Salesians launch project to teach youth their rights, rights of youth around the globe

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries have launched the “Network for Human Rights: Young People Mobilized for the Rights of Children and Youth Around the World” project in the provinces of Salamanca, Valladolid and León, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain. The project trained three groups of youth, ranging in age from 13 to 21.

Before starting the training, educators went through theoretical and practical training to learn about rights violations and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Agenda 2030, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. They also received information about the project’s educational materials and training course, including an interactive clue game and complementary activities with online youth meetings, a photo exhibition, and a video forum.

During the training, youth solved a puzzle about a rights violation in order to put the material in context. After the training, youth developed their own awareness initiatives by choosing a right and then working to make this right visible in their environment and educational institution.

Youth also viewed the film “Libertad” created by the Salesian Missions Office in Madrid. The film illustrated human rights violations in Pademba Prison in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Also, on display was the photo exhibit “Rights of Children and Youth. A Global View.”

One Salesian said, “These activities helped youth to be able to reflect on human rights violations suffered by children and youth in different parts of the world. This training achieved its goal of helping youth to understand their rights and mobilizing them into action to bring greater awareness in their communities about these issues.”

Salesian missionaries have been working for many years to provide educational and workforce development opportunities for poor youth and women in Spain through residential, technical, and vocational training programs.

Close to 32 percent of young Spanish workers under the age of 25 are unemployed and a growing number of them can’t afford to buy enough food to live. Poor youth with few employable skills struggle the most to find and retain stable employment. Women in Spain face inequality in the workforce. They earn up to 14 percent less than men and represent only 34.5 percent of those listed as the highest earners in Spain.

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – Spain – Young people in Castile and Leon mobilize for children’s rights by developing solidarity initiatives

Salesian Missions – Spain

World Bank – Spain