Programmes for the protection of children’s rights

At the forefront of the activities of the Slovenian Association of Friends of Youth (SAFY) have always been, and still are, children’s rights. They are the foundation and essence of all our programs and projects.

Slovenia – thanks in part to the contribution of the former SAFY Commission for children’s rights – became one of the first countries where children’s rights were enshrined as a constitutional category as early as 1989 through amendments to the Constitution.

We respond promptly to current social issues affecting the rights, interests, and needs of children, and we engage in cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary collaboration. We participate in the working group for the preparation of the Program for Children, the government council for the promotion of volunteerism, voluntary and non-hovernmental organizations, the Council of the human rights ombudsman, the Council of the Republic of Slovenia for cildren and families, the EAPN Slovenia network, the Eurochild organization, Child helpline International, the Mediterranean movement for children, the inter-ministerial working group for the preparation of the national action plan for the Child guarantee, and the Expert Council for child advocacy at the ombudsman’s office.

Under the auspices of SAFY, the Network for children’s rights operates, bringing together more than 40 non-governmental organizations working for and with children across Slovenia.

The National committee for children’s rights operates within the SAFY, succeeding the former Commission for children’s rights. Through its activities, the committee advocates for the realization of children’s rights as outlined in the United Nations Declaration of the rights of the child (adopted and proclaimed by the UN General Assembly on November 20, 1959), the UN Convention on the rights of the child (adopted by the UN General Assembly with resolution no. 44/25 on November 20, 1989), the European Convention on the exercise of children’s rights (ratified by the Slovenian Parliament on October 1, 1999), and other documents governing the rights of children and adolescents.

The committee includes volunteers and experts in the field of children’s rights from various parts of Slovenia, who oversee the implementation of children’s rights in the communities where they live.

Week of the child®

Week of the child® is a registered trademark of SAFY. – First week in October –

Children’s Parliament®

Children’s Parliament® is a registered trademark of SAFY. – During the school year –

Europe in School

The “Europe at School” competition in Slovenia traces its beginnings back to 1999, when it was coordinated at the national level by the Information and Documentation Center of the Council of Europe in Ljubljana. The Slovenian Association of Friends of Youth took the competition under its wing in 2005. The competition is an annual event designed to inspire and engage children and young people with important European themes, closely tied to the objectives of sustainable development. Through this initiative, participants are encouraged to delve into pressing global challenges, fostering awareness and critical thinking about topics that transcend the borders of Slovenia. By stimulating creativity and innovative ideas, the competition not only broadens their horizons but also nurtures a sense of responsibility and active citizenship in shaping a sustainable and inclusive future.

Young Researchers – Young Historians

The programme Young Researchers – Young Historians encourages pupils to engage in serious research work while contributing to the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage. This program is running for over 56 years. This esteemed initiative is organized by The Commission for the Work of historical society, supported by academic experts from diverse fields such as history, ethnology, geography, and more. Each year, the programme inspires and involves over 400 pupils, providing them with the unique opportunity to develop critical research skills, explore historical and cultural contexts in depth, and actively participate in projects that leave a lasting impact on their communities.

Holiday and leisure activities

include different types of holidays, such as vacation and health holidays, holidays for children from underprivileged families, holidays for children with special needs, winter holidays, etc. We also organise different free time activities. We organise extracurricular and research workshops, sports and cultural programmes, entertainment and creative activities.

Our social-humanitarian program One heart®, named after the SAFY anthem One Heart, brings together seven funds:

