Proceedings of the Global Conference on Children and Youth
The Proceedings of The Global Conference on Children and Youth (GCCY) include peer-reviewed papers from the Global Conference on Children and Youth. Conference Proceedings is intended to share knowledge in the field of Children and Youth. Learn more about the Global Conference on Children and Youth
Federated Learning for Privacy-Preserving Cyberbullying Detection: A Comprehensive Review of Challenges, Technologies, and Privacy Considerations in Child Protection
The threat of cyberbullying is also emerging as an issue more serve than bullying and psychologies harassment, as it alters the child’s welfare in distinct ways. Centralized detection mechanisms also fail due to privacy violating, on-scalability, and data silos that are heterogeneous data problematic. Federated Leaning(FL) can be a potential solution as it allows for collaborative model training across distributed devices without exposing sensitive user data. The significant contribution of this review is the discussion of how federated learning in all the cyberbullying detection system for children can be combined smoothly. We contract the current best models such as deep Convolution Neural Networks(CNN), Recurrent Neural Networks(RNN) long short term memory and other transformer-based models such as BERT. This survey also comes with various privacy-protecting secure methods such as aggregation, differential privacy, and blockchain that may be used to aid federated learning in its ability to process otherwise non-IID data from multiple heterogeneous sources. The obtained results show that FL based solution allow for attaining detection accuracies from around 74% up to more than 90% with competitive quality and under user privacy preservation. Hybrid architectures and transformer based state of the art models achieve considerable gain over baseline with computation communication overhead tradeoff. Addressing current technical limitations through continued research on hybrid deep learning approaches and enhanced security protocols will be crucial to move these innovations towards real world applications that ensure online environment online environments are safer for vulnerable populations.
Don Simon Patabadi Shashitha Udesh De Silva
Copyright (c) 2025 Proceedings of the Global Conference on Children and Youth
Child Care Reform in India: Emerging Trends and Strategic Approaches
Over the last few years, India has experienced a shift in the legislative and policy areas of child care and protection through the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, and Mission Vatsalya Guidelines (2022). The shift aims to ensure that every child grows up in a stable and safe family and that institutions should be seen as the last resort. The study explores the role of political will through the lens of laws, policies, institutions, and judicial support in promoting care reforms and overcoming systemic barriers. It looks at the unexplored challenges in implementing family-based care models, such as gaps in interdepartmental convergence, financial sustainability, and capacity building. The study examines the implementation of care reform in four states across India using qualitative research techniques (semi-structured interviews, case studies, and secondary data analysis) assessing how these state Governments have adapted national policies to innovative local situations to preserve family systems. The findings disclose that this sector requires more funding allocations to ensure that resources can be directed toward preventive and rehabilitative programs, strengthening family-based care models, and technology-based systems that can facilitate real-time data monitoring leading to informed decision-making. It also underlines the importance of the financial stability of families through expanded access to social protection schemes, livelihood opportunities, and building resilience. For qualitative assessments and effective intervention, a strong child protection workforce with enhanced inter-departmental collaboration is needed. Empowering families and communities will ensure every child’s right to a supportive home that enables them to thrive.
Bridging Gaps: Advancing Equity and Human Rights in the Child Welfare System
This chapter explores disproportionality in child welfare, focusing on the unequal representation of African American families in this system. It examines contributing factors, highlights systemic inequalities, and proposes anti-racism and human-rights-based training for child welfare professionals to improve their relationships with African American families. Specifically, the chapter identifies multiple factors that contribute to the disproportionate representation of African American households in the child welfare system, such as poverty, racial bias, individual decisions, and systemic issues within child welfare agencies. The discussion highlights the systemic disparities that impact African American families, including higher rates of reporting and investigations, longer stays in foster care, and lower rates of reunification. The chapter exposes the disproportionate impact of child welfare interventions on African American children, resulting in substantial implications for their well-being and the stability of their families. It also advocates the implementation of a human-rights-based approach to child welfare, which prioritizes the rights of children and parents. The chapter suggests that by integrating anti-racism and human-rights-based training, child welfare professionals may improve their interactions with African American families, thereby fostering more equal outcomes within the child welfare system.
