What helps us through difficult moments, and why is it important to feel heard and understood?

These questions were explored during two group workshops with unaccompanied refugee children, organised by the Council of Refugee Women in Bulgaria (CRWB) at the Ovcha Kupel Safe Zone and the Tsar Simeon residential care centre in Sofia, as part of the SAVE – Speak Out Against Violence project.

During the sessions, participants discussed stress, uncertainty, emotions, and ways of coping with difficult situations. They explored the importance of faith, community, and support from loved ones, as well as topics related to personal boundaries, mutual respect, rules, and communication with others.

These topics are particularly important for unaccompanied refugee children, who often face separation from their families, changes in their environment, and uncertainty about the future. Recognising and expressing emotions, building trust, and knowing how to seek support help them cope with everyday challenges, develop positive relationships, and feel safer in their new surroundings.

Through these activities, CRWB creates a safe space for sharing, understanding, and support, while promoting children’s emotional resilience and social inclusion.

The project has received funding from the European Union’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme under Grant Agreement No. 101138279, through 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.