Scripts of psychoeducational classes strengthening mental resiliency, intended for implementation with children aged 7–15 who have experienced forced migration
We can’t change the direction of the wind, but we can set the sails differently.
Andreas Pflüger
Introduction
Recent years have confronted us – and continue to confront us – with many crises. Wars and conflicts are breaking out in many regions of the world. This was exacerbated by the pandemic as well as the economic crisis, which further deepened yet another crisis – one affecting both individuals and many communities. This crisis is the war in Ukraine, which affects its inhabitants the most, and which also poses many challenges to us, the inhabitants of Poland.
Polish society has recently accepted a large number of forced migrants, now arriving mainly from Ukraine, including many children and youth. Polish schools are forced to face the challenges of multiculturalism and multilingualism more often than in previous years. Additionally, new students who have experienced forced migration must also cope with their own individual crises that play out against the backdrop of those affecting communities and nations. They, like other children, go through developmental crises but, unfortunately, they also experience a number of extremely stressful and traumatic events, such as loss of home, friends and family, contact with the death of other people, often those close to them, anxiety and fear for their own lives. In Poland, on the other hand, they have to overcome problems in a new environment, a new school, and learn a new language. All this can be very overwhelming for young forced migrants and contribute to them losing their emotional balance. Consequently, this may lead to learning difficulties and problems with social integration, as well as the inability to cope with anger and sadness, and even to mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, oppositional-defiant disorder or depression.
In a situation like this, young forced migrants – often unable to receive intensified help and care from their loved ones, who are commonly dealing with crisis themselves – need wise support from the outside. How can it be provided?
Just as the captain of a ship cannot change the direction of the wind, we cannot magically make it so that children can return to their place of origin and feel safe there. We are incapable of changing the difficult and often traumatic experiences of these young people. However, we can help them develop skills, attitudes and acquire knowledge that will help them cope with problems and adversities. This will give them strength and the ability to adapt to difficult situations. Just as the captain of a ship adjusts the sails to harness the power of the wind and set the ship in motion, young forced migrants can learn to use life’s difficulties to grow their strength and develop.
At the turn of 2022 and 2023, a team of experts working at the Polish Migration Forum Foundation has prepared a programme of workshops entitled “ReSET – Relacje, Siła, Emocje, Troska“ (“ReSET – Relations, Strength, Emotions, Care”). The workshops are aimed at children and youth who have experienced forced migration and are now living in Poland. The main goal of the classes is to support young people in the development of mental resiliency.
By mid-2023, over 2,152 children with experience of forced migration living in Poland took part in the workshops. They were mostly young people from Ukraine. The classes were enthusiastically received by the participants. Moreover, the results of the workshop evaluation also showed that they effectively increase children’s mental resiliency. The workshops help them cope better with difficulties in life.
In this publication, we present the theoretical concept of the “ReSET” workshops and classes scripts. We invite you to use them and implement classes planned on their basis which educate and support various groups of children and youth with migration experience.
Zuzanna Rejmer
author of the “ReSET” workshops concept,
leader of the training team conducting workshops
