Basic information

Investigator: PhDr. Petr Winkler, PhD.
Main recipient: INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION
Co-recipient: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) 
Research period: 1/12/2024 - 30/11/2026
Total budget:  20,569,201 CZK
NIMH budget: 1,468,668 CZK
Supported by: EC 

 

Annotation

In an interconnected world, the well-being of vulnerable populations, particularly refugee, migrant and minority children, stands as an imperative pillar for fostering cohesive and resilient societies. This project aims to champion their right to social inclusion and education as a key protective factor for their mental health.
Relying on a gender-sensitive and intersectional lens, it adopts a proactive and strength-based approach promoting mental health beyond the absence of illness and cultivating a supportive ecosystem for children.
Tailored materials, comprehensive trainings and interactive sessions will equip parents, teachers and children with the tools to protect and support children experiencing mental health issues but also nurture preventive habits, increase children’s soft skills and ability to navigate mental health challenges and build their resilience against disruptions.
The initiative will also foster inclusive educational environments by enhancing intercultural awareness among teachers and children, promoting social cohesion by challenging xenophobic narratives and empowering teachers and children to combat, manage, prevent social conflicts, discrimination and bullying.
The project will thus focus on children, parents and teachers to ensure a multiplier effect, with an emphasis on Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia.
Transnational dissemination will promote policy-level dialogues for sustainable integration and holistic mental health policies. The campaign will improve protection and ability of children to speak up about those issues, be heard, and prevent and respond to them. Ultimately, the project will contribute to improving knowledge and awareness of migration, and reducing the stigma associated with mental health. By nurturing empathy, multiculturalism and resilience, the project endeavors to pave the way for more harmonious and healthy societies and promote a future where every child can thrive and contribute to the fabric of their communities.