Projects for
youth
Scope
Facilitating intercultural dialogue between migrant children and youth, refugee youth, and Romanian youth by offering an intercultural program, as well as developing the NGO’s capacity to create intercultural programs and become sustainable.
English language course/English Speaking Club/Debate Club
The activity will be a continuation of our organization’s work and will aim to develop intercultural competencies in English: English Speaking Club/Debate Club. The activity will be non-formal and will focus on communication among the project’s beneficiaries, learning new concepts in English, getting to know one another through thematic sessions about their country of origin, traditions, spoken language (young people can organize lessons teaching their native language), hobbies, topics of interest, and specific themes such as human rights, global warming, migration, social media, politics, interculturality, empathy, and other social subjects… providing a platform for young people to express themselves critically in a language known to all, to hear different perspectives, to learn, to practice tolerance and respect for other opinions, and to express their views. An English native-speaking volunteer will support these meetings in English along with the project manager and project assistants. Our association has access to a large group of native English speakers, and we have previously organized such activities with great success. Since August 2022, our center has organized an English Speaking Club for young people and adults from Ukraine. The English Speaking Club was created at the request of refugees from Ukraine and was supported by two native English speakers from the USA, members of our center.
Country presentations
in schools
The activity aims to foster direct interaction between migrant beneficiaries and children from schools in Brașov through an intercultural educational activity, namely country presentations. The purpose of the activity is to generate a positive change in attitudes towards other cultures among children and young people in Brașov schools. They will be able to express their opinions and will have the opportunity to… change the opinions of the local community and remove tensions related to immigrants/refugees that have arisen over time at the local level. 200 students from schools in Brașov will benefit from country presentations by young migrants and refugees, thus building bridges between cultures. The activity involves community-level outreach. Our organization has organized such activities before the pandemic in partnership with ISJ Brașov and a series of migrants from Brașov (Dominican Republic, Mexico, Russia, Moldova).
Social & Cultural Events
These activities aim to improve the well-being of migrants and refugees, as during the first two years, until they learn the Romanian language and reach a level of acceptance and understanding of the host society, they often experience extreme homesickness, feelings of helplessness and dependency, disorientation, isolation, depression, sadness, sleep problems,… and extreme reactions to the host culture—stereotypical behaviors. In the case of forcibly displaced persons, such as refugees, these feelings are intensified, and their psychological and mental well-being is severely affected. Therefore, activities in nature, in new and attractive places, local excursions, sports, and other recreational activities with peers who may be going through similar experiences can be seen as moral and psychological support.
MHPSS &
Art Therapy
The activity will support the young people in the project with MHPSS (Mental Health and Psychosocial Support) according to their needs: psychoeducational support, basic psychological support for both the young people and their families. UNICEF shows that MHPSS and psychosocial support improve the mental health of children and adolescents, enhance learning outcomes, and improve social life in general... Young people, especially those from Ukraine, will benefit from MHPSS sessions and psychosocial support focusing on coping with worries and anxieties, empowering youth, and highlighting their personal strengths and abilities. The sessions will aim to promote the psychosocial well-being of the project’s beneficiaries so that they can better manage their daily lives and future.
