Power of Belonging project aimed to equip youth workers with a practical methodology to create inclusive, supportive spaces where young people, especially young women with migrant and refugee backgrounds, can feel seen, safe, and empowered. We sought to raise awareness of how mental health affects women’s professional lives, foster emotional resilience, and promote inclusion through mindfulness-based practices. The project’s goals included empowering participants for labour market access, supporting storytelling as a tool for identity-building, and encouraging accountability in spaces where migrants are often excluded. We also aimed to boost feminine leadership and gender equity, and to give youth workers adaptable tools for real-world use. Through international collaboration and shared learning, we strengthened youth work by connecting mental health, empowerment, and community building into one accessible framework.
Many young people, especially young women with migrant or refugee backgrounds, face exclusion, cultural disconnection, and emotional strain. At the same time, youth workers often lack accessible tools to support them with care, safety, and equity. Power of Belonging project was created to address this need. Through collaborative efforts, we developed practices rooted in mindfulness, self-awareness, and community-building - tools that support emotional regulation and foster inclusive spaces. With a focus on mental health, gender equity, and empowerment, the project strengthens the capacity of youth workers and promotes the leadership and integration of marginalized young women. Our work fosters belonging not as a concept, but as a lived, supported experience - one that transforms communities from within.