“You are also Laughing on The Outside, But Inside, It Hurts You So Badly, and You Want to Talk About It, But You Can't”: Experiences of Harm in Mentoring Relationships: A Story of an African Youth Aspiring for a Football Career
This paper draws on findings from a constructivist grounded theory study of mentors' and mentees' experiences and perceptions of youth mentoring relationships (MR/s) in Zambia. To understand how mentee harm is perpetuated in MRs in football training (FT) and its impact on the youth and the relationship. I focus on one mentee who experienced harm in the MR with his football coach. Five mentors aged 31 to 68 and four mentees aged 18 to 20 were sampled purposively. Using a semi-structured interview guide containing narrative-generating questions, in-depth interviews were conducted with all the participants with a mean of 65 minutes. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data was iteratively collected and parallel to constant comparative analysis involving coding, memoing, and theoretical sampling. This led to the inductive co-construction of four categories. Data revealed that the mentee in FT experienced emotional harm perpetuated by his mentor because of the disclosure of private information. The mentor disclosed his mentee´s information to his teammates, who started using it against him. The study illustrates the interconnectedness between the mentor´s incautious actions, the mentee´s constant negative mentoring experiences and persistent harm in FT. This study demonstrates that mentors in FT may be perpetrators of constant harm in mentoring and coach-player relationships. The study shows short and long-term effects of mentee prolonged harm, such as bottling up negative emotions to avoid conflict, unhappiness, anger, frustration, angst and uncertainty, which affects personal and career development. This study calls for means to prevent or mitigate mentors´ chances of harming mentees and create a safe and healthy environment for them, leading to positive career development in FT and overall.
Youth Perspectives on Career Alignment: A Study of Education and Employment in Türkiye
Qualification mismatch has become a topic of interest for researchers in recent years due to globalization, the labor market, the increasing number of young people participating in formal education, labor/brain drain, observed demographic changes worldwide, and a series of technological developments directly affecting daily life practices. Qualification mismatch, which is categorized as mismatch by level of education and mismatch by field of study by the ILO, has started to become a global priority in terms of redefining the necessary qualifications and professional competencies to prepare better and safer employment conditions and to enhance the employability of workers. This research, focusing specifically on young people who experience a mismatch by field of study, aims to address the real-life problem of qualification mismatch affecting youth employment in Türkiye. This study involves 24 participants from diverse academic backgrounds who are employed in fields unrelated to their education. Thematic analysis of in-depth interviews reveals key findings regarding mismatches by field of study. One major issue identified is the limited applicability of the theoretical knowledge gained during university education. Participants indicated that their education failed to adequately prepare them for professional demands, particularly because curricula did not focus on sector-specific skills. This mismatch is further intensified by the growing number of graduates and universities in Türkiye, which increases competition and reduces job opportunities in graduates' fields. Many participants also cited the lack of internships and work experience as a barrier to securing relevant employment. Additionally, the expectation of work experience from new graduates, low salaries, long hours, nepotism in hiring, performing multiple roles, and enduring unpaid overtime, emerged as a significant challenge. Economic pressures, societal expectations, and family obligations were key factors influencing participants' job choices, leading many to pursue work outside their academic qualifications.
The Role of Youth Leadership Development Programs: A Case Study of the Afghan Immigrant Community in Pakistan
In response to the unique socio-economic challenges faced by Afghan immigrant youth in Pakistan, Youth Leadership Development Programs (YLDPs) have emerged as pivotal in empowering young leaders within this community. This study examines the role and impact of YLDPs on the Afghan immigrant community, focusing on how these programs foster leadership skills, socio-cultural integration, and resilience among youth. Using a mixed-method approach, this research draws on quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews with program participants, community leaders, and educators to analyze both the immediate and long-term outcomes of YLDPs. Findings reveal that these programs not only enhance participants' leadership capacities but also improve their access to education, civic engagement, and professional development opportunities. Furthermore, YLDPs serve as critical platforms for social integration, helping Afghan youth navigate complex cultural dynamics and contribute positively to their communities. This study underscores the importance of targeted youth development initiatives in immigrant communities, highlighting how such programs can address broader issues of identity, marginalization, and socio-economic inclusion. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and organizations aiming to support immigrant communities through youth empowerment strategies.
Youth Leadership Development Programs (YLDPs)
Interviewing Child Victims of Sexual Abuse in Polish Criminal Proceedings in The Context of European and EU Standards (Victimological, Psychological and Legal Aspects)
The establishment of Council of Europe and EU standards relating to child victims of sexual abuse is justified on the one hand by the magnitude of sexual crimes committed against children and, on the other hand, by studies indicating their special conditions as victims and witnesses of such crimes, requiring appropriate regulation of their protection and interview procedures. The main aim objective of the paper is to answer the question whether the Polish justice system takes into account the results of research on the victimization of children and the psychological conditions of interviewing them as witnesses, as well as to what extent the most recent amendments to the Polish Code of Criminal Procedure (in 2020-2023) are consistent with international standards on the rights, support and protection of child victims of sexual abuse. From the considerations carried out in this paper, it follows that, in general, in the sphere of the Polish criminal process, European and EU standards have been met by the Polish CCP. However, taking into account that the Polish justice system lacks special criminal departments (or offices) dealing with such cases, as well as the lack of such specialized organizational units in the prosecutor's office and the Police dealing with child victims of sexual abuse, it should be concluded that the Polish justice system does not meet European and EU standards in this regard.
