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Felisa
Tibbitts, Case Studies in Human Rights
Education: Examples from Central and Eastern Europe,
Council of Europe/HREA, 1997 INFORMAL EDUCATION ON A NATIONAL LEVEL: SLOVENIA AND THE "ALL DIFFERENT, ALL EQUAL" YOUTH CAMPAIGN
The Youth Department of the Slovenian Ministry of Education vigorously adopted the Council of Europe's 1995 Youth Campaign "All Different, All Equal", directly sponsoring and inspiring supportive activities throughout the country. The Youth Department co-finances numerous humanitarian, ecological, educational and international exchange programmes in conjunction with local youth clubs and organizations. For the Youth Campaign, a Slovenian National Committee was established, comprised of youth specialists and humanists and other representatives from society. Within this Committee, a Secretariat guided the work of five sub-committees were drawn up to address the areas of education, non-formal education and sport, legislation, research and the media. Each committee drew up a policy and action plan. Through the campaign, each of the Slovenian schools received a pack of materials, including posters, information on the Campaign and a colorful and readable booklet explaining concepts such as tolerance and intolerance, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, dignity and democracy. The booklet tries to address these difficult topics in blunt, everyday language, such as that used by youth. For example, the introductory prose contains the following stanza:
How many people do you see on the street each day that are just like you? Look closely. Well? How many are really the same? None.
The campaign goal was to focus attention on the problems of xenophobia and intolerance and to encourage schools, organizations and other individuals to pursue related educational, research and bridge-building activities. Many schools organized their own exhibitions, performances and competitions in poetry, creative writing, music or art on the theme "all different, all equal in rights." One imaginative teacher of computer skills had ten year olds producing the campaign logo as an exercise. Numerous youth groups, as well as in-school clubs and councils, became involved in the initiative. As one sign of local interest, 3000 information requests were received by the Ministry from those receiving the original pack. Numerous national events, often in cooperation with the media, were also organized by the National Committee. In December 1994, a Slovenian Children's Parliament took place in the "adult" Parliament as part of the kick-off for the campaign. Addressed by the President of the National Assembly, it was attended by youth from throughout the country, who addressed issues of interhuman relations and mutual respect. Agreements were reached with national TV and radio on simultaneous coverage of actions, on presentation spots and of inclusion of campaign themes within existing programmes. Many talk shows and round-table discussions took place. Press conferences, seminars intended for teachers of the course "Ethics and Society", and articles and special educational issues were published on the topics of human rights and tolerance. Exhibitions and performances were co-sponsored with local groups, such as a "Gypsy's Evening" with "Rock Against Racism" concerts that took place throughout Slovenia. In addition to celebration and discussion, campaign themes were presented in the informal education sector through competition. For example, in cooperation with the magazine PIL for elementary-age children, a competition was organized for the best graffiti and fine art works on the theme "Tolerance Among People." An international competition on fine arts work dealing with the theme "Human Rights Education" was organized under the auspices of the Council of Europe for children aged 12 to 15. National competitions were also organized for students for the preparation of banners against racism, and of photographs concerning tolerance. Through a broad mandate to infuse awareness of racism and intolerance with youth throughout the country, and through the work of the National Committee and various sub-committees that expanded beyond the formal education sector, the Slovenian European Youth Campaign made use of a remarkable array of mechanisms for reaching and appealing to young people. In the end, what began as the year of the European Youth Campaign may well extend into years. A monthly magazine called "Drugacnik" (The Different) was established to keep Slovenians informed of the campaign and its results in their country and Europe; the end does not appear to be in sight.
Felisa Tibbitts, with Hugh
Starkey
© Human Rights Education Associates, 1997
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