This project aims to form a supportive framework for children an youth on a psychological, social and also cultural levels. It entails psychosocially, social and cultural leisure time program, targeting children between 7 and 13 years old and youth between 14 and 24 years old. The project seeks to empower children from a weak socio-economic background with psychogical councelling, but also discover their creative talents through cultural and artistic courses and activities that will help them spend their leisure time in a constructive, healthy and positive way

 

 

(1) Detailed Project Description:

 

1.1 Project Title: Children Forum

1.2 Project Description:

This project aims to form a supportive framework for children an youth on a psychological, social and also cultural levels. It entails psychosocially, social and cultural leisure time program, targeting children between 7 and 13 years old and youth between 14 and 24 years old. The project seeks to empower children from a weak socio-economic background with psychogical councelling, but also discover their creative talents through cultural and artistic courses and activities that will help them spend their leisure time in a constructive, healthy and positive way.

 

The idea of the program is to rehabilitate these children and help them to play an active and influential role in the society. This program is working to build bridges between the individual and society, by developing the capacity and skills of individuals and enable them to serve in the service of the community, which actually have a positive role in the development and prosperity of the community.

 

This project aims to create a stable and safe second home in the Forum where these children can develop and strengthen their creative and personality skills. In close relation with the schools, a program will be set up in which a counselor will deal with children on a psychological level to work with them on how to deal with their personal problems.

 

In addition, we will also provide these children with a variety of cultural and sports activities, recreational and cultural trips.

 

This project consists of three main components, which are:

- The program for children at risk; an intensive counselling program to rehabilitate children at risk (agegroup 7 – 13 years), focussing on psychological aspects.

- Community center for youth and children; providing youth (14-24 years) and children with activities to spend their leisure time in a constructive and positive way and keep them of the streets. Improving their personal and creative skills will benefit them not only now, but also in the future.

- Recreational and cultural trips to create cultural awareness and educate children on different aspects of the Palestinian society.

 

 

Annex 1 includes a detailed description of the 'Children at Risk' program

 

 

 

Jerusalem Consortium for Research and Development (JCRD)

 

 

  1. (2) Project Background:

2-1 How did the project idea emerge?

 

JCRD is located in Beit Haninah neighborhood of Jerusalem; the number of people living there doubled in recent years and this has caused significant problems due to active house demolitions that are conducted there, in addition of the bad prevailing socio economic situation and the bad living conditions of most people. One of these problems is the behavioral patterns as seen among the children. They've adopted a type of 'street culture' – a culture with no limits, unattached from family and community, a hopeless view of the future, no interest in schools and bad social behavior that is not being corrected. These problems aren't only documented in the collective observation, but are also observed by volunteers active in JCRD. This is very worrying and JCRD feels something has to be done now in order to prevent bigger social problems on the long run. These problems need to be tackled from the roots.

 

2-2 Project idea validation with community:

 

The idea of the program is to rehabilitate the children in order to become influential and active citizens within the community in the future. This program is working to build bridges between the individual and society, by developing the capacity and skills of individuals and enabling them to contribute in the development of the community.

 

JCRD has a good reputation among the society particularly because of its achievement in establishing a contemporary kindergarten that applies a modern curriculum depending on high technology and modern teaching methods. JCRD decision to establish the kindergarten came in response to the needs for 120 kindergartens in East Jerusalem. According to some estimates around 90% of the 15,000 of Palestinian children (3 and 4 years old) are not enrolled in any pre-school education facility. Moreover, according to JCSEC, there is a short down of 14000 classrooms.

 

 

2-3 Project Justification:

 

JCRD has hands-on-knowledge about the deteriorating situation in city. Population growth has caused significant problems due to the bad socio economic situation within the city and the bad living conditions of most people. This coupled with the policy of house demolition which has been active in the area and leave very severe impacts on the people. One of these problems is the behavioral patterns as seen among the children. They've adopted a type of 'street culture' – a culture with no limits, unattached from family and community, a hopeless view of the future, no interest in schools and bad social behavior that is not being corrected. School drop out rates are very high among youth in East Jerusalem. This is very worrying and JCRD feels something has to be done now in order to prevent further social problems on the long run. These problems need to be tackled from the roots; re-establishment of strong links between children, youth and their community, family and schools, but most of all, themselves. Parents feel they are 'loosing their children to the streets' and the need for a project to deal with this is very strong; the community is very aware of the problems and difficulties that the children are facing nowadays, but they don't have the instruments to deal with this, due to their weak socio economic position.

