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Introduction and background of the topic:Similar challenges have been identified in South Africa and Sweden signaling that children in care might not be heard or respected and not recognised for their capabilities to influence social change. Many significant decisions directly affecting their lives are made without their participation. This is a violation of their rights and in particular, the right to participate in matters that concern them. International treaties such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC, 1989), as well as regional and local policy and legislation in Sweden and South Africa stipulate that children should participate in decisions that affect their well-being. These policy directives are important for social workers who are responsible for services to children in alternative care as they are obligated to adhere to these directives. However, there is uncertainty about how social workers understand the concept of child participation, how it is utilised in practice to ensure the best interest of the child principle, how do they adhere to policy and legislative directives and what challenges they may experience in implementation. Relevance of the topic to the Swedish and South African Context:Our study analysed and compared the policy and legislation of South Africa and Sweden to understand the directives for child participation and how it influence the daily work with children in alternative care and their opportunities for participation. Continuing our study, this workshop would present the preliminary findings of a World Cafe with social workers working with children in alternative care, held in South Africa in March 2024 and Sweden in May 2024. It would also extend our understanding of child participation with vulnerable children to influence social change through discussions with other interdisciplinary professionals and students within the SASUF network. This would benefit both the Swedish and the South African Conte

Similar narratives from children in care have been identified in South Africa and Sweden, signalling that children in care need to be heard and respected for their capabilities to influence social change. Many significant decisions directly affecting their lives are made without their participation. This violates their rights and, in particular, the right to participate in matters that concern them. International treaties such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC, 1989) and regional and local policy and legislation in Sweden and South Africa stipulate that children should participate in decisions that affect their well-being. These policy directives are essential for social workers responsible for services to children in alternative care as they are obligated to adhere to them. However, there is uncertainty about how to understand the concept of child participation, how to utilise it in practice to ensure the best interest of the child principle, and what challenges that are connected to the implementation.This workshop invites attendees to take part of a presentation of our mutual work so far and to explore responses to questions about the participation of children in alternative care . Attendees will discuss topics such as: What is child participation? What examples do you have of how children can participate in decision-making? What do you need or want to enable work on child participation? AND - How can participation be a part of social change?In order to create an inviting and engaging environment, the workshop will take place as a fika (https://www.nordicvisitor.com/blog/nordic-eats-the-swedish-art-of-fika/). Some people may think of "Fika" as similar to the World Café concept, and we aim to facilitate meaningful conversations with a more participatory approach. In our version, we may or may not rotate between tables depending on the number and interests of the attendees. Insights and findings will be summarised in a final reflec

Similar narratives from children in care have been identified in South Africa and Sweden, signalling that children in care need to be heard and respected for their capabilities to influence social change. Many significant decisions directly affecting their lives are made without their participation. This violates their rights and, in particular, the right to participate in matters that concern them. International treaties such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC, 1989) and regional and local policy and legislation in Sweden and South Africa stipulate that children should participate in decisions that affect their well-being. These policy directives are essential for social workers responsible for services to children in alternative care as they are obligated to adhere to them. However, there is uncertainty about how to understand the concept of child participation, how to utilise it in practice to ensure the best interest of the child principle, and what challenges that are connected to the implementation.This workshop invites attendees to take part of a presentation of our mutual work so far and to explore responses to questions about the participation of children in alternative care . Attendees will discuss topics such as: What is child participation? What examples do you have of how children can participate in decision-making? What do you need or want to enable work on child participation? AND - How can participation be a part of social change?In order to create an inviting and engaging environment, the workshop will take place as a fika (https://www.nordicvisitor.com/blog/nordic-eats-the-swedish-art-of-fika/). Some people may think of "Fika" as similar to the World Café concept, and we aim to facilitate meaningful conversations with a more participatory approach. In our version, we may or may not rotate between tables depending on the number and interests of the attendees. Insights and findings will be summarised in a final reflec

In a joint South African and Swedish research study, policy frameworks for children in care were analysed in regard to children’s rights and accessibility to participate in decisions on care. The research group has during phase one in the study developed a series of questions to analyse the most relevant legislations in regard to children in care. Thus, for the Swedish part of the analysis four legislations were selected; the Social Services Act, the Children and Parents Code, the Care of Young Persons Act and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (since 2020 a part of the Swedish legislation). An analysis model was applied to these legislations, posing the following seven questions on children’s participation. What participation is, different understandings of children’s participation. Further, participation Concerning what? that is, in what decisions? Why participation, which includes the reasons and values underlying children’s participation. How, when, and where participation should be exercised. Also, Who should participate, with the added underlying question of who should promote participation. These questions were applied to the different legislations in order to scrutinize the access for children to become active agents in their own care. This form of inclusion could also become a model for an empower-driven participative influence in the decisions of fundamental importance to the society’s future well-being. Results from the analysis will be presented at the conference.