European Social Network award win
SOS Children's Villages International won the European Social Network (ESN) European Social Services Innovation award (6 December) for their project 'Prepare for Leaving Care – A Child Protection System that Works for Professionals and Young People'.
Throughout the two-year project SOS Children's Villages teamed up with partners to develop and deliver training for care professionals. It also produced policy guidelines to help child protection systems support young people leaving alternative care, and ensure that the rights of young people are respected as they prepare for an independent life.
CELCIS was commissioned by SoS Children's Villages to produce the project guidance, and develop and deliver the training and included facilitating participation work with young people with first-hand experience in alternative care across Europe.
The project was carried out in co-operation with SOS Children's Villages' national associations in Croatia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania and Spain, and Eurochild.
To date, 1000 care professionals have received training on how to embed a child rights based approach into their daily work.