Impact of Parent-Child Relationship On the Psychosocial Well-Being of Adolescents in LIMBE Cameroon
Parent-child relationship is a unique and significant affiliation between a parent and child. But this bond has been neglected to the extent that it has notably affected the psychosocial well-being of adolescents in Limbe, Southwest Region of Cameroon, against the backdrop of the Anglophone Crisis. The paper aims to examine; adolescent pressures due to parent-child tensions, adolescents' coping strategies amidst these tensions, and exploring the benefits of strong parent-child bonds on adolescents’ mental health, social skills, academic performance, and emotional growth. The paper argues that, parent-child relationship has been the most neglected aspect in the lives of adolescents in Limbe. A mixed-method approach is employed, gleaned from in-depth interviews and structured questionnaires. The sample technique employed for this paper was purposive sampling with a sample size of 102 participants. The findings reveal the interplay between familial interactions and adolescent well-being amidst this sustained conflict, providing nuanced understandings that may inform interventions aimed at fostering supportive environments for youth development in crisis-affected area. Findings highlight that, effective communication and substantial parental support significantly reduce adolescent stress. Mindfulness is identified as a beneficial coping strategy. The research confirms that strong parent-child relationship positively impacts adolescents' mental health, emotional growth, social skills, and academic performance, underscoring their pivotal role in adolescent development. Based on these findings, the research recommends open and effective communication between parents and adolescents, emphasizing strong parent-child relationship for positive mental health outcomes, social skills, emotional development, and academic achievement; promoting mindfulness and relaxation techniques for managing tensions; increasing parental support to build a nurturing environment while avoiding less effective strategies like avoidance and venting.
The Influence of Advertising Exposure On Social Media Platforms On Saudi Children’s Materialistic Attitudes
In this new era, children form an attraction to materialism which shapes their perceptions of and attitudes to real-life values. With the rapid development of worldwide communication technologies, parents’ concerns about their children’s obsession with materialistic lifestyles have increased. Social media advertising is considered a hidden influencer that significantly affects children’s consumption trends. This study aims to explore the effects of social media platform advertisements on Saudi children’s materialistic attitudes. The sample included randomly selected children in Saudi Arabia aged 9 to 10 years of both sexes (nboys= 180, ngirls= 220) who filled out a self-administered questionnaire. The results revealed a clearer picture of their materialistic tendencies than expected. They showed that there is a correlation between the amount of time children spend exposed to online commercial advertisements and materialistic attitudes. This negatively affects their self-confidence and self-acceptance. Most children believe that the better they look in photos posted on social media platforms wearing luxurious and expensive clothing brands, the more others will accept them. The results of our research have value for parents and policymakers by clarifying the impact of children’s repeated exposure to social media platform advertising on their consumerist attitudes, which strengthens their materialism and negatively affects their psychological health.
Can You Be Young Without Speaking English?
This paper examines the social factors that may have contributed to the growing significance of global ‘non-native’ English in shaping youth social identity. In recent years, a new sociolinguistic turning point appears to have emerged: positive attitudes toward English are now observed even among preschool and primary school children, and conversing in English has been documented in addition to the well-established practice of language mixing. The latter phenomenon remains underexplored; therefore, in investigating the factors driving changes in youth social practices, this paper specifically focuses on code-switching to English to converse among the youngest speakers. The study was inspired by a unique case of a Lithuanian family whose child has exclusively communicated in English since birth. The dataset comprises ethnographic data (speech recordings and interviews with parents and children) collected from six families in Lithuania between 2020 and 2024, along with additional metalinguistic material. The findings suggest that the social construction of youth identity through English may not occur in the absence of certain key social factors. These include access to the internet and digital media, the need to affiliate with translocal culture, parental pride in a child’s English proficiency, older siblings as role models, the desire to assert autonomy from adults and reinforce peer solidarity, and a speaker’s inclination toward performativity and role-play. A sociolinguistic perspective can enrich research on youth identity and foster discussion on the cultural implications of the increasing role of global English.
Fostering Social Justice Praxis for Critical Consciousness in Early Childhood
This paper explores the implications of integrating young children into activities that dismantle social constructions of gender and race within the Japanese context. Taking a sociological and anthropological approach, I introduce data from ethnographic fieldwork in settings of early childhood education in international schools and within Japanese households in Tokyo, showing what results from exploring critical race and gender in early childhood. Based on two pillars – representation and critical praxis – I conceptualize a framework of social justice education (SJE), which I apply in the activities led with children aged 4 to 7. Psychological research shows that as early as the age of two and three, children recognize themselves as separate individuals from others and start building a sense of self. They start expressing and situating themselves through relational experiences with family members, and then into expanding environments. My observations also highlight how this awareness leads to children’s sense of belonging or sense of exclusion, and how they fit into the social spaces in which they grow. My fieldwork shows the extent to which collective and multi-contextual efforts are necessary to introduce a world in which children feel represented. At the same time, I argue efforts at representation are not enough to prepare youngsters to act in the case of discrimination, which I show ethnographically can be detrimental to their imaginative ambitions. Here critical praxis proves to be a significant tool for building the agency to resist/combat imposed normative discursive practices that form the core of limiting children's imagination and identity.
