Notice: admission is closed because the conference center is FULL!!


International Janusz Korczak Youth Meeting, 2007

in the Netherlands.

 

FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT and INVITATION

 

Theme:  When I was little again (based on the title of Korczaks book)

 

0ur mission for this conference is

How to understand children and how to communicate with them;

What can we learn from children;

Mobilizing the competencies of children.

 

 

Dear colleagues, dear friends,

 

In 2007 the Janusz Korczak Association in The Netherlands likes to celebrate her 25th anniversary with a special meeting for young people from different countries who work with children or teenagers as professional or as volunteer.

 

We therefore want to invite young participants (18- 35 years old) to the

 

International Janusz Korczak Youth Meeting,

which will take place in Holland from 22 - 28 September 2007

 

(People older than 35 are welcome of course, but we ask them to look for one or more young people to join them).

 

 

The context and the motivation of this International Meeting.

 

The Janusz Korczak Associations in different countries (world-wide) have their own, specific manner of dealing with the problems of offering support to children and youngsters in threated situations (in the family, in the peer-group, in school, in society etc. in other words: children at risk). Especially the young educators and group leaders need encouragement and know-how for their daily work in the institutions, schools and childrens houses. Important is the coherent continuation in their work.

This involves the obligation for more exchange, study and support on the long term. The conference in 2007 will be an impulse for this purpose. It will bring together young professionals, volunteers and experts. The workshops will offer these young professionals the possibility to translate models of youth-care / education to the local situation of their country.

 

Objectives of the International Meeting

 

After the conference the participants:

*        are able to map clearly their own plan of work or professional duty.

*        are better able to reflect on and consider their methodical work (the participants are introduced to a range of working-methods, from simple ad hoc activities to very professional methods).

*        will gain a better insight into their relationship with children.

*        are able to translate the basic elements of Janusz Korczaks pedagogies to the practice of every day.

*        are able to utilize and turn to account the experiences of colleagues and to apply them in their work in Youth Care/ Education.

 

Suggested topics of the International Meeting

 

1.     Growing up in two cultures; family culture vs. the dominant culture of the society.

2.     The need of education for citizenship; active participation of children in society.

3.     Are adults and educators staying with empty hands in education and up-bringing?

4.     Children and multimedia (tv, internet, video-games, mobile telephone); risks and opportunities; influence of consumer society.

5.     Self-respect and sexuality.

6.     Children and agression.

7.     Children and the need for basic-trust.

8.     Children’s life at school. How can they be active in their own learning process?

9.     Integration of disabled children and youngsters in society.

 

We explicitly invite you to suggest more or other themes for the meeting. And if you are interested in organising a workshop, training, lecture or round table, please let us know!!

 

The methodologies

 

The participants can take part in:

-         Workshops/ training

-         Open podia; participant’s present activities in the field of Youth Care and Education in their country. Exchange and discussion

-         Lectures

-         Round-tables

-         Cultural visits

-         Music and theatre performances

 

Beneficiaries

 

The impact of the Janusz Korczak International Youth Meeting concerns two levels:

a)     The participants, young workers in the field of Education, Youth-Care, Medical Care in childrens hospitals, Child-and Youth protection in city-slums, benefit direct from the conference (see objectives)

b)    Children and youngsters being in the responsibility of the participants (in the projects of the concerning countries) are the indirect beneficiaries (the indirect target group).

 

Practical information

 

Dates:                 22- 28 September 2007

Place:                  Het Zeehuis (The Seehouse), a house for nature lovers;

                          300 m from the beach (North Sea) on the edge of a big forest. 50 km North of Amsterdam

Conference fee:   225,– (incl. meals and overnight stays)

 

If you are interested to receive more detail information or to receive the final invitation, please let us know:

Our e-mail address:  info@korczak.nl

Telephone:                ++ 31.20.644.70.18

Telefax:                    ++ 31.20.644.81.54

Post address:            Janusz Korczak Stichting, PO-box: 70048,

                                  1007 KA  Amsterdam, the Netherlands