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STREET WORDS - Conversations with Street Educators in Prague

During a recess in the meeting for the representatives of the european platforms held in Prague on March 30th, 2011, we had a chat over a cup of coffee with several educators from various countries. On this particular occasion, the educators were Sara Montipo, Andrzej Orlowski and Valvona Hystuna.

What’s your name and what you do?

Sara Montipo: My name is Sara Montipo, i’m italian and I’m working in an organization called Centro Accogilenza de la Rupe. I´m the coordinator in a night center and I also work as an intercultural mediator with refugees, gypsies and Romanians.

Andrzej Orlowski: My name is Andrzej Orlowski and I’m a street worker in Poland. I’m working in OSOS the network of polish streetworking Organizations in the country.

Valvona Hystuna: My name is Valvona Hystuna, I’m greek and i work in Arsis Organization, which gives support to young people of different cities in Greece and Tirana, Albania.

What kind of difficulties are the people you work with facing?

S.M: There are mainly two difficulties. The first is that these people are very often alone, without family, without support from the community. The second is that they don’t attend to school and they have a low cultural level. It’s very difficult for them to overcome the problems.

A.U: I work with children and youth people. Many of them are in a difficult situation because of the relationship with their parents and the family they belong to. They’re away from home and spend a lot of time on the street. This place is not safe for them because they’re exposed to many risks activities, that could lead them to addictions or jail in a future.

V.H: Arsis Organization works with different target groups. I personally work in the protection and support of children who are victims of trafficking and exploitation. These children work on the street and they are exploited. During my career as a street worker I’ve approached to these children, trying to understand their context and protect them with our social protection framework.

What kind of strategies or social practices must be supported?

S.M: In my opinion is very important that we work with social services, being connected to other associations in the city and the community. Also, find strategies in order to increase the participation and dialogue with other users and with the community.
Our users could improve their situation if they met with other people that are not living the same situation. Therefore we try to increase their participation in different activities, create connections with other citizens, and as a normal activity, support them in their problems and help them in the search of autonomy, for example by helping them find a job.

A.U: I think it’s necessary to support the work with the diversity of young people, using street work methods. Especially in my country, where there is a high number of young people in this situation of risk that should be supported.

V.H: Street work and the strategies used by the street workers to intervene with children and young people or other beneficiaries on the street are very good. I think the governments of different countries should focus on the protection, recognition and support of street work because it’s an essential strategy to fight against poverty and social exclusion.

What brings to you to be connected to Dynamo International- Street Workers Network?

S.M: For me is very important to take part in the network because I can understand what happens in other countries, what kind of strategies are being used by other network members to solve problems. Nowadays, in a time characterized by economic crisis, is important to have a network and try to work together, share best practices, seeking funding or other resources as European projects.

A.U: Thanks to the network we can come into contact with different people from other countries who are doing a similar work and who we’re sharing the same goals, so we're not alone. We have similar problems and we agree to share our methods and practices. It’s an opportunity to meet people directly and learn. I think this is the easiest way to make projects together, knowing people face to face.

V.H: First of all I’m very happy to know I'm not alone. I feel that I have many colleagues in Europe and around the world who work on the street. Therefore I know that I can ask for support whenever I need it. There is a reference point for everything I need. I think all this information that I can access thanks to these colleagues is very necessary and helpful for my framework.

What are the future challenges for the street workers that you represent?

S.M: The first challenge is to change the mentality, the way you work with the users to promote their participation; to carry out a kind of work more connected with community. It’s also very important the training, make more visible our work, strengthen the communication about what we’re doing and the professionalization of the sector. Likewise, the search for funding and take part of an international network, working with colleagues from other countries.

A.U: The recognition of street work as a profession. It is important to sensitize people and politicians of the importance of these methodologies to work with youth, useful methods to assist this young people. We need to make this work more professional.

V.H: The current framework in Greece is difficult because the national network has split up. We’re trying to create another network of street workers and I hope we will get it. This is a challenge. With regard to the objectives of the organization I represent: to press the government to take a right policy in relation to street work. In Greece, the street workers are not protected by law at all. That’s why one of the main challenges is reach the recognition of street worker as a profession.

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