Growing up with dignity

Location and general information

Context

In Madagascar, the detention conditions of the approximately 950 incarcerated children are extremely precarious and detrimental to their proper development. Their basic needs (food, health and hygiene) are not even minimally met. Children are regularly victims of serious violence from prison officers, who are often unaware that children have rights. Finally, there is virtually no preparation for their socio-educational reintegration.

Project content

The project will run for 18 months and support 400 children (girls and boys) in six jails and 100 children living in two Grandir Dignement post-incarceration centres or supported by social workers. The aim is to provide educational, sports, literacy and occupational training activities, to improve their detention conditions and socio-educational integration so that they can live independent lives when they are released. The project involves daily contact with activity leaders, educators and trainers, six days a week both inside and outside prisons.

Objectives

• Improve the detention conditions and socio-professional integration of incarcerated children.
• Provide 400 incarcerated girls and boys with sports/educational activities and occupational trainingHelp
• 100 children or teenagers to reintegrate into society after their release
• Educate families and prison officers about children's rights, educational topics and gender issues
• Raise awareness among the general public to combat stigmatisation

Project activities

Objective 1

• Educational activities: (i) social and educational support (individual interviews for newcomers, individual information sheets, monthly individual interviews and weekly educational schedules), (ii) home and family visits to involve the families in the process and (iii) life project’ building and preparation for social reintegration.
• Sport and cultural activities to improve well-being : (i) artistic and cultural activities and (ii) sports activities.
• Occupational training and literacy relevant to the life project: (i) literacy activities and (ii) occupational training.

Objective 2

• Educational activities : (i) educational support, (ii) home and family visits and (iii) life project building and preparation for social integration.
• Sport and cultural activities: (i) artistic and cultural activities, (ii) sports activities and (iii) sports tournaments with other organisations.

Objective 3

• Raise family awareness of educational and social issues : (i) identify topics for family workshops and (ii) workshops.
• Raise awareness of educational and social issues among prison staff and social workers: identify topics for workshops and (ii) workshops.

Objective 4

• Establish dialogue with the communities and local authorities to combat stigmatisation: (i) meetings with judiciary and ministry of justice officers and (ii) meetings with local organisations, local authorities and community leaders.
• Raise awareness among the population to combat stigmatisation: (i) run an awareness communication campaign and (ii) distribute an awareness media release.