DONOR: World Vision International
DURATION: October 2009 – May 2011
LOCATION: Wider region of Banja Luka
OVERALL GOAL: The goals of this project were to conduct:
• 96 workshops on topic “Combating Trafficking in persons” for 150 children / future peer-educators
• 36 workshops for 48 schoolteachers
• 12 theatre plays in 12 primary schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina is still in transition to effective democracy. Civil society remains weak, particularly in engaging with government authorities, and authorities are often suspicious of citizens’ groups. B&H’s geographical location between eastern and western Europe, combined with inadequate border controls, has made it a significant human trafficking route.
Traffickers use a variety of methods to recruit their victims, including advertisements in newspapers and direct contact with victims through networks of recruiters.
Bearing in mind that employment rate in BiH and living standard of its citizens are very low, it is easy to recognize the danger for young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina to become victims of trafficking in persons while looking for better life opportunities.
Therefore, it was necessary to organize and conduct various educational activities, particularly among endangered and easily manipulated groups, such as young adolescents.
It was our aim to empower pupils/children and their schoolteachers to organize and facilitate different educational activities on the topic “Combating Trafficking in Persons” with the goal of permanent education of new generations about this life important issue.
This specific project had following outputs:
• Increased level of knowledge and awareness, amongst children – peer educators, about topic “Combating trafficking in persons”.
• Changes in attitudes and behaviour toward topic “Combating trafficking in persons” amongst children – peer educators.
• Selected children (peer-educators) have been equipped with “peer-education” skills and gender equality knowledge that will allow them to facilitate transfer of knowledge on topic “Combating trafficking in persons” to their peers.
• Selected schoolteachers have been equipped with knowledge and skills that would enable them to support good quality, independent and sustainable education on topic “Combating trafficking in persons” in primary schools.
• 96 workshops organized and held with 150 peer-educators,
• 36 workshops organized and held with 48 schoolteachers,
• 12 theatre plays organized and held with app. 800 pupils,
• 50 children tested/evaluated (pre-testing and post-testing activities). Results of internal evaluation, conducted among 50 children – peer educators, will show changes in level of knowledge, attitudes and behaviour.