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Children & Adults,
Partners for Change?
27th July – 2nd August 2015
Caux, Switzerland
Once upon a time....
CHILDREN
AS ACTORS FOR
TRANSFORMING
SOCIETY
Once upon a time...
there was a remarkable conference called CATS...
and it wanted to change the world...
by including children and young people.
There, many children and adults worked together...
and had lots to say!
CATS is the result of four big CATS...
and takes place in the beautiful Caux Palace in
Switzerland.
There are many ways to get there...
and a few costs.
Hope to hear from you soon!
Help us complete the story in July 2015...
… there was a remarkable
conference called CATS…
CATS is a unique space where children, young people
and adults are working together in mutual respect
towards a more just, inclusive and sustainable society,
where all can realise their fundamental human rights
and potential.
Over six days, the Caux Palace becomes a meeting
place for an international community of people
fighting for the rights and well-being of children
around the world.
CATS is a powerful learning experience for all ages where:
Children develop their expertise as advocates, so they
can go back to their own communities with will power and
skills to make a positive difference.
Adults are equipped with new ideas and practices
on children’s participation that allow them to work in
meaningful partnership with children to bring
about change.
Adults and Children
create networks and
partnerships
identify opportunities for
collaboration
share practical experiences,
resources and tools
deepen their understanding of
participation and challenge attitudes and
beliefs about what children are capable
of achieving
understand together the contribution
that each can make to realise children’s
fundamental human right to
participate in transforming society and
realising their unique potential
… and it wanted to
change the world...
CATS connects people and organisations in the world
that are working for the participation of children and youth,
offering them a space to learn from each other and to find a
common voice.
The conference encourages the different sectors that impact
children’s lives - such as health, education, justice, the social
and private sectors - to work together towards child
participation.
The goal of CATS is to make child participation a reality
everywhere, and to support people, organisations and
countries in finding the best ways to listen to children and
involve them in decisions that affect them.
The CATS environment includes meeting interesting people,
having deep conversations, and learning something new. The
safety of the space allows people to express themselves
as they are and not judged by others.
Integrating
Connecting
Sharing
Mainstreaming
… by including children
and young people.
CATS’ organisers share a set of common values
concerning the rights of children and young people to
participate in decisions affecting them, the importance
of children’s well-being, and the power of children
and young people as actors who can transform society
in positive ways.
CATS organisers support efforts to make children’s
participation rights a reality as stated in the UN
Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN CRC).
Children’s expression and participation should be
valued and supported across settings and sectors,
so that girls and boys’ voices can be heard in families,
alternative care settings, schools, communities, local
and national governance, and broader practice and
policy agendas concerning them.
This means we especially want to include
children and young people in the key stages of
CATS: the design, planning and management; the
implementation; and the monitoring and evaluation,
dissemination and feedback.
Our aim is that:
CATS is a conference series
that is genuinely co-created
with children and young
people
CATS conferences
model collaborative and
inclusive participation
and inter-generational
partnerships
CATS fosters and supports inclusive
participation opportunities for girls
and boys of different ages, abilities
and capacities, and backgrounds
CATS’ organisers are
accountable, ensuring that
feedback received from children,
young people and adults is acted
upon to improve the CATS
experience
… There, many children and
adults worked together…
This year children, young people and adults will look
into the theme Children & Adults, Partners
for Change? through the metaphor of building
partnerships and collaboration as one builds a
house. It will be a varied, creative, inclusive and fun
programme co-designed and co-led by children and
adults.
Therefore, the focus each day will be on a different
aspect of the construction of the partnership. The
first day will be about the blueprint, what needs to
be in place before we start building. The second day
will focus on the foundations, the relationships that
need to be fostered in order for the house to stand
strong. The third day focuses on the walls, the groups
that need to support one another for the house to
be completed. The fourth day looks at the roof, the
overarching partnerships that lead to beyond the
house. Finally, the last day looks at the community
and how partnerships built in the house are taken to a
larger scale.
… and had lots to say!
“You just got to love CATS! There I had the chance to
meet new people from all over the world and discuss
with them about Us, children. It was great because
children and adults were there for this main reason.
“I learned that the children need to put
more forward, to speak up, and help each
other every day. I’d love to come back to
CATS if it is possible.”
I was so glad to realise that my opinions and suggestions
were taken into consideration and people heard what
I had to say and told me their ideas as well. I learned
about less fortunate countries and people who fight
for what I take for granted. I learned about how we,
children, can do change.
Thomas, 17, France - CATS14
The conference made me more optimistic for the future,
with more confidence in my thoughts and ideas.”
Polyxeni, 17, Cyprus - CATS14
“All I have to say about CATS is that it was
an absolutely amazing experience. What
impressed me most was the amount of
energy and positivity generated during
the conference. The young people’s ideas
and experiences were inspiring, while
the adults’ attitude to listen was truly
motivating. Thank you for the experience,
and I hope to come back to CATS soon!”
Rebekah, 16, Malta - CATS14
“Last year I was more nervous on the stage than this
year. I saw a lot of friends this year and I was very
motivated to tell them what changes happened in my
life over the past year; they expected me to inform
them as their friend. I felt calm.
I felt better on the big stage being in front of all the
people because I knew they had come from all over
the world and that they would support me. People at
CATS are friendly, open, and supportive and have good
hearts.
I believe I can come again next year in order to share all
the new things that I will have achieved and will have
gone through.”
Mihaela, 26, Bulgaria - CATS14
“My experience at CATS 2014 was phenomenal. I
gained confidence through speaking to people from all
across the world. I participated in things that I never
thought that I would be able to do; like speaking in front
of everyone about why the organisation I was part of
should not be closed.
