Roma/Sinti young people; with a special emphasis with young women.
The management in the institutional care facilities stifle any individuality, independent thinking, experimentation normal for young people and those who do not find a way with these settings are often sent to kid’s prisons and diagnostic centres for period undefined. Criticisms are dealt with harshly by the majority of staff and directors and "bad behaviour" is severely punished. Once the young people are 18 and "out of care" they are extremely vulnerable to destructive influences within our society.
In October of this year, ENYA has secured a five-bedroom house (with possibilities for expansion) from the Prague 4 Municipal Council. We hope to be able to make the necessary reconstruction and painting (adding a kitchen), finding the equipment needed for the residents (heating, beds, carpets, etc.) over the next year 12-18 months, and open the home in the year 2002.
The Lighthouse Youth Home will provide short-term (1-2 years) accommodation, and long term support and employment and educational opportunities for young women leaving care. Staff and volunteers and a community house support network will be established and trained in partnership with the young people, who will eventually become resident in the home. This year our work includes preparing the house for the residents and training of those involved. This pilot project will hopefully enable other Churches and organisations to develop similar community homes thereby lessening the potential risks to the young people leaving care like - of being dragged into Mafia’s, forced prostitution, trafficking, drugs or illegal criminality, or other destructive influences during this transition time.
Interested to be involved. Write us!
The project engages people (many for the first time) in this process of ecumenical formation, skills training and partnership building, thereby lessening the isolation and marginal influence of the Churches by enabling the development of new, creative, ecumenical and sustainable responses to the challenges which the Churches are currently facing.
