REBREATHE: REfugees Becoming REsilient And Trauma HEaled

The forced displacement of youngsters due to persecution and war has resulted in severe psychological trauma for many. The loss of people, communities, and ways of life may cause feelings of anxiety, emptiness, and disconnection, which can impair their ability to function and think clearly. Unfortunately, refugees and migrants are still among the most vulnerable groups in society and often face xenophobia, discrimination, and poor living conditions.

However, too much emphasis is placed on their weaknesses rather than their strengths and capabilities. That is why we formed the REBREATHE Partnership to connect our expertise and develop an interactive book called the REBREATHE Framework. Our goal is to help young refugees heal from trauma, build resilience, and use their full potential to integrate into society and contribute to it. We also hope to inspire other organizations working with vulnerable groups to promote the importance of becoming resilient.

1. Objective 1: Facilitate the connection of youth workers and youngsters with innovative tools for promoting their well-being and mental health.
2. Objective 2: Encourage active engagement of youth workers and youngsters in collaboratively building resilience.
3. Objective 3: Empower youth refugee communities to work towards developing resilience and integrating into their new societies.

Transnational meetings

1. Kick off in Spain
2. Intermediate in Poland
3. Final in Estonia

Learning/Teaching/Training activities

1. Participatory visit in Estonia
2. Participatory visit in Poland
3. Course in Spain
4. Creation of the REBREATHE Framework
5. Creation of the REBREATHE Community
6. Dissemination campaign

Conferences

1. Online workshop
2. Internal workshops
3. Other dissemination activities

The interactive book «REBREATHE Framework» aims to provide tools and strategies to help young refugees heal from trauma, build resilience, and integrate into society. The book covers a variety of topics, including the double ABC-X model of family stress, the photovoice methodology, and the learning-service pedagogy. It also presents the community resilience framework, the healing environment and restorative therapy model, yoga, and learning languages for resilience.

The book also explores how to honor border stories through storytelling and podcast creation, and offers resources to understand the refugee experience, including myths and realities about migration and ethical considerations when working with refugees. It also discusses the long-term effects of trauma and resettlement, including the neuroscience behind behaviors presented by young people who have experienced complex trauma and how resilience can affect behavior.

In addition, the book provides tools for managing and facing traumatic experiences, including the 3 Rs technique of Reflect, Reframe, and Reachout, managing anxiety and increasing positive emotions, developing intercultural and community competencies, and digital resilience. It also addresses social integration and coexistence, prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence, and the experiences of LGBTIQ+ refugees.

Ultimately, the «REBREATHE Framework» seeks to promote the importance of becoming resilient and using one’s full potential to integrate into society and contribute to it. It is an invaluable resource for organizations and individuals working with vulnerable groups, as well as anyone interested in promoting healing and resilience.

YOUTH WORKERS WILL HAVE

1. applied resilience-building tools and techniques;
2. established expertise in developing trust with young refugees;
3. capacities of providing care with a trauma-informed approach;
4. prevented & dealt with harmful behaviors;
5. made ethical decisions while working with refugees

YOUNGSTERS (REFUGEES) WILL HAVE

1. Identified, understood, and accepted emotions; 
2. Embraced and released survivor’s guilt;
3. Received support while caring for younger siblings, felt safe and less distressed;
4. Gained confidence in daily life;
5. Became more comfortable discussing traumatic experiences;
6. Integrated into society with strong social connections;
7. Adjusted to new society and customs;
8. Joined activities and started new hobbies;
9. Applied new methods, improved activity performance;
10. LGBTI refugees received appropriate support, better understanding of feelings;
11. Processed chronic and multiple stress, expressed themselves, received help needed.

PARTNERSHIP  WILL HAVE

1. applied new tools & increased their cooperation in process of developing refugee resilience;
2. applied their participation in the Erasmus+ opportunities;
3. acquired new connections for new partnerships;
4. created safe spaces for young refugees;
5. young refugees are engaged in the healing process as a community;
6. raised awareness at local & international levels about the importance of resilience;
7. acquired new innovative methods for working with refugees