Enhancing pathways to

resilience

Anne-Sophie Dybdal psychologist, senior child protection advisor Save The Children

Denmark

2 Content

2. Resilience

– Our definitions

– Approaches

3. Resilience in a Danish context

3 Our definition SCD uses Resilience research

centre in Halifax: “In the presence of significant adversity, resilience is the capacity of individuals to navigate their way to the psychological, social, cultural and psysical resources that sustain their well-being , and their capacity to individually and collectively negotiate for these ressources to be provided in culturally meaningful ways”.

4Core factors in a resilience promoting

environment

Sense of belonging- inclusive groups

Focus on positive interaction and relationships

(peers, family etc)

Childrens have the right to development and

protection. Adults have a special responsibility but

children can participate.

5 A braided approach

Enhancing integrity, self

confidence, personal strenght

, capacity to navigate and

negociate= Resilience

Enhancing resilience-

promoting environments (

parents, teachers, authorities)

Resilience- promoting

environments

6What does it look like?

Robustness

Creativity

Initiative

7 Resilience – Personal Kompetences

Social kompetences

Establish and create

friendships

Conflict resolution skills

Ask for help

Capacity to express

oneself to others

Empathy

Personal kompetences

Cognitive functions ( memory,

attention etc)

Knowing one`s boundaries –

Knowing and understanding

ones rights and responsibilities

Sense of worth and belonning

Emotional mastery

8Resilience promoting environments

Motivation, participation, inclusion

Relationships:

– Comitted and reciprocal

– Meaningful

– Trust

Children acknowledged as individuals

Healthy and consistent discipline

Access to and availability of services

9 …and nr. 1: To belong, be apprciated

and loved.

10Childrens protection against

violence and abuse

Danish Gvt. Allocates funds for prevention of abuse

(after a number of serious cases with much media

attention)

20% of danish youth (8. kl.) har experienced violence

in the home in the last year.

Only 9,4 % of danish children have good knowledge

about their rights (UNICEF 2009)

Previously no programme that combines rights ,

resilience and protection from violence and abuse.

11 The Programme

Focus: Resilience, rights, prevention of violence and abuse

Period: 1.nov 2013 – 31. dec.2016

Target group: A: 15.000 children in primary schools

B:Children in 10-12 selected schools, 4-6 grade

12Campaign (0 - 10 grade)

• Campaign activities

• Education material

• Child rights focal points ( children)

• CRC 25 year anniversery (20.11.2014)

Aim: Children and youth know their rights and

responsibilities

13Resilience building activities (4 – 6 grade)

Development and research

Aim: Strenghen childrens selfconfidence, well being by

supporting capacities in knowledge, personal and social

development.

• Documentation and measuring resilience

• School strategies for enhancing resilience

• Activities for children

• Training of teachers

• Active involvement of teachers, social services etc

14Content of activities

(Material 4-6 grade)

Rights

Body boundaries

Relationships with others

Knowledge about violence and abuse

Other lkife skills ( affective regulation, self worth, critical

thinking etc)

15Activities for adults with focus on resilience

1. Teachers material

2. Training of teachers

3. Materials:

School management and school proffessionals

Staff in after school facility staff

Parents

Social services/ Police

Save The Children volunteers

16 Take home messages