CATS felt like a family which opened their arms the
moment I arrived and still continues to do so. I am
so glad that I was given this opportunity and got to
represent Wales in CATS.”
Katherine, 13, Wales - CATS14
… CATS is the result of four big
CATS (partner organisations)…
Initiatives of Change
Child to Child
www.fr.iofc.org
www.childtochild.org.uk
Created in 1952, Initiatives of Change France is a
secular and apolitical non-profit organisation. Its
mission is to develop active citizens, by working
with children, youth, and adults to be partners for
change to improve society. Its philosophy is mainly
based on the words inspired by Gandhi, “Be the
change you want to see in the world”. IofC France
focuses on two areas of work targeted at children,
youth, and adults in France and internationally:
Active Citizens and Dialogue, and Youth and
Children, with programmes based on children’s
rights and children’s participation.
Child to Child is an international child rights
development agency, located at the UCL Institute
of Education, London. It is a pioneer of children’s
participation and works to realise and mainstream
children’s right to participate, as set out in Article
12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
For over 30 years, Child to Child has been at the
forefront of developing transformational approaches
to children’s participation.
Universal Education Foundation
Eurochild
www.learningforwellbeing.org
www.eurochild.org
Eurochild is a network of over 170 organisations
and individuals working in and across Europe
to promote the rights and well-being of children
and young people. Eurochild is one of the largest
advocacy organisations on children’s issues at EU
level whose work is underpinned by the 1989
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the
Child (UNCRC).
In association with Korczak
The Universal Education Foundation envisions
inclusive and supportive societies where children and
adults respect each other as competent partners, and
learn how to realise their unique potential throughout
their lives. Towards this vision, UEF has convened
Learning for Well-being initiatives in Europe and in
Palestine, bringing together people and organisations
from different sectors to undertake actions that
emphasise the interconnectedness of the problems
and situations affecting children’s lives.
Association and Lumos.
Also participating are WorldVision and Bernard
van Leer Foundation.
… and takes place in the beautiful
Caux Palace in Switzerland.
The Caux Palace is situated above Montreux,
Switzerland, from where it has a grandiose view over
the Lake of Geneva. It has over 300 rooms and hosts
various programmes throughout the summer.
The Caux Conferences are hosted by the CAUXInitiatives of Change Foundation (CAUX-IofC), the
Swiss body of Initiatives of Change International
(IofC).
IofC is an NGO working to inspire, equip and
connect people to address world needs, starting
with themselves. It focuses on areas of trustbuilding,
ethical leadership, and sustainable living, always
seeking to connect personal change with global
change.
The CAUX-IofC Foundation manages IofC activities
in Switzerland as well as the Caux Conference Centre
above Montreux.
Free time
Caux’s beautiful situation above the Lake of
Geneva offers an ideal environment for reflection.
The conference schedule allows time for individual
activities, reflection and outdoor exercise. In Summer,
the weather should allow you to play tennis, volley,
table tennis; to hike and sightsee; or to dip in
the Lake of Geneva in Montreux.
Families
Whole families are welcome to join in the conference.
A kindergarten for 2-6 year olds is open during
certain hours of the day.
… There are many ways
to get there…
To come to the Caux Palace in Switzerland, please follow:
By plane: Find flights to Geneva International
Airport, the closest to the conference venue. There is a
train station on the ground floor from which you can
take a train directly to Montreux. In Montreux, you
can take the small train that goes up the mountain
and stops in Caux.
By car: Find your way to Montreux through
“Autoroute du Rhône” or “Autoroute du Léman.” In
Montreux, take “Route de Caux” that will lead you
up the mountain to the Caux Palace. Click here for a
detailed map of the area.
By train: There are trains to Montreux coming from
the mains Swiss train stations such as Zürich, Berne,
Bâle, Geneva Cornavin and Lucerne. Once you arrive
in Montreux, you can take the small train that goes up
the mountain and stops in Caux. Visit www.sbb.ch
Address:
Rue du Panorama 2 CH-1824 Caux
Tel.: +41 (0)21 962 91 11
Fax: + 41 (0)21 962 93 55
See more on Caux’s website:
http://caux.iofc.org/
… and a few costs.
The total price of your stay at the conference is calculated by the following formula:
Daily Accommodation Rate x Number of Nights + One-Time Registration Fee.
Daily Accommodation Rate
(Includes room and full board)
Age
Swiss Francs (CHF)
Individual adults
165
Reduced adults
- Adults accompanying children
- Students (25+)
105
- Amis de Caux members
- IofC Regional Team Members
Youth 18-25
63
Children 6-17
50
Under 5
Free
One-Time Registration Fee
Age
Swiss Francs (CHF)
Adults
100
Youth 18-25
50
Group (with 1 or more children)
100
Should you need a visa to come to Switzerland, the Caux team
can help you obtaining it once you have registered and specified
that you need one.
If needed, contact the Core Team for further registration
instructions (see “General Information” in the contacts section).
To register, click here: English / French / German
… Hope to hear from you soon!
Any more questions? Don’t hesitate!
Contact us and we will reply within two days.
General information:
Communication & media contacts:
[email protected]
Cleo Fatoorehchi, Child to Child, CATS Core Team:
[email protected]
Programme contacts:
Julia Movshovich, Initiatives of Change, CATS Core
Team: [email protected]
Jonathan Levy, Initiatives of Change,
CATS Director: [email protected]
Luis Manuel Pinto, Universal Education Foundation,
CATS Core Team:
[email protected]
Federico Lanzo, Eurochild, CATS Core Team:
[email protected]
Facebook page: iofcCATS
Twitter page: @CATS_Caux #CATS15
http://catsconference.com
Help us complete the story in July 2015!