Assessing the Impact of E-Learning on Increasing Access to Education for Disadvantaged Groups in Primary Schools in Uganda
In Uganda, disadvantaged groups, including children with disabilities, those from low-income backgrounds, and girls, face significant barriers to accessing quality education. E-learning has been touted as a potential solution to increase access to education for these groups. This study investigates the impact of e-learning on increasing access to education for disadvantaged groups in primary schools in Uganda. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining survey data from 300 primary school students and 100 teachers, as well as in-depth interviews with 20 stakeholders. The study found that e-learning increased access to education for disadvantaged groups by providing flexible learning opportunities, overcoming geographical barriers, and reducing costs associated with traditional schooling. However, the study also revealed significant challenges, including limited access to digital devices, poor internet connectivity, and inadequate teacher training. To address these challenges, the study recommends the development of contextualized e-learning content, investment in digital infrastructure, and provision of teacher training and support. This study contributes to the growing body of research on e-learning in sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting the potential of e-learning to increase access to education for disadvantaged groups. The findings have important implications for policymakers, educators, and development practitioners seeking to harness the power of e-learning to promote inclusive education in Uganda.
In English life lessons are handed down through the ages in the form of proverbs. In Gujarat, India the same is true. In Gujarati they are called kehvat. Many cultures around the world have the same, little learnings that are passed down through funny expressions. They are important not only for language learning but also as a means for the intergenerational transfer of local knowledge. One of the pertinent kehvat for this project is “Bole tena Bor vechaay” which teaches that “the one who speaks will be heard”. This life lesson is synergistic with our paper which asserts that to address the global challenges regarding the preservation of learning in home languages emerging as a result of the rapid evolution of new technologies we must engage with local communities and afford them voice. A voice that must be heard. We explore the importance of home language as the primary vehicle through which culture, tradition and knowledge is transferred intergenerationally. Working to address this in digital storybooks, we afforded children and their families a voice regarding the AI translations being presented to them in digital texts. Through the inclusion of choice tokens in a digital storybook, families from Gujarat with children aged 3-6 years were invited to negotiate the most authentic translation or offer their own. This paper shares the insights from our work with these families in Gujarat as we aim to design AI tools that protect and preserve culture specific storybook language during shared reading sessions.
Luxembourg Child-And Youth-Daycare Policies as A Transformative and Gender Equitable Social Policies: A Case Study
In nowadays Europe, many countries are carrying out thorough reforms to curtail their respective welfare states due to budget cuts and fiscal debt. Regrettably, the first domain in which cuts are made are child- and youth-policies, despite their scientifically proven potential in boosting both countries’ demographic trends and GDPs. In contrast, Luxembourg stands out as a country slowly but progressively embarking on a social revolution, aiming at ensuring both female full employment and universal childcare. Since 1998, with the enactment of a law called “Activité Sociale, Familiale et Thérapeutique”, the State took on the direct financing of both private and public kindergarten. It doubled-down in 2009 with the “Cheque-services” (or vouchers) law, granting all families up to 40 hours/week childcare in facilities of their choice. Finally, in 2017 and 2018 it closed the circle by introducing three reforms – the “1-4 years old free childcare and the multilingual programme act; the parental assistance activities act and that on mini-nurseries – ensuring universal, free and tailor-made coverage of different types according to family needs. The aim was exposing children since age 0 to pre-schooling to enhance their non- cognitive skills and, accordingly, their life-time opportunities. As a result, Luxembourg has climbed up many positions in international rankings on childcare, going so far to be hailed in 2023 as the best country out of 194 nations by the KidsRights NGO. The paper will analyze these reforms’ bright and dark sides to assess their weight and sustainability beyond what international rankings and statistics show. The current paper indeed contends that Luxembourg quiet revolution in welfare is substantial but incomplete as it should be read against a backdrop of historical path dependency, that is the theory whereby historical decisions and inherited institutional frameworks often shape the way social protection programmes develop over time. Path-dependency theory explains why, notwithstanding the number of successive reforms with a growing universalistic approach introduced in child- care and protection since 1998 by successive government, a corporativist governance culture sticking to the principle of subsidiarity and the allocation of resources to the private sector persist, resulting in a highly fragmented system of child- and youth-care which no longer fits current societal needs, such as large provisions of spots and high quality standards.
