Trauma Surviving & Hope

Traumatized refugee teenagers in Croatia do not have access to low-threshold psychosocial support, amongst others caused by language and attitude barriers. A group of voluntary experts identified an effective response, with a psycho-educational Booklet-Series as its key component, to be taken up by individuals, teachers, and social workers, equally relevant for local youth. Both the methodology and targeting refugee and local teenagers are innovative. The intervention is piloted in Croatia and will be used in other West Balkan refugee route countries, including Austria and Germany.

Teenagers who fled from humanitarian crisis hot spots experience trauma and post-traumatic stress. Countries along the West Balkan route, including Croatia and Austria, do not have a psycho-social support strategy; this gap also includes care and response to trauma and post-traumatic stress for local teenagers.

Hoffnung für traumatisierte Teenager (“Trauma Surviving Hope”) offers free, easy access booklets to inform teenagers and their caregivers on trauma and post-traumatic stress. The programme was founded and created by a multi-cultural volunteer expert group, who provide multi-lingual and cultural insights. The programme is also integrated with local municipalities through the Now Mayors network.

Teenagers who are 12 years old and older are the primary target group. The teenagers participate in the programme’s project design and give feedback on the trauma booklets. This intervention strategy allows them to engage with the brochures and/or professionals (teachers, social workers, etc.) working with the young people. The Now Mayors Network is also a key support for sustainable local implementation.

We have reached hundreds of teenagers and professionals, who realized that they are not alone. The programme works with trauma under the “do no harm” principle.  Experts and local decision-makers both agree for the need for transnational strategies to address trauma.

The programme can be transferred to other regions and contexts: the concept is designed to work effectively in scenarios where location, documentation status and community affiliation can change rapidly. The programme embraces cultural, religious and linguistic diversity, as reflected in the programme’s expert advisory group.

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