 

The aim is to provide these children with instruments that will enable them to deal and ultimately change their current deprived situation.

 

a- Organization’s experience relevant to this project:

In the past years JCRD has been acvtive in dealing with children. In addition to the curriculam, JCRD teaches in its kindergarten liberal values and peace education. The kindergarten is also equipped with a sophisticated camera system connected to the internet which enables families to watch their kids anytime.

Recently, JCRD expand the construction of its building and added more facilities including a swimming pool and a mulitipurpose hall. This will enbale the JCRD to implement its activities in a more convenient and comfortable way.

 

 


 

  1. (3) Project Design:

3-1 Existing Problem:

The target groups for this project are:

- children at risk

 

Children at risk:

Children in the age group 7 to 12 years that are defined as being 'at risk' to fall in to criminal activities, drug abuse, drop out or any other related problems. All these children come from weak socio-economic background/ difficult social areas as a result of the bad living conditions they're in; they're being exposed to violence and emotional neglect. Most children come from broken homes and/ or their parents are involved in drug abuse. These children turn to a life on the street, because they don't feel like they have a home; with their families or at school.

 

 

3-2 Project objective:

To give children alternative options for spend their time in the streets by improving the lives, living conditions and prospects for the future of those children.

 

 

 

3-3 Project objective indicators:

 

Output

Key performance indicators

Sports activities

  • Atleast 15 participants participate in each of the courses. Verification through number of applications
  • Consistent attendance of participants in courses of 80 % of the total course hours per student, which is 48 hours. Verification through attendance sheets
  • Improvement of physical condition of all participants. Verification through trainer’s report
  • At least 60 % of the participants rate the quality of the course high. Verification through a questionnaire

Arts activities

  • Atleast 15 participants in each of the courses. Verification through number of applications
  • Consistent attendance of participants in courses of 80 % of the total course hours per student, which is 48 hours. Verification through attendance sheets
  • At least 60 % of the participants rate the quality of the course high. verification through questionnaire
  • All participants show improvement in their skills throughout the course. Verification through teacher's report

Educational and cultural trips
  • Atleast 50 children participate in each of the 8 trips. Verification through number of applications
  • At least 60 % of the participants rate the quality of the trips as high. verification through report on trip

Children at risk program
  • Consistent attendance of participants in meetings of 80 % of the total contact hours per child. Verification through attendance sheets
  • Children activitely participate in activities and meetings. Verifications through narrative report
  • Children show a significant positive change in their behavior and self-esteem. Verification through counselors report
  • Children show a more active role in their school. Verification through counselor’s visits to schools
  • A significant improvement in the relationship between the children and their families. Verification through evaluation report of counselor and family visits
  • At least 60 % of the participants (and families) rate the quality of the program as high. verification through questionnaire

 

3-4 Project outputs:

 

The professional specialized team counselor. weekly collective meeting with the children – done by the counselor.

 

 

Measurement Unit

Quantity

Outputs[1]

No.

Part time contracts

5

Employment of 4 trainers and 1 counselor
  1.  

Fax

Computers

Carpet

1

4

1

Improving the service provided by the organization, by purchasing equipment
  1.  

 

 

Community

Centre

 

 

 

1

Children consider JCRD as a second home, through the different activities the Society is offering
  1.  

 

Trips

 

8

Raised cultural awareness of children, through cultural and recreational trips
  1.  

 

Sports courses

 

4

Improving physical and mental condition of children through sports activities
  1.  

 

Arts courses

 

4

Discovering creative talents among youth and direct their energy towards constructive activities through arts and cultural activities
  1.  

 

 

Children at risk program:

 

 

 

meetings

 

 

12

Parents being aware of problems children are facing and know how to deal with this through the collective meetings with the families
  1.  

 

 

Meetings

 

 

40

Improving children’s behavior and enhance self-esteem through meeting between the counselor and the children
  1.  

 

 

Meetings

 

 

12

Decrease the gap between the children and their families through meetings with the families at individual level
  1.  

 

 

Field Visits

 

 

12

Decreasing the gap between the school and the children, through one monthly visit from the counselor to the schools.
  1.  

 

 

volunteers

 

 

20

Volunteers trained in dealing with children at risk through the training program for the Volunteers
  1.  