Experiences and Interpretations of Hong Kong Chinese Young Carers in Caring for Family Members in Mental Recovery: An Exploratory Study
This is an exploratory study which examines the understudied phenomenon of young carers providing support to family members in mental recovery in Hong Kong. While existing research predominantly focuses on objective factors related to young carers, it overlooks the significance of subjective meaning-making and interpretation within Hong Kong's unique cultural context, where western and eastern values intersect. Previous studies have portrayed caring relationships as static and unidirectional, failing to capture the fluctuating nature of caring experience and mental health conditions. Drawing upon Symbolic Interactionism and Boss's Contextual Model of Family Stress, this study conducted six semi-structured, retrospective interviews with three young carers, aged from 23 to 25, who support family members in mental recovery, to elicit their in-depth reviews of their carer experiences as a youngster and explore their interpretations of the meanings of such experiences. Thematic analysis generated four meaningful codes: a) Psychological Stages of the Caring Journey, b) The Absence of a Young Carer Identity, c) Tensions between Individualism and Filial Piety, and d) Perceived Support from Others. The findings highlight the ambivalent definition of young carers supporting family members in mental recovery and its contribution to their societal invisibility, emphasizing the urgency for official recognition and guidelines. The study explicates the impact of ambiguous loss on young carers and the importance of meaning-making in facilitating their psychological transition through different caregiving stages. Additionally, their articulated desire for an empowering identity provides insights for society to reconstruct the understanding around young carers beyond victimization.
The Impact of Climate Change On Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancy After the Discovery of Oil and Gas in Midwestern Uganda
Climate change is increasingly becoming as a threat to the health, education, and economic empowerment of girls and women. In Midwestern Uganda, climate-related stressors such as droughts, floods, and landslides are exacerbating poverty, food insecurity, and displacement, which in turn are contributing to increased rates of child marriage and teenage pregnancy. This study assesses the impact of climate change on child marriage and teenage pregnancy in Midwestern Uganda Using a mixed-methods approach, we collected data from 800 girls aged 15-24 in three districts of Masindi, Buliisa, and Hoima in Midwestern Uganda. Our findings indicate that climate-related stressors are increasing the vulnerability of girls to child marriage and teenage pregnancy. Girls from households that experienced climate-related stocks were more likely to be married or pregnant and had lower levels of education and economic empowerment. The study highlights the need for climate-informed policies and programs that address the intersecting impacts of climate change on child marriage and teenage pregnancy. Recommendations include increasing access to climate-resilient education and economic empowerment programs for girls and providing climate information and support to households to reduce their vulnerability to climate-related shocks.
Stranger Danger Awareness in Children with Special Needs: A Meta-Synthesis of Existing Literature
Children with special needs, including those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and intellectual disabilities, face significant challenges in recognizing and responding to potential dangers posed by strangers. Traditional "stranger danger" education programs often fail to accommodate their unique cognitive, social, and communication differences, leaving them more vulnerable to unsafe interactions. This meta-synthesis examines findings from 20 peer-reviewed studies published between 2005 and 2022 to evaluate how children with special needs perceive stranger danger, the effectiveness of existing safety education strategies, and barriers to their implementation.Results indicate that children with developmental disabilities struggle with risk perception, distinguishing safe from unsafe strangers, and applying learned safety skills in real-world situations. Conventional verbal instruction proves insufficient, while video modeling, behavioral skills training (BST), social stories, and in situ training with immediate feedback demonstrate greater effectiveness in enhancing abduction-prevention skills. Findings also underscore the critical role of parental and educator involvement in reinforcing learned behaviors.To improve safety education for children with special needs, future research should focus on developing and evaluating neurodiverse-friendly interventions, assessing their long-term effectiveness, and integrating technology-assisted learning tools. Additionally, policy reforms are essential to enhance training for educators, caregivers, and law enforcement, ensuring a more inclusive and effective approach to child safety.
Youth A D Political Activism Case Study of Nigeria Youth
Youth activism has played a significant role in Nigeria’s political evolution, with young people consistently demonstrating their potential to drive transformative change. The #EndSARS protest of 2020 was a historic example of youthful strength capable of provoking political shifts, reflecting the energy, resilience, and organizational capacity of Nigerian youth. However, several systemic barriers hinder youth inclusion in governance, particularly the capital-intensive nature of politics, ideological inconsistencies, and the lack of global and international support for sustained activism. This paper explores the dynamics of youth political activism in Nigeria, the challenges it faces, and how strategic collaboration with development partners and international organizations can foster a new generation of political leaders in Nigeria and Africa at large.
