Child Abuse Programme Grants (2008)

Eastern Europe

• Bureau International Catholique de l'Enfance

  To reinforce the capacity of officials and child professionals in six eastern European countries by equipping them with innovative, practical tools to better respond to the needs of sexually abused or at-risk children. The project facilitates networking and the exchange of experiences and best practices. Young people are trained in peer-to-peer education and to set up small awareness-raising projects dealing with child abuse issues.

• Consortium of Crime Prevention Fund – IGA Pazardjik and Open Door Centre

  To develop an integrated approach for working with child victims, children at risk of sexual abuse and young sex offenders in four Bulgarian municipalities. Victims will receive direct support through multidisciplinary teams, at reception facilities and family consultative centres. A specialised programme for rehabilitation and reintegration of young offenders will be developed and implemented based on initial in-depth research. Alongside improving the rehabilitation of child and women victims of sexual abuse, in-depth research will explore the reasons why young people commit sexual offences. A specialised programme for work with young offenders will be developed and implemented initially at a regional level, and actions taken to influence national policy in this respect. (Over three years)

• Delfin Foundation

  To improve the free Internet filter software Child Defender developed with Oak funding, and to promote it to parents, teachers, institutions and the broader public as a mechanism for protecting children from viewing inappropriate content while they are surfing the Internet, thereby protecting them from potential sexual abuse. Introduced in December 2007, Child Defender has already been used by more than 1,500 families in Bulgaria. (Over two years)

• International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect

  To build on the investments made in four Eastern European countries during a previous project in 2006-07, by providing continued support to: 1) strengthen and expand existing services through more highly qualified professionals; 2) improve the exchange of information and networking among multi-disciplinary professionals; 3) engage government and policy makers in addressing issues related to child abuse and neglect more effectively. (Over two years)

• Latvia Red Cross Valka District Committee

  To push, as a priority, the issues of prevention of child sexual abuse, child pornography and trafficking into the mainstream of educational and health programmes involving police, schools and parents. Secondly, to introduce the Big Brother/Big Sister scheme to provide role models for at-risk children in the district. Thirdly, to strengthen the abilities of multi- team members to recognise, report and deal with cases of child sexual abuse, domestic violence and trafficking. The project will strengthen outreach to families to reduce domestic violence and will provide shelter and reintegration services to child victims, children who have run-away from institutions and those found on the streets. (Over two years)

• Positive Personal Skills in Society Foundation

  To reduce violence against children in the Pernik district of Bulgaria, by providing direct support and protection to children who are victims of violence and their families and increasing the capacity of professionals who work with them, as well as improving the interaction between different institutions. Along with training and direct work, raising awareness within the community is considered an important tool for reducing violence. (Over three years)

• Save the Children Norway

  To establish models in seven Balkan countries for the support and protection of at-risk and trafficked children to prevent abuse and exploitation and to minimise unsafe child migration and trafficking. The project is based on the findings of extensive regional research which examines why some children are at higher risk of trafficking and what the resilience factors are that protect others from being trafficked and exploited. Building on the research and lessons learned, the project will support trafficked children and those at risk of being trafficked, build the capacity of child-care professionals, and advocate at national and regional levels. (Over three years)

• Save the Children Norway SEE

  To establish an efficient system to combat child pornography in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Two levels of activities will be implemented. Firstly, building the capacity of professionals from respective state and local institutions and secondly, reducing the vulnerability of children to child pornography through an intense awareness-raising campaign that involves children, NGOs and parents. The project will be implemented in partnership with a Bulgarian NGO. The project is being initiated by the Office of the State Coordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Illegal Immigration in Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Over three years)

• Social Activities and Practice Institute (SAPI)

  To support SAPI's institutional development as a regional reference centre for expertise in resilience. Specific objectives include: upgrading training for a selected core group of Bulgarian trainers with guidance and supervision by two international consultants. Additionally, new preventive programme components based on the resilience approach will be developed and tested in schools and with parents. The approach will be transferred into the mainstream of social work practices to realise sustainable long-term results for at-risk and abused children. SAPI will also offer a faculty course in resilience to universities. (Over three years)

• Terre des hommes, Lausanne

  To develop national and trans-national mechanisms in Europe to protect children from trafficking and exploitation and to ensure that those children at risk, or who are victims of trafficking, have access to a minimum standard of service. The actions undertaken will be based on the individual needs and expectations of the children. The project will be developed at two levels – national and trans-national. It will coordinate the efforts of four international NGOs: ECPAT Europe, Nobody's Children Foundation, Save the Children and Terre des hommes. (Over three years)

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