The Project: “Educational and Socio-Psychological Inclusion of Migrants’ Children”

March 18, 2020 – The project aims to improve the school environment to offer psychological and educational support and ensure the inclusion of children whose parents are working abroad; it will strengthen inter-sectoral cooperation and improve social, educational, and psychological assistance mechanisms for children whose parents are abroad; it will also develop a favorable policy framework for children whose parents are working abroad (hereinafter – migrant children).

Project Components:

• Capacity Building for schools to offer educational and psychological support and ensure the social inclusion of migrant children.
• Improvement of social, educational, and psychological assistance mechanisms for migrant children.
• The Legal Framework is favorable for children whose parents are working abroad.

Project Results:

• Partner schools are capacitated and involved in planning and implementing all activities related to the educational, social, and psychological support of migrant children.
• Teachers, school administration representatives, psychologists, and support staff have participated in training sessions and are providing psychological and educational support, and ensuring the inclusion of migrant children.
• The Resource Centers in partner schools are equipped with the necessary literature, equipment, and methodological materials to provide high-quality psychological and emotional support for migrant children.
• Schools have extracurricular programs developed based on a Needs Analysis exercise regarding the psycho-educational interests and needs of migrant children.
• The Student Councils in partner schools have consolidated their capacities and created equal opportunities for girls and boys whose parents are abroad to participate in the school’s decision-making process.
• A common database and methodology for collecting information about migrant children at the community level is created in close cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research (MECC), and social and educational services.
• Multidisciplinary teams are trained and knowledgeable in the methodology of collecting data about migrant children.
• Local inter-sectoral services are strengthened and provide assistance to migrant children.
• The Guardianship / Curatorship procedure is clearer, and the general public is sensitized and informed about the necessity of complying with the legal procedure for granting guardianship.

Duration, Target Group, and Partners:

• Project Duration: 3 years (January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2022).
• Financed by: The Pestalozzi Children’s Foundation (Switzerland).
• Target Group: Children in the 5th, 6th, and 7th grades with one or both parents working abroad.
• Local Partners: 10 schools from 5 districts (5 at the district/municipal level and 5 at the rural level), and 5 NGOs from these districts.