Associated Partners

Network for Children’s Rights

Non Governmental Organization

Athens

11b Alkamenous (Larissa Station), 10439 Athens

Greece

Panagiotis Christodoulou

The Network For Children’s Rights is a Greek non-governmental organization established in 2004 by children, parents, teachers, writers, academics, Greek parliament representatives and EU parliament representatives. The Network’s primary aim is to raise public awareness and actively intervene to address challenges related to Children’s Rights.
Since its establishment, the Network has undertaken a series of important initiatives and actions with regard to the application of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN) in Greece, as well as the promotion of diversity and the elimination of discriminations.

NRC’s main goals are:
• To promote the dialogue between teachers, children and parents about Children’s Rights.
• To increase society’s awareness & sensibility towards Children’s Rights.
• To guard the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• To demonstrate the challenges that children of sensitive groups face (e.g. migrant children, abused and exploited children, children in prisons or institutions)
• To conduct research and collect data and statistics in reference to Children’s Rights.
• To collaborate, in order to solve problems with authorities, international organizations and other NGOs, in Greece and in Europe.
• To promote effective political solutions and reforms in cooperation with key stakeholders.

The Network for Children’s Rights has extensive experience in initiating and managing several projects around the wider field of children’s rights, and specifically with regard to promoting diversity and social inclusion as well as combating inequalities (ethnic, cultural, social, economic etc). The Network’s wide range of activities includes research, substantive fieldwork with its main target group (children and their families), the continuous promotion
of multiculturalism and adequate dissemination of results and activities.

The Network has successfully implemented several activities, programs, workshops, seminars, raising awarness activities and Campaigns within past projects and has the capacity to effectively build extensive networks and bring together stakeholders from many different fields (e.g. educational, academic, political, humanitarian backgrounds) in order to achieve the best possible results.

In particular, it has received funding for the implementation of projects from many credible institutions in Greece and abroad (such as Van Leer Institute, Niarchos Foundation, Bodosaki Institute, Save the Children International, Open Society Foundation, EEA Grants, the General Secretariat for Youth etc).

The Network is currently working with a large network of schools, cultural/artistic institutes and other organizations nationwide. Furthermore, it is a member of the “Eurochild” and has regularly participated in joint international meetings for the fruitful discussion and reflection on the current needs of children as well as the action planning to tackle these problems and promote children’s rights. It also implements Educational Programs under the auspices of the Ministry of Education.

Τhe most indicative activities/projects implemented during the last 5 years are the following:
- On July 2016 the Network, in collaboration with the Municipality of Athens, organised the project "School Without Border" for refugee children. The project included Greek, English and mother tongue lessons (Arabic and Farsi) and common activities (such as arts and sports) with children from Athens city centre.

- Since April 2016, the Network, in partnership with Save the Children International, runs a Children Protection Unit (CPU), a Children Friendly Space (CFS) and a Mother Baby Area (MBA) in two main refugee camps of Attica (Schisto and Elliniko), providing everyday recreational and pedagogical activities for children and adolescents. Moreover, in Schisto camp, the Network offers to its target group social, psychological and legal services.

- Since October 2014 the Network implements the project “Day Care Center for Children” into the Athens Solidarity Center (“Frourarheio”). The Solidarity Center provides primary health care, legal aid, employability support and children and family support. It operates as a civil society hub offering space for civil society organizations in Greece (such as the Network, Solidarity Now, PRAXIS etc) to implement their projects, cooperate, co-design and jointly execute impactful actions towards poverty alleviation and social integration of the marginalized. The Network offers to children and their families visiting the Solidarity Center a series of services, such as group and individual pedagogical, learning and creativity activities, educational programs, socialization and integration initiatives, Greek lessons, psychological counseling, family support (distribution of cloths, food, toys & other essentials – upon availability), library services etc.

- Since October 2012 the "Culture Lab” is operating in the NRC’s premises, hosting children of 25 different ethnicities. It includes a children's library, educational programs, learning support classes, creative groups, reading groups, cultural activities, web-radio, etc. Moreover, the Culture Lab hosts seminars and offers legal, social, psychological and material support for children’s families along with recreational excursions, educational visits to museums etc.

- Since October 2016 the Network is operating "The “Network Youth Center”.

Through its large network of partners and the long experience in dealing with human rights of the child issues.