Overall, the implementation of the project was expected to contribute to an increase in the level of educational and social services provided by the partner organisations to socially excluded young people - young war refugees. The partners defined the specific objectives of the project as: - an increase in the skills of 20 youth sector trainers in organising support for young refugees with a language barrier, psycho-emotional difficulties related to past trauma (through the exchange of experiences at transnational level during the mobility),- increase of soft and social competences as well as basic communication skills of 40 young people with refugee experience (through participation in regular social activities with art therapy elements), - support for organisations providing grassroots services to refugees. The project also aimed to initiate peer integration with young immigrants (in particular refugees) through a social campaign that would draw the attention of young people to the real needs of their fellow refugees. The development of a collection of good practices was also planned, with the aim of improving quality and innovation in the non-formal education sector for young people.
The applicant applied for the project in March 2022 - the desire to undertake the initiative was a direct response to the outbreak of war in Ukraine. From the very first days, the Foundation became involved in providing emergency assistance to war refugees, in particular to children and young people with experience of war trauma. It was already known at the March stage that ad hoc activities were badly needed, but over time it would be necessary to look for long-term solutions that would contribute to improving the psychological wellbeing of young people with refugee experience and their integration with young people from the host country (Poland). The planned 12-month collaborative partnership was intended to address both of these needs - on the one hand, we wanted to develop, together with the transnational partner, standards of action for mental health support for children and adolescents from war refugee families through art therapy (choice of method due to the language barrier) and adaptation of sensory pathways to the needs of those with PTSD; on the other hand, we wanted to draw the attention of adolescents from Poland and Turkey to the needs of their peers who have had the traumatic experience of fleeing a country of war.