Eurochild Annual Conference 21-23 November 2007 Malta

Eurochild's Annual Conference took place from 21 to 23 November 2007 in Malta, under the title:

"Preventing social exclusion of children and young people in Europe:
Participation & early intervention"

It was co-organised with Eurochild's member organisation Foundation for Social Welfare Services in Malta. The event was attended by 190 participants (including 120 international and 60 Maltese guests of whom around 15 were children & young people) and was overall a success.

On the occasion of its fourth annual conference, Eurochild focused attention on three core themes that are considered crucial to preventing social exclusion and poverty among children and young people in Europe:

1.    Family & parenting support
2.    Child & youth participation
3.    Early years education & care

Each of these themes was explored through in depth workshops running over the two days of the conference.

Please find here all the relevant Background Documents and Presentations made during the plenary sessions and the 3 work shops (to be completed):

General:

• Conference flyer
• Programme of the Conference
  
• Short biographies of the speakers
• List of participants
• Evaluation form
  

Plenary sessions:

• Opening address by Hon Dolores Cristina, Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity, Malta
  
• Presentation by Maire-Anne Parskevas, European Commission, Unit for Inclusion, Social Policy Aspects of Migration, Streamlining of Social Policies
  
• in absence: Speech by Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, Member of the European Parliament (in French)
• Presentation by Mark Harrison, Social Action Research Centre, University of East Anglia, UK (PowerPoint, text of presentation)
  
• Presentation by Jukka Pyhäjoki (text of presentation, PowerPoint), National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health, Finland
• Presentation by Andrew Azzopardi, University of Malta (short CV)
  
• Intervention by Vladimir Tchernega, Council of Europe (short abstract, in French)
  
• Closing speech by Hon Anton Tabone, Speaker of the House from the Maltese Parliament
  

Workshop I - Family & Parenting Support (facilitator: Anne Williams):

• Programme of Workshop I
  
• Background paper for Workshop I
• Key messages from Eurochild's Members' Exchange Seminar (Belfast, April 2007)
• Presentation by Vorarlberger Kinderdorf (Austria)
• Presentation by Social Activities and Practices Institute - SAPI (Bulgaria) (short abstract, PowerPoint)
  
• Presentation by Magda Kósáné Kovács (in English, in French), Member of the European Parliament (Hungary) (short biography)
  
• Presentations by Dr Angela Abela (short abstract, PowerPoint, short biography) & Mr Vladimir Tchernega (abstract, short biography), Council of Europe
  
• Presentation by the Directorate for Health and Social Affairs, Norway (abstract, PowerPoint)
• Presentation by SOS Children's Villages Romania & Bulgaria (abstract, PowerPoint)
• Presentation by Örebro County Council (Sweden) (abstract, PowerPoint)
  
• Presentation by Parenting UK (short abstract, long abstract, PowerPoint)
  
• Presentation by John Devaney & Trevor Spratt (UK/Northern Ireland) (abstract, PowerPoint presentation, short biography)
  
• Presentation by Children in Wales, UK (abstract, PowerPoint)
• Conclusions from Workshop I (PowerPoint Presentation from the plenary & final report by the facilitator)
  

• Background paper & programme for Workshop II
• Presentation by the Cyprus Children's Parliament
• Presentation of the Participation Network & Big Deal, Northern Ireland, UK
• Joint Presentation of the YES Forum (Europe-wide) & BAG EJSA (local level / Germany)
  
• Presentation of the Malta Child Protection Service
• Presentation of the Include Youth Project, Northern Ireland, UK
• Recommendations and conclusions from Workshop II (to come)
  

Workshop III - Early Years Education & Care (facilitator: Bronwen Cohen, Children in Scotland):

• Programme of Workshop III
  
• Background paper for Workshop III
• Presentation by Ritva Semi, Finland
• Presentation by Ene Tomberg, Estonian Union for Child Welfare
• Conclusions from workshop III
  

* Just before Eurochild's Annual Conference, the European Regional Training Seminar of the International Foster Care Organisation (IFCO) took place in Malta on 18-21 November. Several speakers and participants consequently joined Eurochild's conference. For more information on the event: http://malta2007.ifco.info