Sometimes we shouldn't learn from our own mistakes

The child migration and trafficking prevention programme started in July 2004 and it is run in four communes from the Oas region (Gherta Mica, Calinesti Oas, Bixad and Tarsolt). Carried out in partnership with Terre des Hommes and CCFD, the programme aims at warning the children and parents from Ţara Oaşului about the dangers unaccompanied children migrating to Western Europe are exposed to.

The project actions focus on informing at local level, setting up a county network of child migration and trafficking prevention and developing partnerships with NGOs working in the field.

In 2005, within the Prevention of Child Migration and Trafficking project, the social workers, a psychologist and the community workers organized information meetings in the schools of the four communes, attended by 750 children. The talks focused on children's rights and the risks to which children going abroad alone are exposed. Support groups were held for teenagers, targeting age-specific issues, like: relationship with peers and parents, communication, conflicts, smoking, drinking and prospects. For the 8th-10th graders, HIV/AIDS information classes were held

The community workers visited about 300 families with children who had migrated or were at risk of migration. These families were informed about the risks to which children going abroad alone are exposed and the agencies they can turn to for help if they are in danger. 14 families benefited from psychological and legal counselling, and social care.

During the school activities and family visits, informative leaflets on child trafficking and child migration risks were distributed; leaflets and flyers on HIV/AIDS and the rights of the child were also handed out.

All children at risk of migration or of being migrated were recorded in a database. Until now, 523 children from the four communes were database-recorded, 209 as migrated and 314 at risk of migration.

Also during 2005, the project "A Chance for Everyone", financed by Fondation d'Auteuil from France, provided financial support to twelve 11th graders for continuing their studies. The youngsters selected for the project are at risk of abandoning school and migrating abroad, due to lack of money.

Thanks to a FONPC-funded project, a county child trafficking prevention and fight network was set up to draft a joint strategy for future actions. The project manager and three network members went on a study visit and exchange of experience in the Republic of Moldavia, where they had the chance to see the working methods and tools used by a similar network from that country. To widen the views and better understand the child migration and trafficking phenomenon, three FRCCF team members participated in an exchange of experience in France at project partner organisations and French authorities.

Thanks to UNICEF's financial assistance, a sociological study on Tara Oasului child migration phenomenon was published and released. The study also comprises best practices of child migration and trafficking dangers prevention. Moreover, legal guidelines were drafted with Terre des hommes Foundation funds to compile national and international legislation in the field of human trafficking and illegal migration. In partnership with the association Casa dei Diritti Sociali from Italy, a study on Romanian unaccompanied children in Rome was drafted, also with Terre des hommes funds.

Between August - December 2005, the programme of national interest Reintegrate and Support Repatriated or Trafficking Victim Children was carried out in the counties of Bistrita Nasaud, Maramures, Satu Mare and Salaj. In every county, services were developed to benefit the project beneficiaries.