International Society for Mobile Youthwork (ISMO)
The goal of International Society for Mobile Youthwork (ISMO) is to discuss the concept of mobile youthwork both at national and international levels, such mobile work is elaborated on the basis of cooperation with other international organizations working with youth; the goal of ISMO is to adapt this experience to the specific conditions that exist in each country. It conducts conferences, seminars and symposiums to that end, the goal of those events is significant improvement of situation in which street children and adolescents live. Taking into account UN Conventions on Children’s Rights and through mobilization of corresponding local sources the civil-public forces are activated, they support development of socially vulnerable children and adolescents that will be founded on principles of sustainability, effectiveness and solidarity.
Recently, the number of street children in bigger towns of Georgia has significantly increased. They’re from problematic, socially vulnerable and often mentally challenged families. The economic difficulties of the country: poverty, unemployment and unstable employment are factors that encourage psychosocial deviations among street children and their families such as suicide, alcoholism, drug addiction, violence and other kinds of illegal behavior.
The negative attitude towards street children shown by the society is also an important factor, this attitude is manifested in violence and discrimination against those children. Nongovernmental organizations and state institutions working with street children try to realize the rights of street children, psychosocially rehabilitate and educate them through the special rehabilitation centers and shelters; those organizations also support integration of those children in the society, their protection from physical and psychological violence, insults and abuse, exploitation and discrimination.
In 2006 International Society for Mobile Youthwork “ISMO” in association with Georgian Association for Psychosocial Aid “Ndoba” implemented project titled “Training Program in Mobile Work with Socially Vulnerable Youth in Georgia”. The goal of the project was to improve the qualification of specialists working with young people based on the concept of mobile youthwork. The essence of the concept of mobile youthwork is to work with “difficult” children and adolescents in their living environment and decreasing the damage; besides, the concept implies cooperation with local agencies and nongovernmental organizations responsible for working on youth issues. One of the goals of the project was development of network activities. In total 3 trainings were held on mobile youthwork.
Based on the goals of the project, the government agencies/institutions and nongovernmental organizations that work on children’s and adolescents’ social issues were involved in the seminars (those organizations were society “Biliki”, Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, “Human”, Center for Social Adaptation of Children, Healthcare and Social Protection Service of Tbilisi City Hall, Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture, Human Resources Development Fund, Children Assistance Center, Office of Public Defender of Georgia, Children and Environment, Caritas Georgia, Ndoba and Sapari). Concept of mobile youthwork presented in the ISMO’s seminars offers an absolutely different approach to work with street children for the professionals dealing with social sphere and children. The main goal of that concept is to decrease damage and improve the conditions of street children according to their interests in the environment they live – street. That approach doesn’t mean they have to be placed in institutions, mobile work is complementary to the approach, which various Georgian nongovernmental and state organizations offer the street children, namely psychosocial rehabilitation, socialization and integration in society.
Introduction of mobile youthwork will encourage joint activities of state and nongovernmental organizations, it will make the public more active and that will make their activities even more effective.
Contact Person: Prof. Dr. Walther Specht
e-mail: profspecht@t-online.de
www.ismo-online.de
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