Transitioning to Adulthood: Challenges and Opportunities in the Emancipation of Youth in Vulnerable Situation
The GazteOn Sarelan program, supports young people in social protection as they transition to adulthood. Evaluated by the University of Deusto, the study gathered insights from stakeholders, including participants, professionals, and technical staff from Gipuzkoa’s Department of Child and Social Inclusion Services (Spain). Over four years, qualitative methods such as surveys and group discussions were used to analyze the program’s successes, challenges, and areas for improvement. The findings reveal widespread appreciation, with an average satisfaction rating of 9 out of 10. Young participants report feeling supported and engaged, crediting a culture of care grounded in humanistic values and consistent practices. Professionals highlight the enriching collaboration of complementary team profiles and the cooperative organizational model, which fosters trust and mutual accountability. The person-centered approach, focused on individualized care plans and strengths-based interventions, is a key success factor. The program’s effectiveness stems from the commitment of experienced professionals, reflective planning spaces, and leadership that emphasizes shared decision-making. Challenges include workload imbalances between male and female care units, professional isolation during shifts, and limited coordination between child protection and inclusion systems. Recommendations include creating interdepartmental working groups, improving workload distribution, and maintaining connections with former participants for long-term impact. GazteOn Sarelan provides valuable insights for designing inclusive programs to support vulnerable youth, emphasizing trust, collaboration, and personalized care that can be adapted to other contexts
Protecting the Fraternal System: Challenges in Family Neglect Intervention
This study his study explores decision-making processes regarding whether to separate or keep siblings together in situations of neglect or lack of protection. Conducted as part of the European project SAREA-POCTEFA and funded by FEDER, the research employed a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach to foster collaboration among social intervention professionals from Spain and France. The project, led by the University of Deusto’s Department of Social Work in partnership with two French educational institutions, focused on addressing critical challenges in the care of children in protective systems. Over four years, a multidisciplinary working group, composed of professionals in child welfare and out-of-home care, co-constructed best practices for sibling-related decision-making. Through regular meetings and systematic analysis using Atlas.ti software, the group developed an evidence-based model to guide interventions on preserving or separating sibling relationships following an abandonment declaration. Findings reveal a general inclination to keep siblings together during forced removals, reflecting the recognition of sibling bonds as vital sources of emotional stability. However, this principle often competes with systemic constraints, as organizational priorities and resource limitations influence case-by-case decisions. Former residents of care homes expressed a strong preference for maintaining sibling unity, emphasizing its importance for their sense of identity and continuity. In contrast, professionals highlighted divergent views, weighing the potential benefits of unity against practical challenges in certain cases. This research highlights the complexity of sibling-related decision-making in child welfare systems and underscores the need for systemic reforms to prioritize individualized care. The findings provide transferable insights for advancing professional practices internationally and addressing a significant gap in the literature on sibling dynamics in protective care.
Psychosocial Factors Affecting the Recognition of Gender-Based Violence: A Study with Adolescents
Gender-based violence (GBV) is a public health issue and a serious violation of human rights worldwide. It can manifest in various forms, including physical and sexual violence, economic deprivation, threats and intimidation, harassment, and emotional abuse. GBV affects not only the victim and the perpetrator but also society as a whole. Societal perceptions and representations of GBV can lead to several harmful effects, such as the isolation of victims, the inaction of authorities and professionals, and the perpetuation of detrimental norms among peers. While physical violence and rape are generally recognized as forms of GBV, other types of violence are less likely to be properly identified and addressed. This study aimed to investigate the psychosocial variables that may influence the recognition of abusive and controlling behaviors in intimate relationships. The participants were 368 adolescents (61.3% male, aged 15-19). The results indicated that the endorsement of sexist attitudes, rape myths, romantic love myths play a significant role in the recognition of psychological violence in intimate relationships, as well as in the perception of severity versus victim blaming in cases of controlling behaviors. The implications of these findings are discussed.
From Grassroots to Policy: Kodomo-Shokudo (Children’s Cafeteria) in Japan as an Inclusive Place for Everyone
Child poverty in Japan has become an increasing concern. According to 2021 OECD data, Japan’s relative poverty rate is 15.4%, surpassing the UK (11.7%) and equaling the US (15.2%), with single-parent households experiencing an especially high rate of 44.5%. Weakening community ties, a rise in single-person households, and the decline of neighborhood associations have further exacerbated children's social isolation. The issue of solitary eating has also been highlighted, with 15.3% of individuals experiencing it more than half the week, up from 10.2% in 2011. In response, Kodomo-Shokudo (Children’s Cafeteria) emerged in Tokyo in 2012 and has since expanded nationwide, reaching 10,866 locations by 2024—outnumbering middle schools in Japan. Initially launched to address food insecurity, Kodomo-Shokudo has evolved into an inclusive community space fostering social ties across generations. Although many operate only monthly, they serve 18.85 million people annually, including 12.99 million children. Policy support has grown with the establishment of the Children and Families Agency in 2023 and measures from the Ministries of Agriculture and Health. However, financial sustainability and policy integration remain major challenges, with disparities in municipal support leading to uneven access to these essential services. This study examines how grassroots initiatives transition into sustainable models, analyzing a case study in Kagoshima to explore local network formation and government collaboration. Through this analysis, we identify key mechanisms that enable bottom-up social initiatives to influence policy, offering insights for sustainable community-led interventions.
