A workshop on the project “Chapter: Opening a new page – a movement to help children against physical threats and emotional repression” was held on November 21 in Porto, Portugal. The National Network for Children is a partner in the project, which is implemented by the PULS Foundation, Pernik. The other partners are EVRIS Foundation, Iceland, ADFP Foundation, Portugal, and Hope for Children, Cyprus.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the main partners: PULS Foundation – Ekaterina Veleva, Yulia Andonova and Andrian Georgiev; by the EVRIS Foundation, Iceland – Anna Margret; from Hope for Children, Cyprus – Sofia Leita and from the National Network for Children – Teodora Petrova.
During the workshop, a review was carried out of the project activities implemented so far. The main ones are: organizing Training for Trainers, which was held in Bulgaria by the PULS Foundation and gathered 28 participants; Organizing a round table, together with the Ombudsman of the Republic of Bulgaria, presenting alarming data on the use of corporal punishment over children in Bulgaria and launching a national alliance for the prevention of violence; preparing a screening study to be done among children, parents and professionals working with children, and the preparation of information material for pre-school children aimed at identifying violence and seeking help.
During the meeting, forthcoming project activities were discussed, including a national representative survey on parents’ attitudes to corporal punishment and its use as an educative method. The survey will be held next year in Bulgaria and Portugal. Also, impending activities related to an information and communication campaign in Bulgaria, Cyprus and Portugal, including the development of a website, printed materials, video clips, etc., were also discussed.