 

 

Outputs/ Phases

Main Activities

  
 
 

Preparation phase

(including output 1, 2 and 3)

Hiring and honorarium of the counselor

  

Preparing the center

  

Buy the equipment

  

Signing the agreement with the Directorate of Education

  

Counselor prepare action plan for children at risk

  

Hiring and honorarium of the arts and sports trainers

  

Training volunteers by the counselor

  

Output 4

Preparation of trips

  

Recreational trips, once every six weeks

  

Output 5

Sports activities

Preparation by trainer for sports activities

  

Sports activities

  

Output 6

Arts activities

Preparation by trainer for arts activities

  

Arts activities

  

Output 7 to 11

Children at risk program

(see annex A for detailed implementation plan)

  

Closing phase

Evaluation

  

 

 

  1. (4) Project Implementation Plan:

Project duration (months): 12 months Expected start Expected start date: 00/00/2009

Expected end date: 00/00/2010

In annex 1 a detailed implementation plan for the 'children at risk' program is provided

  1. (5) Project Budget:

Needed funding total

Description

Item

No.

 

 

Human Resources

1.

$ 6,000

$ 500 per month * 12 months in a total of 100 hrs per month in an average of $5 per hour

Psycho-social counselor

1-1

$ 6,000

 

Subtotal

 

 

 

Activities

2

$ 2,800

1 trip every 6 weeks

350$ per trip * 8 trips

Recreational and educational tours and trips

2-1

$ 1,200

$ 600

 

4 hrs/week, 12.5 $/hr – 6 months course, total 96 hrs

4 hrs/week, 12.5 $/hr – 3 months course, total 48 hrs

Arts Activities

Drama

Painting

 

2-2

$ 600

$ 600

 

 

4 hrs/week, 12.5 $/hr – 3 months course, total 48 hrs

4 hrs/week, 12.5 $/hr – 3 months course, total 48 hrs

 

Sports Activities

Judo

Capueira

 

2-2

$ 3,000

 

Sub total

 

 

 

Maintenance and equipment purchase

3

$ 4,000

4 computers * $1,000

Computers

3-1

$ 150

$ 150

Fax

3-2

$ 250

 

Carpet

3-3

$ 1,200

$ 100 per month * 12 months

Stationary

3-4

$ 1,200

$1,200

Educational Games

3-5

$ 1,200

$ 100 per month * 12 months

Hospitality

3-6

$ 7,600

 

Subtotal

 

 

 

Running Costs

4

$ 1,200

$ 100 per month * 12 months

Telecommunication & electricity &internet

4-1

$ 1,200

 

Subtotal

 

$ 2,000

Producing booklet about the project

Final evaluation & reporting

5

$ 2,000

 

Subtotal

 

$ 19,800

 

Total budget

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(6) Monitoring and Evaluation Indicators:

 

 

For monitoring and evaluating the succes of our project, we will use the key performance indicators as mentioned above. The project staff will be mainly responsible for monitoring and evaluating the project activities, through narrative reports and questionnaires. In charge of the monitoring will be the project coordinator.

 

In addition, we will measure the overall succes of the project through the following indicators:

  • all activities/ outputs start and finish according to proposed implementation plan
    • all activities fit within the proposed budget
    • all key performance indicators as mentioned above are met

 

(7) Sustainability of the Proposed Project:

 

The purchase of equipment and furniture is a long term investment and its’ benefits will go beyond the lifecycle of this specific project.

 

By training the volunteers within this specific area, we are building a solid network of volunteers with the needed experience within this field.

 

The success of this project will attract under funding organizations to financially support the prolonging of a project as such. Also, the success of this project will provide more support from the local community, which could lead to more active support and contribution (e.g. volunteers) to JCRD.

 

  • project activities and outputs (results) that will continue beyond the period of funding:

 

The experience and knowledge the volunteers will gain from participating in this project will of course not end with this project. The benefits of these trained volunteers will continue for a long time and can be multiplied through sharing this knowledge and experience with other organizations.

 

As mentioned in the former paragraph, the benefits from the new purchased equipment will sustain after this project.

 

After this project, the children in the children-at-risk program, will have more self-esteem, show good behavior and will know how to deal with difficult situations they face daily. The whole society will benefit from this.

 

Also, through the different activities, children will learn how to spend their leisure time in a more positive and constructive way. This will help them to keep themselves away from delinquent behavior.

 

Finally, the cultural awareness will teach children about their own community and culture. This way, they will appreciate it more and enhance their sense of belonging to the community. This will decrease the gap between the community and the youth.

