32 children and youngsters in eight European regions, narrate through short movies the way in which the economic crisis and austerity affect their lives. The films will be screened for the first time publicly on March 28, 2015, in an event organized by the Ombudsman, defined as Ombudspersons for Children, and with the support of Michael Cacoyannis Foundation.

 

David, in England struggles to communicate but his voice has been silenced due to cuts in the financing of his speech therapies. A family in Hague relies on a “food bank” to avoid hunger, while Matteo is forced to make choices, as the price of textbooks in Italy keeps increasing. In Belgium the heating and lighting are not self-evident goods for many families. Youcef wanders in Marseille with two faces, the “bright” one for tourists and the more and more “dark” one of the grim reality experienced by children.

 

The Ombudsman, in fulfillment of his mission as the Ombudspersons for Children, participated in the action of the European Network of Ombudsmen for Children “Austerity bites: children’s voices.” Through creative workshops, children and adolescents had the opportunity to make their own short films and express through music, photograsphs, sounds, animation and other techniques, their views on different aspects of the impacts of the crisis on their rights.

 

Goal of the Ombudsman is to be highlighted the perspective of the children on the issue of crisis, to raise public awareness about the consequences of austerity policies concerning children and adolescents and proposals to be seeked to protect for the more effective protection of their rights.

 

The European Network of Ombudsmen for Children (ENOC) was founded in 1997 and connects 42 independent authorities from 34 countries of the Europe Council. Commitment of the Network is to promote the substantial participation of children in occasions, issues and decisions that directly affect their lives and the realization of their rights. The films of the action “Austerity bites: children voices” were presented in a special event in the frame of the 18th Annual Conference of ENOC in Edinburgh, where the Position Statement on “Children and Austerity” was also adopted.

 

 

 

Sport facilities in Rome have become too expensive for many young people. Access to sports clubs is beyond our abilities and there are few open public spaces where we can play.

 

There are more bicycles than young people in Netherlands. However, in this time of crisis, many young people can only dream of having a bicycle.

 

When you don’t have pocket money, it is getting difficult to have a good time with your friends. It’s getting tougher to feel good about yourself.

 

Many of my friends left Greece because of the crisis. I miss them very much!

 

The last few years more than a third of swimming gyms in Marseille have been closed. It has become very difficult to find a safe place to swim near my home.

 

Cuts in funding my speech therapies, has made it very difficult for me to express my ideas to others. That depresses and angers me in the same time.

 

These difficult times, it becomes more and more difficult to look onto the future with hope. It’s easy to forget that learning is the key that opens doors.

 

While people are paid less and less, the price of textbooks continues to increase. We are forced to make choices and sacrifices.

 

Even in this time of crisis people have the right of citizenship. Fighting for your identity is painful and difficult.

 

We want to participate in shaping a bright future for the cities and villages where we live. Can we achieve this in time of crisis?

 

We are ravaged under the shadows, because Greece was sold for money.

 

We live in a city that has two faces. One is bright, for tourists, the other is getting darker as the crisis bites.

 

Energy poverty is a major issue for many families in Belgium. Heating and lighting should be fundamental rights.

 

More and more people in Hague are now based on food banks to avoid hunger. My family is one of many.

 

In this time of austerity there are fewer and fewer real job opportunities for young people. It is embarrassing and stressful.

 

More and more families in Marseille depend on second hand clothes and goods to live on. There are beautiful things. I bought my mom’s birthday gift from there.

The grants to young people to use public transport in Rome have fallen dramatically. Many are forced to move in creative but controversial ways.

 

The cuts in family support services mean that I do not have a transportation mean any more to take me see my biological parents. So I see them less often. I miss them.

 

The crisis has brought tension in our lives and families. To survive, we need compassion, unity and solidarity.

 

More and more families in Belgium live under difficult conditions. It’s hard being a girl and growing up without personal space and privacy.