• Family assistance Fund – SAFY, through its social and humanitarian programs, collects and provides assistance to families with underage children living in hardship. These are often single-parent families or families where both parents are unemployed, families with sick children, or children with special needs. Increasingly, families with both parents employed also turn to us for help, as they struggle to meet everyday living expenses.
• Sapramiška Fund – this fund is dedicated to helping children with special needs and children recovering from serious illnesses or injuries, with the aim of reintegrating them into their peer groups and returning them to a normal life. Funds raised are used to support children and families from less privileged social backgrounds by: Providing psychosocial support (psychotherapy for children and adolescents), covering the cost of physiotherapy and other specialized therapies and paying for medical equipment and other aids
• Scholarship Fund – Here we have two funds: Ada Scholarship Fund and Dr. Janez Drnovšek Scholarship Fund, both of them offer scholarships.
• I am an athlete Fund – This fund aims to support children and adolescents from socially disadvantaged backgrounds in realizing their athletic potential. Our goal is to encourage as many children and young people as possible to engage in regular sports activities, giving them the opportunity to move and improve their physical and mental capabilities.
• I am a musician Fund – This fund provides support for children and adolescents from socially disadvantaged backgrounds in realizing their musical potential. We aim to enable children and youth with a passion for music to attend music school or assist in purchasing instruments so they can continue to develop their musical talents.
• Fully equipped school bag Fund – this program aims to ease the financial burden on low-income families, especially those with multiple children, by providing essential school supplies. The cost of new workbooks, which are often required, can be a significant challenge for these families. Each year, the need for this kind of assistance grows, not just at the start of the school year, but throughout it, as families struggle to meet educational expenses.
• Fund Dedek Mraz – This fund was established to help our member organizations create a magical December experience, including the arrival of Dedek Mraz, for our youngest children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

You can (also) support the ONE HEART® program by purchasing products from our online store.

“Conversation is the answer.”

TOM TELEFON® – Telephone for children and young people – is a free anonymous counselling programme that provides psycho-social support to children and young people. A free telephone line (116 111) is available every day between noon and 8pm. In addition to telephone conversations, counselling is available via e-mail at tom@zpms.si and at an internet chatroom at www.e-tom.si. TOM TELEFON® receives almost 40.000 calls, e-questions and e-chats every year.

TOM TELEFON® – Telephone for children and young people – is a registered trademark of SAFY.

A wink to the sun® is a program by the Slovenian Association of Friends of Youth (SAFY) aimed at providing as many children as possible with free holidays. With your help, we can offer them a carefree week where they can develop their talents and discover their potential. Some will swim for the first time, while others will enjoy their first taste of ice cream on a hot day.

According to the child well-being Index measured by the Institute of social protection, “a one-week annual holiday for all household members” is one of the elements used to assess the level of severe material deprivation among children.

The numbers show that over 10% of all children live in families for whom such holidays are out of reach. Even covering the costs of a holiday just for the children represents a significant financial burden for many families. Over the past two years, we have observed a decline in the number of children attending holidays as self-paying participants, while demand for free holiday programs has been increasing.

The goal of the – A wink to the sun® humanitarian program – is to provide children from socially disadvantaged families with completely free, relaxing, safe, creative, and active holidays. Children are recommended by school counseling services, social work centers, individuals, or even by a pediatrician, or they may be registered by their parents. We offer these children opportunities for quality leisure time, allowing them to relax, recharge, and prepare for school obligations, while also creating unforgettable memories.

Children and young people are integrated into holiday programs together with peers who attend as self-paying participants. The holiday activities are designed to be preventative in nature and to promote positive values among children and young people.

In our desire to contribute even further to equipping children and adults with the tools they need to constructively face the countless challenges life presents, we have established the support and educational center Blue station. Our support and educational center is to assist adults who work directly with children and adolescents in providing supportive contributions to the holistic development of young people. Additionally, we aim to offer direct support to children and adolescents to help them develop skills and competencies necessary for building a healthy, high-quality personal life and productive coexistence with others.

Blue station – support and educational center offers a wide range of educational programs designed to strengthen the development of key life competencies in children, adolescents, and the adults who work closely with them. As an organization with public-interest status in the field of education, extensive experience in working with and for children, and a broad network of experts with whom we collaborate regularly, we guarantee that our training programs provide high-quality content delivered at the highest level. All lectures can also be tailored to meet the needs of other target groups.

The Reading Badge was founded by writer Leopold Suhodolčan and professor Stanko Kotnik. The first badges – Prežih’s badges – were awarded in may 1961 in Prevalje. Since the early 1990s, when the movement was modernized with the motivational program With a Book into the World, this has also been its motto.

The movement is based on the tradition of reading badges named after Slovenian writers, or the Association of Reading Badges of Slovenia, which has been operating as one of the national programs within the SAFY since the 1970s.

In 2002, the Reading Badge was organized as an independent association. Its program continues to be part of the national program of the SAFY, and as such, it enjoys strong organizational and financial support from local youth associations or federations across Slovenia. Professionally, the movement has been led by mentors in schools from the very beginning (and, since the 1990s, also in kindergartens and libraries) – their work with young people is the foundation of the Reading Badge.