Whose School Is It Anyway? Photo-Voice as Method to Elicit Student Perceptions of One Free School’s Curriculum and Learning Spaces
This study elicits student perceptions of their curriculum and experiences in their school. through photo-voice. Photo-voice is a child-friendly method to engage children and young people in participatory research (Abma, et al., 2022). Photo-voice gives children the opportunity to take pictures of what is important to them and select the most meaningful pictures to articulate their story. The pictures can then be shown to adults as co-researchers to articulate further responses. Photo-voice is child-friendly as it is less verbally oriented than traditional research methods and enables children to express their perspective and participate more fully in research. In this study children used digital cameras to take photos of spaces in their school that were important to them in terms of their curriculum and provision. This method is potentially powerful and empowering because children are in control of the camera rather than purely subject of the research (Groundwater-Smith et al., 2015). Photo-voice is part of the social justice agenda and gives children and young people the right to express their voice in an ethical and responsible way. Findings indicated that the space, place and extra-curricular activities of the school were of critical importance to the children’s academic experience and journey. Spaces, places and extra-curricular aspects of school are often neglected areas of the educational debate in a climate of neo-liberal outcomes based upon curriculum – systems – and academic achievement. Children’s voices in contrast to those of adult stakeholders are often unheard, and given it is their school and their academic journey, they are voices that need to be heard. Hearing children's voice using photo-voice as method could influence the development of future curriculum design.
The Relationship Between Temperament, Screen Time and Psychological Adjustment in Preschoolers
This research aimed to describe the current trends in screen exposure among preschoolers and to understand the relationship between temperament, screen exposure, and children's psychological adjustment. Participants in the study were 115 mothers of preschool children from Zagreb, Croatia, who gave answers to measures of screen exposure, temperament dimensions, externalized and internalized behaviour problems, and prosocial behaviour of their children. The results show that average screen exposure during the week exceeds the recommended guidelines of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, while weekend exposure does not. Screen time exposure during the weekend positively correlates with externalized behaviour problems and the Impulsivity dimension and is negatively related to prosocial behaviour. In addition, externalized behaviour problems are positively correlated with Impulsivity, Activity, and Emotionality; internalized behaviour problems are positively correlated with Impulsivity and Emotionality and negatively with Sociability, while prosocial behaviour correlates negatively with Impulsivity. All aforementioned correlations are considered significant. Furthermore, the moderating effect of screen time exposure during the weekend significantly changes the relationship between both Impulsivity and Activity with externalized behavioural problems in a way that with more prolonged exposure, the relationship between both Impulsivity and Activity and externalized behavioural problems weakens. Finally, it was determined that screen time during the weekend significantly moderates the relationship between Impulsivity and prosocial behaviour, so it weakens with more prolonged screen time exposure. The research deepens the knowledge about the relationships between permanent characteristics (temperament dimensions) and screen time exposure with externalized and internalized behaviour problems and prosocial behaviour in preschoolers.
Shaping Future SDG Leaders: Empowering Change-Makers for a Sustainable World
This paper explores the role of education in shaping future leaders committed to achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It examines the essential qualities of an SDG leader, including visionary thinking, collaboration, problem-solving, empathy, and adaptability, and discusses methods to cultivate these skills in students. A key focus is the Global Schools Program (GSP), an initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, which supports educators in integrating SDG-related topics into curricula. Through training, free educational resources, and experiential learning opportunities, GSP empowers young individuals to take meaningful action on global challenges. The presentation also highlights real-world examples of youth leadership in SDG initiatives, featuring figures such as Greta Thunberg and Malala Yousafzai. Furthermore, it outlines actionable steps for educators, students, and communities to promote sustainability through skill-based learning, collaboration, and school-based projects. By emphasizing the transformative potential of education in fostering global citizenship and sustainable leadership, this session aims to inspire stakeholders to adopt effective, inclusive strategies for cultivating SDG leaders. Participants will gain insights into practical approaches for embedding sustainability education within their institutions, equipping the next generation with the tools needed to drive positive change.
