Brussels, June 27-29, 2017
Ellie Svetoslavova and Maggie Vasilovska, two of the peer educators of the Bulgarian Family Planning and Sexual Health Association (BFPA), represented our country in the institutions of the European Union in Brussels, where EU Fundamental Right Agency (FRA) together with the Maltese Presidency of the EU and the nongovernmental organization Eurochild presented the FRA’s Annual Report 2017.
17 children and young people from different European countries participated in the meeting, discussing and questioning topics such as child poverty, social exclusion, migration and child and youth participation. Along with them, as their mentor and supporting person, was Dr. Krasimir Romanov – the coordinator of the BFPA’s branch in Pleven. For the first time children from 9 different countries had the opportunity to participate in that kind of event and to meet and discuss together with MEPs, ministers from different national governments, ombudsmen, members of European Council and international institutions for human rights.
Statistics from 2016, included in The Report: 2007-2017, show that “One out of three children in the EU is living in risk of poverty”. Other main topics in the document concern the economical progress of the countries – members of EU, challenges, such as corrupt practices, youth unemployment, nationalistic and populist political movements, migration crisis.
Some children, including Bulgarians, were interviewed regarding their understanding of the messages ‘If you cannot help 100 children, then help just one. BE part of the CHANGE.’, ‘#INSPIRE’, ‘The opposite of poverty is not well-being, but justice’, etc.
The two girls participated in groups on different topics, at the end of the event after the hard work they gave the organizational team feedback and recommendations: to give children more opportunities to express their opinion; to let them to take part in the organization of the event itself; to work independently on projects and on short speeches; to participate more in discussion panel (to have children’s panels as well); more time for preparation; more open, colorful and child-friendly work space, and many others – including some humorous ones, of course.
In the frame of their visit in the European Parliament – a part of their agenda in Brussels – Maggie and Ellie met and talked with the MEPs Andrey Kovachev, Eva Meydell and Vladimir Uruchev, who came especially to greet them.
Children and youth participation is one of the working areas, on which BFPA has been partnering with the National Network for Children. The participation of the two peer educators in the international event in Brussels was a part of the mutual work of the two NGOs.
