Children & Adults, Partners for Change?

Once upon a time....CHILDREN AS ACTORS FORTRANSFORMINGSOCIETY

27th July – 2nd August 2015 Caux, Switzerland

Once upon a time...

there was a remarkable conference called CATS...

and it wanted to change the world...

by including children and young people.

There, many children and adults worked together...

and had lots to say!

CATS is the result of four big CATS...

and takes place in the beautiful Caux Palace in Switzerland.

There are many ways to get there...

and a few costs.

Hope to hear from you soon!

Help us complete the story in July 2015...

… there was a remarkable conference called CATS…

Adults and Children

deepen their understanding of participation and challenge attitudes and beliefs about what children are capable of achieving

share practical experiences, resources and tools

identify opportunities for collaboration

create networks and partnerships

CATS is a unique space where children, young people and adults are working together in mutual respect towards a more just, inclusive and sustainable society, where all can realise their fundamental human rights and potential.

Over six days, the Caux Palace becomes a meeting place for an international community of people fighting for the rights and well-being of children around the world.CATS is a powerful learning experience for all ages where:

Children develop their expertise as advocates, so they can go back to their own communities with will power and skills to make a positive difference.

Adults are equipped with new ideas and practices on children’s participation that allow them to work in meaningful partnership with children to bring about change.

understand together the contribution that each can make to realise children’s fundamental human right to participate in transforming society and realising their unique potential

… and it wanted to change the world...

CATS connects people and organisations in the world that are working for the participation of children and youth, offering them a space to learn from each other and to find a common voice.

The conference encourages the different sectors that impact children’s lives - such as health, education, justice, the social and private sectors - to work together towards child participation.

The goal of CATS is to make child participation a reality everywhere, and to support people, organisations and countries in finding the best ways to listen to children and involve them in decisions that affect them.

The CATS environment includes meeting interesting people, having deep conversations, and learning something new. The safety of the space allows people to express themselves

as they are and not judged by others.

Connecting

Integrating

Mainstreaming

Sharing

… by including children and young people.

CATS’ organisers share a set of common values concerning the rights of children and young people to participate in decisions affecting them, the importance of children’s well-being, and the power of children and young people as actors who can transform society in positive ways.

CATS organisers support efforts to make children’s participation rights a reality as stated in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN CRC). Children’s expression and participation should be valued and supported across settings and sectors,

Our aim is that:

CATS conferences model collaborative and inclusive participation and inter-generational partnerships

CATS’ organisers are accountable, ensuring that feedback received from children, young people and adults is acted upon to improve the CATS experience

so that girls and boys’ voices can be heard in families, alternative care settings, schools, communities, local and national governance, and broader practice and policy agendas concerning them.

This means we especially want to include children and young people in the key stages of CATS: the design, planning and management; the implementation; and the monitoring and evaluation, dissemination and feedback.

CATS fosters and supports inclusive participation opportunities for girls and boys of different ages, abilities and capacities, and backgrounds

CATS is a conference series that is genuinely co-created with children and young people

… There, many children and adults worked together…

This year children, young people and adults will look into the theme Children & Adults, Partners for Change? through the metaphor of building partnerships and collaboration as one builds a house. It will be a varied, creative, inclusive and fun programme co-designed and co-led by children and adults.

Therefore, the focus each day will be on a different aspect of the construction of the partnership. The first day will be about the blueprint, what needs to be in place before we start building. The second day

will focus on the foundations, the relationships that need to be fostered in order for the house to stand strong. The third day focuses on the walls, the groups that need to support one another for the house to be completed. The fourth day looks at the roof, the overarching partnerships that lead to beyond the house. Finally, the last day looks at the community and how partnerships built in the house are taken to a larger scale.

… and had lots to say!

“Last year I was more nervous on the stage than this year. I saw a lot of friends this year and I was very motivated to tell them what changes happened in my life over the past year; they expected me to inform them as their friend. I felt calm.

I felt better on the big stage being in front of all the people because I knew they had come from all over the world and that they would support me. People at CATS are friendly, open, and supportive and have good hearts.

I believe I can come again next year in order to share all the new things that I will have achieved and will have gone through.”

Mihaela, 26, Bulgaria - CATS14

“You just got to love CATS! There I had the chance to meet new people from all over the world and discuss with them about Us, children. It was great because children and adults were there for this main reason.

I was so glad to realise that my opinions and suggestions were taken into consideration and people heard what I had to say and told me their ideas as well. I learned about less fortunate countries and people who fight for what I take for granted. I learned about how we, children, can do change.

The conference made me more optimistic for the future,

with more confidence in my thoughts and ideas.”

Polyxeni, 17, Cyprus - CATS14

“All I have to say about CATS is that it was an absolutely amazing experience. What impressed me most was the amount of energy and positivity generated during the conference. The young people’s ideas and experiences were inspiring, while the adults’ attitude to listen was truly motivating. Thank you for the experience, and I hope to come back to CATS soon!”

Rebekah, 16, Malta - CATS14

“I learned that the children need to put more forward, to speak up, and help each other every day. I’d love to come back to CATS if it is possible.”

Thomas, 17, France - CATS14

“My experience at CATS 2014 was phenomenal. I gained confidence through speaking to people from all across the world. I participated in things that I never thought that I would be able to do; like speaking in front of everyone about why the organisation I was part of should not be closed.

CATS felt like a family which opened their arms the moment I arrived and still continues to do so. I am so glad that I was given this opportunity and got to represent Wales in CATS.”

