How do we want others to see us? How do we react when we feel misunderstood? And how do our emotions influence our relationships with others?
These questions were explored during a group workshop with unaccompanied refugee children, organised by the Council of Refugee Women in Bulgaria (CRWB) at the Family-Type Accommodation Centre on Tsar Simeon Street in Sofia, as part of the SAVE – Speak Out Against Violence project.
The workshop began with a discussion about school, peer relationships, and everyday conflicts. Children shared difficulties related to communication, misunderstandings, and feelings of having little control over certain situations.
During the reflection activity “How I Want to Be Seen by Others,” participants explored the qualities they would like others to recognise in them. These included strength, respect, calmness, and success. The discussion highlighted how personal experiences and other people’s attitudes can influence children’s perceptions of themselves.
Through the creative activity “My Mask,” participants were encouraged to express their feelings and self-perceptions using colours, drawings, and symbols. For some children, this proved challenging, highlighting the need for continued support in developing self-expression skills.
The following discussion focused on the connection between emotions, behaviour, and conflict. Children explored how anger, insecurity, and feelings of rejection can influence their reactions and relationships with others.
The workshop highlighted that developing positive self-esteem, emotional resilience, and conflict-management skills requires time, trust, and consistent support.
For unaccompanied refugee children, such activities are particularly important as they provide a supportive environment for self-expression, encourage mutual respect, and help build more positive relationships.
The activity was implemented as part of the SAVE – Speak Out Against Violence project.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s CERV programme under Grant Agreement No 101138279, the Daphne-CHILD programme with Eurochild and Terre des hommes.
Eurochild plays a leading role in the project. For more information, visit: https://eurochild.org/.Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them
