Being a teenager means discovering who you are, building friendships, and dreaming about the future. For unaccompanied refugee children, this stage of life often takes place far from their families, in an unfamiliar country, and under uncertain circumstances.

Language barriers, unfamiliar rules, difficulties accessing education, and uncertainty about the future are just some of the challenges these young people face in their daily lives.

As part of the SAVE – Speak Out Against Violence project, the Council of Refugee Women in Bulgaria organises group workshops during which unaccompanied children share their experiences, needs, dreams, and goals. They talk about their desire to continue their education and build independent lives, as well as their concerns about limited opportunities and uncertainty about the future.

Other workshops have focused on rules, personal boundaries, and relationships with others – important topics for young people who strive for independence while continuing to need protection and support.

Behind every story is a child who deserves safety, understanding, and the opportunity to build their own future.

This article was prepared as part of the SAVE – Speak Out Against Violence project.

The project has received funding from the European Union’s CERV programme under Grant Agreement No. 101138279, through the Daphne-CHILD programme in partnership 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.