Applying Safe Behaviours: Preventing and Responding to Peer Violence Amongst Children and Young People

SOS Children’s Villages is a non-governmental and non-denominational child-focused organization that provides direct services in the areas of care, education and health for children at risk of losing, or who have already lost, parental care. The organisation builds the capacity of the children’s caregivers, their families, and communities to provide quality care. In addition, SOS Children’s Villages advocates for the rights of children without parental care. Founded in 1949, SOS Children’s Villages operates in the spirit of the UN Convention on the Right of the Child and the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children in over 130 countries. The Applying Safe Behaviours project was implemented with the direct participation of five SOS Children’s Villages member associations that coordinated all activities in: • Belgium • France • Italy • Romania • Spain PARTICIPATION OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE The participation of children and young people within the project activities has been vital in ensuring that their voices shaped the content of all resources developed and implemented during the project. 1 PROJECT PARTNERS 4 APPLYING SAFE BEHAVIOURS A National Child and Young Expert Group (NCYEG) was formed with 8-12 children and young people in each project country. The groups were responsible for sharing their expertise and providing inputs and recommendations, and for creating the content of the children’s booklet. Two young people from each national project team were engaged in the project as part of the International Young Expert Group (IYEG). The group started their role in the project by holding peer-to-peer interviews with 47 other young people, in order to understand what adults can do to better support children and young people affected by peer violence.