SOS Children's Villages International

Today at the #BrighterFutures conference hosted by Karolinska Institutet and UNICEF, SOS Children's Villages 🌏 and SOS Villaggi dei Bambini - Italia presented the Well-U project dedicated to enhancing the #mentalhealth and psychosocial support of refugee children and their caregivers. 💙 Through tailored training and scalable interventions like Team Up, Problem Management Plus (PM+), Reach Now, and Movement, Games, Sports & Creativity (MGSC), we're making a difference across Italy, Hungary, Greece, and Romania. #WellU #BetterTogether #HealthUnion #EU4Health

Almost 450,000 people have been forcibly displaced from #Rafah in the last ten days, United Nations reports. Children and families in #Gaza need unimpeded aid access and a definitive #CeasefireNow. An update on the SOS Children's Village in Rafah and the work of SOS Children's Villages Palestine from Augustus Wilberding, our Global Head of Safety and Security. 👇

Young people and our colleagues from SOS-Kinderdorf e.V., SOS Barnbyar and SOS Villaggi dei Bambini - Italia were at UNICEF and Karolinska Institutet's #BrighterFutures conference to discuss ways to improve access to #mentalhealth services for children and young people in alternative care and in families facing difficulties. At a workshop co-organized by Well-U - a project dedicated to supporting the mental health of refugee children and their caregivers - young people talked about the positive impact supportive family relationships have on children's mental health, especially during crises. #WellU #EuropeanMentalHealthWeek #EU4Health

Children and young people face many barriers accessing #mentalhealth services: there is stigma, children's rights violations, and a perception that mental health is not part of health in general. SOS-Kinderdorf e.V. shared today at the #BrighterFutures conference of the Karolinska Institutet and UNICEF how access to mental health services can be improved. This means, first and foremost, letting children participate in the decisions on receiving mental health treatment, as part of their right to health.

On this 🌏 #DayofFamilies, we call for investments in social and #childprotection systems that strengthen families and their ability to care for their children. 'We must all do our part. The partnership of governments, civil society organizations, and individuals is a driver to create a world where every child grows up in a nurturing family environment, ensuring their rights are safeguarded, and their futures are filled with promise and opportunity,' says Dr. Dereje Wordofa, President of SOS Children's Villages International. Read the full op-ed 👉 https://lnkd.in/dv4yxqV7 

'In today's world, teenagers face multifaceted challenges, with family dynamics and the shadow of war casting a heavy burden on their mental health. The constant threat of conflict leaves lasting scars, manifesting as panic attacks triggered by everyday sounds reminiscent of trauma. Moreover, familial discord, whether through divorce or parental pressure, compounds their emotional struggles, leaving them feeling vulnerable and alone.' Yuliana from SOS Children's Villages Ukraine spoke today during UNICEF and Karolinska Institutet's joint conference on global child and adolescent #mentalhealth. The workshop organized by SOS Barnbyar and Well-U focused on how supportive relationships can benefit the mental well-being of children and young people. #MHPSS #EuropeanMentalHealthWeek #WellU

📢 Save the date! On 21 May, #JoiningForces will bring together children and decision-makers to discuss the importance of #childparticipation. Hear about the benefits of listening to children’s voices for meaningful, systematic change - and a chance to achieve the SDGs as part of the #2030Agenda. 👉 Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/g5pWPHHM

❗ Children who grow up alone, in families facing hardship or in disadvantaged communities are more likely to have their rights violated or denied, especially in times of crisis. Meet Daniel who fights for #childrights in his community in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 👇

Children in Gaza need a CEASFIRE NOW  الأطفال في غزة بحاجة إلى وقف إطلاق النار الآن 

📢 It's time for children and young people to have a seat at the decision-making table and be heard in the discussions on matters that affect their lives. Take our e-learning course on meaningful child & #youthparticipation in policymaking today! The course takes approximately one hour to complete and is available in Bulgarian, English, Hungarian, Italian and Spanish. #elearning #childparticipation 💡 https://lnkd.in/dKNHjSXn 📸 Magdalena Sikorska