Say Yes, Spring 2006: Adolescents, Families and Communication

Participants at the My Family consultation meeting contributed their views and perspectives on adolescent issues prior to the planning meeting in February
Photograph Rana Mullan © UNICEF Turkey 2006

Towards Good Governance,
Justice and Protection
for Children in Turkey

With the launch of a major new child protection project at the beginning of the year, Towards Good Governance, Justice and Protection for Children in Turkey or Children First for short, one of the Government’s main objectives is to improve communication and resolve conflict between parents and older children as they negotiate adolescence. Under the ægis of Children First, a multi-sectoral drive coordinated by the MONE General Directorate of Special Education was initiated to support families with adolescents through the Family and Child Training (FACT) Programme.

Stakeholders met at a planning workshop in February to discuss points that the new FACT programme, known as My Family, should address over the next 22 months. Since this is very much a new area for FACT, participants were also asked to develop a roadmap for the programme. Families and adolescents took part in both the workshop and a preparatory meeting held prior to this.

Introducing My Family, MONE summarised the objectives of the planning workshop as:

Recognising that both parents are equally responsible for raising their child, what do we think about respect for children’s rights and effective child-rearing practices?
What issues and conflicts arise between adolescents and their parents or guardians?
How do we involve adolescents in the formulation of a solution to these issues and conflicts?
What can institutions that offer services to families do to strengthen the relationship between adolescents and their families?

Dilek Esen: We should be able to discuss sexual issues and questions about sexual matters with our parents
Photograph Rana Mullan
© UNICEF Turkey 2006

Through a combination of group activity and discussion, participants explored a range of topics prepared by adolescents and families at the preparatory meeting.

Dilek Esen, who took part in both events along with her parents and younger brother said:

We need psychological support when we are trying to resolve the problems and issues that concern us -- we certainly don’t need the pressure that society, our families and other adults tend to put us under.

Canser Karataş, who also attended both workshops, stressed that:

It’s so easy to pick up the wrong ideas. We want to get the knowledge and skills we need from the right sources. Of these, I think that the most important skills would be the capacity for self-expression, self-assertion, communication, respect for the thoughts and opinions of others and to be informed about sexual matters at school or in some other formal setting.

Canser Karataş: We want people to listen to us -- we believe that talking to each other and, perhaps more importantly, listening to each other is the only way to solve our problems
Photograph Rana Mullan
© UNICEF Turkey 2006

Psychiatrist, Professor Füsun Akkoyun observed that:

Children First represents a very important step forward for Turkey’s adolescents -- as the next generation of parents, adolescents are very important to the future development of their community.

Psychiatrist, Dr Kültegin Ögel said that:

n order to reach a solution to adolescent issues, it is better to work with the family unit rather than the individual child. The focus of the workshop on action to prevent these issues before they arise rather than reacting to challenges as they occur is very important.

Participants agreed on the particular importance of the pre-school stage as a time when the family plays the foremost role in meeting the child’s basic needs, influencing the development of behaviour and habits, sexuality and gender identity.

Accordingly parents and guardians need to be equipped with quality information and necessary skills that will help them to ensure the child’s healthy growth and development. To this end, MONE will work to improve the quality of the preschool education system. Parents of children taking part in pre-school education would be able to offer valuable feedback to educationalists on the various needs and requirements of their children as they begin the socialisation process at the start of their schooling.

The MONE Special Education and Guidance General Directorate agreed with parents that a new programme addressing the needs of families with adolescents is necessary. Inter-sectoral cooperation would be essential in order to identify the roles of stakeholders in addressing a spectrum of issues including:

Communication with adolescents and younger children;
Conflict and dispute resolution and negotiation;
Positive disciplinary methods;
Developmental stages and characteristics of adolescence;
Family structure (married/divorced, adopted, fostered, single-parent);
Sexuality including gender and identity, choice, behaviour, reproduction and health;
Addressing various forms of violence including prevention, legislation and institutional approaches;
Children’s rights;
Adolescent participation in decision-making processes at home and in the community;
Approaches to -- and care of -- children in high-risk groups such as the disabled, those who are working or using drugs on the street and children coming in contact with the law;
Adolescents and the media;
Consumer habits and adolescents;
Educational issues such as academic problems, communication between school and family, examination stress, studying and school drop-out.

The workshop identified separate roles for the various sectors who will each draft a plan of action outlining how they propose to realise their commitment to My Family and draft recommendations for the practical application of their plans.

THE MY FAMILY WORKSHOP

Participants included: the Ministry of Social Security Department of Child Labour; the Institute of Family Research; the Social Services and Child Protection Agency; the General Directorate of Youth and Sport; the Red Crescent; The Ministry of Justice; the Ministry of National Education (MONE); the Ministry of Interior; Turkish Radio and Television; the Children Who Want to Learn Foundation (TOÇEV); the Willows Foundation; Youth for Habitat; Local Agenda 21; members of parliament, civil society and non-governmental organisations, experts from Universities, parents and adolescents.