 

 

 

ANNEX 1: DESCRIPTION 'CHILDREN AT RISK' PROGRAM

 

As mentioned in the beginning the children will be transferred or identified through our relationship with the schools and through social worker who pursue children in schools where the cases of children facing learning difficulties, behavioral problems and acute are nominated. We mean by nomination providing social report of the child who is cabdidating to take part in the Forum, contains general background about the situation of the family, the academic, behavioral, and health situation. This stage is called the nomination stage followed by the acceptance stage where families, childs and the counselor at school are invited for a meeting with the professional committee (the counselor and the coordinator in the Forum) to debate on the motives of JCRD for the nomination process with the need to take the written approval from the parents of their wish the nomination of their son to be a member in the Forum, as well as the approval of the child itself.

After reviewing the case, the decision of the Commission that composed of the counselor at schools and the professional committee at the Forum crew for a decision either receiving or not receiving child and refer to the families about those results.

 

There is a special program for dealing with families according to the situation of each family individually. The program includes field visits by the counselor in the Forum for the families in addition to family counseling program, which sometimes interferes with providing a favorable atmosphere for a positive relationship between the child and his family, after they are interfering with each child and his family and end up interfering with the family suffering from the drug phenomenon helping to guide drug addict to the appropriate remedial, and also search for positive sources within the family such as the elder brother or sister or an influential person in the family to deal with.

In the case of divorce we will be dealing with both parents separately for a certain period in an attempt to convince them to gather them for counseling for the child's sake the child is the focus point.

 

Children with a difficult social life (children at risk) have expertise and social intelligence enables them to deal with problems and complexities of everyday life, but without stimulating mechanisms for appropriate solution, but dealing with what is familiar to the culture of the street and the danger of playing the role of the intelligent person and evade responsibility, in addition to the fact that these children do not have the real picture of themselves and the capacities they have as using these capabilities in a negative way, for example the use of social intelligence to evade certain position through the use of mechanisms of self-defense, such as lying, and the initial denial of reality and taking defensive positions constantly, as well as the use of offensive language as an essential component of everyday culture and to deal with topics such as theft as open, acceptable and permissible practitioner as part of their awareness of the street culture itself.

 

IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 'CHILDREN AT RISK' PROGRAM

 

 

 

Outputs/ Phases

Main Activities

  
 
 

Preparation phase

Hiring the Counselor

  

Preparing the center

  

Buy the equipments

  

Signing the agreement with the Directorate of Education in order to transform the children from school

  

- prepare action plan

  

- Processing the standards and models which will be used to accept children (social and psychological reports)

  

- nomination of the children by providing social report of the child who is going to take part in the Forum, contains general background about the situation of the family, the academic, behavioral, and health situation. This stage is called the nomination stage followed by the acceptance stage where families, childs and the counselor at school are invited for a meeting with the professional committee (the counselor in the Forum) to debate on the motives of the African Society for the nomination process with the need to take the written approval from the parents of their wish the nomination of their son to be a member in the Forum, as well as the approval of the child itself.

  

Hiring the Activities and sports trainers

  

Output 1

the reception of children, familiarizing them about the Forum and the expected effects of their presence there at the individual, family and school levels.

  

Preparing a weekly activity schedule (cultural, social, sports, skills)

  

Prepare a remedial individual plan for each participants from the counselor

  

Dividing the children into groups according to their social backgrounds and the behavioral phenomenon and prepare a collective working plan for them.

  

Weekly collective meeting with the children with the counselor,

  

Weekly individual meeting with the children with the counselor

every week one child

  

Output 2

(preparing an intervention plan with the families)

Monthly field visits to the families for following up in order to link the relation between working with those children and their family problems.

  

A school intervention plan in coordination with the social workers in the children schools and organize field visits to them- monthly visits from the counselor and weekly visits from the supervisors.

  

An individual intervention with families according to the need as well as monthly meeting with the families from the counselor.

  

Output 3

(preparing the non-formal activities)

2 hrs/ day

 

  

Recreation and educational tours and trips

  

Sports activities

  

Artistic activities

  

Output 4

(Community Raising awareness about drop outs from school and other behavioral problems)

Launch the Forum friends club which will include university students interested in community work, and train them then integrate them in the society to improve awareness through:

  

Train those Volunteers

(the counselor will train them 4hr/week)

  

Bulletins and publications

  

Open discussion with specialists in the field.

  

Workshops

  

Train some distinct volunteers on some cases from the Forum as a part of strengthening and developing their experiences.

  

The Forum friends should prepare a research under the supervision of the counselor, its aim to prepare a research about the social problems by focusing on the drop outs from school and children at social risk.

  

Closing phase

Evaluation for each child