Training for the support of unaccompanied minor refugees
Merimna - Educational Programs
Since 2016, Merimna has been designing and implementing empowerment programs for people working with unaccompanied refugee minors in cooperation with relevant institutions and organizations. More specifically, in 2016, in cooperation with the organizations Faros, Babel and Solidarity Now, Merimna implemented a training program for 50 workers with children and families of refugees and migrants in Athens, with funding from EPIM (European Program for Integration and Migration). Then, from 2017-2021, in collaboration with UNICEF, EKKA (Natl. Center for Social Solidarity), DOM (International Organization for Migration), and EKPA (National & Kapodistrian University of Athens), Merimna implemented 7 training and clinical supervision programs for workers in shelters for unaccompanied refugee minors and migrants residing in shelters throughout Greece (Athens, Thebes, Aegean Islands, Crete, Thessaloniki, Ioannina, Kozani, etc.).
The clinical supervision was addressed to about 100 professionals of different specialties (coordinators, psychologists, social workers, social workers, lawyers, teachers, caregivers), who worked in hotels hosting unaccompanied adolescents in northern Greece.
The training was addressed to professionals of different disciplines and covered issues related to the operation of shelters, the basic principles for the effective support of unaccompanied children and adolescents and the management of the losses they have experienced and the difficulties they experience due to the prolonged “suspended” situation in which they find themselves, as they face an uncertain future.
Also, following a needs assessment of the field workers (Merimna Report, December 2018), three important issues emerged where workers expressed the need for further knowledge and support: (1) conflict and violence management, (2) supporting adolescents who self-harm, and (3) managing workplace stress. For this reason, in Merimna we developed training materials for each of the above-mentioned topics, which we evaluated through training seminars and then published three separate manuals in Greek and English. By the end of December 2021, Merimna had trained, on these topics, about 2,000 employees from different shelters for unaccompanied minor refugees and migrants all over Greece.
This initiative has been very well received by the coordinators of shelters, workers and the wider community that supports unaccompanied minor refugees. The team of Merimna trainers has been invited by other organizations providing services to unaccompanied refugee minors to provide training on the above topics (EAPAPSY (Association for Regional Development and Mental Healthcare), HOPE10).