The idea
Integration into our neighbourhoods, schools an jobs

The problem
Children and teenagers in care are looked upon as strange and unpredictable persons, especially when they appear in larger groups. Some adults feel a sense of responsibility for this poor, unfortunate children- so charming and innocent as little children. Silly behaviour, the first sign of puberty, however soon proves that you are anti-social and depraved.

The question
What can be done to change the "outsider's" image of children and young people in care? We know what we need! Self-determination versus external power in welfare, the participation of children and young people in decisions concerning their own lives.

The problem
Adults generally guide Children and teenagers. In normal families, there are often two persons to fight against for your rights, to convince of your own opinion. If you are in care the number of experts concerned with your well-being increases. They want what is best for you, but they never ask for your own opinion. They decide your life.

The question
Who can really consider himself an expert on anyone's life? Why can't a teenager choose the way of life he/she prefers? How can we increase Childress and young people's participation

ORGANISING THE YOUTH CONFERENCE

It all startet up February 1999. Pro Juventute and the ombudsoffice in Salzburg were working on organization of the annual EFCW (European Forum of Child Welfare) conference, being planned in Salzburg in May 2000. In this conference children and young people in / out of care should be given chance to participate. Their vision was, that the organization "Youth in Care Austria", working since 1994 and their members, having attended a few conferences in different countries, should organize a meeting for young people. Unfortunately YIC was in a process of dispanding, the grown up members splitted to different places and the organisation seemed to go down. In her role of a mentor, Barbara found a couple of young people being intrested in the refoundation of YIC. Thomas (23) , having experiences with the Norwegean Conference in Bergen 1995 and Christina (21) , his girlfriend, later (may 2000) Andrea (21) being experienced in organising meetings for young Austrian people (Youth centers).

The first detailed planning started in July 1999. It was clear, that the Youth Conference should not be a part of EFCW- Conference, but an independent event - From young people for young people. YIC decided to invite 30 persons , half of them from Austria, half of them from different European countries. The participants were expected to be young people having experiences with the care system, being intrested in the subjects of the conference and in exchanging experiances in the age 16-26 years. Summer and autumn 1999 the subjects were fixed. Christina and Thomas visited children´s homes in Salzburg and at the countryside talking with the young people, being in care.Together they discussed problems about being in/out of care, subjects the young people wanted to be talked about. Finally three important problems turned out to be most important: Integration, Participation/own decisions and the After Care System.

On an average the concrete dates of the participants were sent from 8th to 12th of May, some of them didn´t arrive earlier than the young people themself. But finally everything turned out well, and YIC was looking foreward to a great time.