Survey on Children and Youth in Care in Japan - Civil Service Commissioners and Children's Commissioners
The survey aimed to ask welfare workers whether they have young carers or young adult carers who may be caring for family members, what kind of care these children and young people are providing, how it is affecting their learning and life, and what kind of support is available. With the approval of the university's ethical review board, questionnaires were distributed and collected from 530 welfare commissioners and child welfare commissioners in F-city from November to December 2018, and 430 responded. This year, 32 respondents answered that there are such children and young people in the households they are involved with. Approximately one in 16 welfare commissioners and child welfare commissioners, and approximately one in three chief child welfare commissioners, were aware that there are children and young people who they feel are caring for their family members. By grade and age of the young carers and young-adult carers, the majority were in the upper grades of elementary school to junior high school, and there was no difference between the genders, with 40.6% being male and 46.9% being female. The majority of caregivers were mothers and children, and the top reasons for raising children were "parents' illness, disability, mental illness, or hospitalization" and "having younger siblings." More than half of the caregivers had been raising children for three years or more. The effects of care were noted as including new school openings, lateness, and decline in academic performance. This research was influential in the creation of the Carer Support Ordinance.
An Iterative Approach to Connecting Policymakers with Actionable Tobacco Control Data Through the Tobacco Control Data Initiative (TCDI)
In response to policymakers’ need for high-quality, accessible tobacco control data, in 2019, Development Gateway: An IREX Venture (DG) launched the Tobacco Control Data Initiative (TCDI) with support from the Gates Foundation. Through a series of country-specific platforms which include both primary and secondary data, TCDI provides a one-stop shop for tobacco control stakeholders in Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Zambia, South Africa, and the DRC. Senior Program Manager, Lauren Eby will present on DG’s unique approach that is based on iterative feedback collection from stakeholders to inform data visualization tools that maximize data use for tobacco control. In engaging a diverse stakeholder base throughout dashboard development, we ensure that their needs and perspectives are integrated into its design. This results in high user engagement, a strong sense of trust and ownership of the data, which, in turn results in tangible uses of the dashboard data by decision makers as well as other stakeholders to influence decision-making.
Results from The First Nationally-Representative, Household Surveys On Tobacco and Nicotine Use Among Adolescents in The DRC, Kenya, And Nigeria
With the success of the Tobacco Control Data Initiative (TCDI), stakeholders overwhelmingly highlighted that though data on adults existed, recent nationally-representative data on adolescents was unavailable. In response, Development Gateway: An IREX Venture (DG) launched the first-ever nationally-representative household surveys on tobacco and nicotine product use among 10-17 year-olds in the DRC, Kenya, and Nigeria in March-June 2024. Dr. Noreen Mdege, Research Lead at DG and Associate Professor in Global Public Health at the University of York, will present the findings from this survey, including data on the use of various tobacco and nicotine products and the prevalence estimated for their use. She will also present data on the factors associated with use, and the opportunities and challenges that were realized during study implementation, including addressing some assumptions about the feasibility and acceptability of collecting data on tobacco use from this age group at home. The presentation showcases a model for adolescent-focused tobacco control policy, practice and research in Africa.
A Multi-Sectoral Approach to Youth Involvement in Research On Adolescents in Nigeria
Building on the success of DG’s partnership with the Tobacco Control Unit in Nigeria, when Development Gateway: An IREX Venture (DG) began the co-design process for the adolescent survey, we understood the need to actively involve youth in the design, implementation, and dissemination of the data. As a result, in 2024, DG in collaboration with the Ministry of Health launched the first-ever Youth Advisory Group in Nigeria. Mr. Maikudi, DG’s Nigeria Country Lead, will speak about his experience supporting the creation of the Youth Advisory Group, whose membership includes government entities such as the Ministry of Youth, student groups such as the University of Abuja Smoke-Free Club, and faith-based youth organizations. He will present on the challenges faced in forming the group as well as the successes and lessons learned in engaging the youth.
Children's Experiences with The New Service in Oxfordshire Children Social Care
The Family Safeguarding Practice (FSP) model introduced in 2020 in Oxfordshire aims to improve outcomes for children and families involved with children’s social services. Our study is based on interviews of 10 children engaged with the Oxfordshire Children’s Social Service (OCSS) and investigates their experience of the service and how it has changed since the introduction of the FSP model. We have used thematic analysis to code the interviews and derive overarching themes and subthemes. Children were highly sensitive to the differences among social workers. They found the workers under FSP are more effective communicators, better listeners and kinder. Additionally, they valued social workers who communicate clearly, co-create plans with them and listen to their opinions. Children see a lot of benefit in having more support for their parents, which leads to improved outcomes for the whole family. Majority of the evaluations of new models in childcare services rely on feedback from staff and parents and rarely consider children’s experiences. Thus, we find that children provide crucial insights into social services and can help improve service users’ experiences. In addition, when FSP is implemented well children can notice and appreciate the difference.