Katherine, 13, Wales - CATS14

… CATS is the result of four big CATS (partner organisations)…

Initiatives of Change

www.fr.iofc.org

Created in 1952, Initiatives of Change France is a secular and apolitical non-profit organisation. Its mission is to develop active citizens, by working with children, youth, and adults to be partners for change to improve society. Its philosophy is mainly based on the words inspired by Gandhi, “Be the change you want to see in the world”. IofC France focuses on two areas of work targeted at children, youth, and adults in France and internationally: Active Citizens and Dialogue, and Youth and Children, with programmes based on children’s rights and children’s participation.

Eurochild

www.eurochild.org

Eurochild is a network of over 170 organisations and individuals working in and across Europe to promote the rights and well-being of children and young people. Eurochild is one of the largest advocacy organisations on children’s issues at EU level whose work is underpinned by the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

Child to Child

www.childtochild.org.uk

Child to Child is an international child rights development agency, located at the UCL Institute of Education, London. It is a pioneer of children’s participation and works to realise and mainstream children’s right to participate, as set out in Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. For over 30 years, Child to Child has been at the forefront of developing transformational approaches to children’s participation.

Universal Education Foundation

www.learningforwellbeing.org

The Universal Education Foundation envisions inclusive and supportive societies where children and adults respect each other as competent partners, and learn how to realise their unique potential throughout their lives. Towards this vision, UEF has convened Learning for Well-being initiatives in Europe and in Palestine, bringing together people and organisations from different sectors to undertake actions that emphasise the interconnectedness of the problems and situations affecting children’s lives.

In association with Korczak Association and Lumos.

Also participating are WorldVision and Bernard van Leer Foundation.

… and takes place in the beautiful Caux Palace in Switzerland.

The Caux Palace is situated above Montreux, Switzerland, from where it has a grandiose view over the Lake of Geneva. It has over 300 rooms and hosts various programmes throughout the summer.

The Caux Conferences are hosted by the CAUX-Initiatives of Change Foundation (CAUX-IofC), the Swiss body of Initiatives of Change International (IofC).

IofC is an NGO working to inspire, equip and connect people to address world needs, starting with themselves. It focuses on areas of trustbuilding, ethical leadership, and sustainable living, always seeking to connect personal change with global change.

The CAUX-IofC Foundation manages IofC activities in Switzerland as well as the Caux Conference Centre above Montreux.

Free time Caux’s beautiful situation above the Lake of Geneva offers an ideal environment for reflection. The conference schedule allows time for individual activities, reflection and outdoor exercise. In Summer, the weather should allow you to play tennis, volley, table tennis; to hike and sightsee; or to dip in the Lake of Geneva in Montreux.

Families Whole families are welcome to join in the conference. A kindergarten for 2-6 year olds is open during certain hours of the day.

… There are many ways to get there…

By plane: Find flights to Geneva International Airport, the closest to the conference venue. There is a train station on the ground floor from which you can take a train directly to Montreux. In Montreux, you can take the small train that goes up the mountain and stops in Caux.

By train: There are trains to Montreux coming from the mains Swiss train stations such as Zürich, Berne, Bâle, Geneva Cornavin and Lucerne. Once you arrive in Montreux, you can take the small train that goes up the mountain and stops in Caux. Visit www.sbb.ch

By car: Find your way to Montreux through “Autoroute du Rhône” or “Autoroute du Léman.” In Montreux, take “Route de Caux” that will lead you up the mountain to the Caux Palace. Click here for a detailed map of the area.

To come to the Caux Palace in Switzerland, please follow:

Address: Rue du Panorama 2 CH-1824 Caux

Tel.: +41 (0)21 962 91 11

Fax: + 41 (0)21 962 93 55 See more on Caux’s website: http://caux.iofc.org/

… and a few costs.

The total price of your stay at the conference is calculated by the following formula: Daily Accommodation Rate x Number of Nights + One-Time Registration Fee.

Daily Accommodation Rate (Includes room and full board)

One-Time Registration Fee

Age Swiss Francs (CHF)

Individual adults 165

Reduced adults

- Adults accompanying children

- Students (25+)

- Amis de Caux members

- IofC Regional Team Members

105

Youth 18-25 63

Children 6-17 50

Under 5 Free

Age Swiss Francs (CHF)

Adults 100

Youth 18-25 50

Group (with 1 or more children) 100

Should you need a visa to come to Switzerland, the Caux team can help you obtaining it once you have registered and specified that you need one.

If needed, contact the Core Team for further registration instructions (see “General Information” in the contacts section).

To register, click here: English / French / German

… Hope to hear from you soon!

General information: catsconference.caux@gmail.com

Programme contacts:

Jonathan Levy, Initiatives of Change, CATS Director: jonathan.levy@ic-fr.org

Luis Manuel Pinto, Universal Education Foundation, CATS Core Team: luis@learningforwellbeing.org

Communication & media contacts:

Cleo Fatoorehchi, Child to Child, CATS Core Team: c.fatoorehchi@ioe.ac.uk

Julia Movshovich, Initiatives of Change, CATS Core Team: julia.movshovish@ic-fr.org

Federico Lanzo, Eurochild, CATS Core Team: federico.lanzo@eurochild.org

Facebook page: iofcCATS

Twitter page: @CATS_Caux #CATS15

http://catsconference.com

Help us complete the story in July 2015!

Any more questions? Don’t hesitate! Contact us and we will reply within two days.