Building Bridges Toolkit
The Toolkit was designed to collect and share the know-how on voluntary projects involving people seeking or who have recently found refuge, as well as raising awareness on forced migration in general. The collection of guidelines, methods and case studies is non-exhaustive and should simply foster your own inspiration and support you in implementing projects on the topic. The creation of the Toolkit has been driven by the ever bigger need of the international SCI network to exchange best practices on projects in the field. It was coordinated by SCI Switzerland with the support of Útilapu Hungary. Its existence wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the Mercator Foundation Switzerland and the active contribution of the Building Bridges working group and a number of SCI branches.
Case studies are successful implemented examples sharing with you what is going on in the SCI movement on the topic of refugees and migration.
VACATION CAMP FOR REFUGEE CHILDREN
Providing different indoor and outdoor activities for kids in refugee center
When: 2 weeks in summer
Contact / Source: Sandra Sych sandra_sych@wp.pl
One World Association, SCI Poland, Monika Czerwinska, monika@jedenswiat.org.pl
Context and idea
OWA SCI Poland wanted to provide the children in the refugee center the opportunity of participating in organized activities during summer holidays. The project has been organised for few years, and they found it important to continue it in the center especially during the migration crisis.
Objectives and aim
The aim was to involve the kids in organized activities, also to get them interested in the national and cultural background of the volunteers, which came from 4 different countries. It was even the possibility to give a chance to the volunteers to get involved with refugees and learn more about their situation.
During the two weeks of the project it is about to involve the majority of young children in the activities and involve them in a routine through prepared workshops and games.
The objective of providing the children with entertainment and occupation should remain during the project and not be disturbed, even if the community in the center is ever-changing, because of leaving and arriving families. It is also important to make them more aware of who the volunteers are and what they are doing. The main aim is to give them some good energy, joy and happiness.
It is important to spend enough time planning the activities with the coordinator and the other volunteers, discussing how to divide the tasks and what educational and recreational activities should to be conducted.
Target groups
All children living in the refugee center
History and description
This workcamp has been organized for the last couple of years and its simplicity enables to continue running it annually.
Public relations
Through the SCI and Once World Association website as well as social media, pictures and stories can be shared to inform the public about the project.
Evaluation methods
It helps to have team-meetings every evening in order to discuss difficulties, changes to be done, tips and motivate each other for the next day.
By the end of the workcamp a survey sent out to volunteers and coordinators and as well as an internal report is needed for the follow up of the project.
Finances
This project has been supported by the Refugee Fund of SCI International.
CONTRIBUTE!
You can share your experience, observations, tips and tricks, pictures etc. by uploading for instance a method or a case study to the Building Bridges Toolkit. As this Toolkit is a work in progress to which all involved parties are invited to contribute, we would also be very grateful for your support and contribution in order to inspire others to continue the work towards peace and intercultural understanding.