―Health and Wellbeing

ARGENTINA

Austria

Belgium

Germany

Greece

Italy

Poland

Portugal

Spain

The Nordics

Ethnomedizinisches Zentrum

Ramazen Salman

The Problem

Nearly 15 percent of the German population, approximately 12 million people, are immigrants themselves or children of those who immigrated to Germany. There is a direct relation between the integration of migrants into new local communities and their health. 

The Solution

The Ethnomedizinisches Zentrum (ethnomedical centre) was founded by Ramazan Salman in 1990 in Hannover, with at its core a system of nationwide networks called MiMi – migrants for migrants. This serves as a support system that bridges the gap between German healthcare and immigrant communities. In this network, successfully integrated migrants help others to overcome isolation, depression, cultural barriers and mistrust, as well as understand their rights in the German healthcare system. All mediators are linked in a nationwide network to ensure exchange of learning and best practices. Through taught courses, Ramazan provides information and sparks discussion on HIV and aids, children’s healthcare, birth control, pregnancy, vaccination, substance abuse, nutrition, first aid, depression and mental health. 

The Impact

This model has expanded to each of Germany's 24 biggest cities and several states. It has instructed over 1,000 mediators from 50 different nations—almost 80 percent of them female —and has directly reached approximately 60,000 migrants from 70 nationalities. The costs for the materials and mediators for different courses are covered by local governments and Germany’s second largest state health insurance company. 

The Problem

One of the regions in Turkey has a long history of women abuse. There is little support and few resources are available to change this and stop violence against women.  

The Solution

KA-MER is a support and resource centre for women in Turkey. Based on the firm belief that stopping violence against women is the first stop to ending conflict, the project challenges the normalisation of domestic violence. KA-MER increases awareness of women’s rights as citizens, wives and mothers, and provides tools that empower them. At the centre, the women have access to counselling and childcare, and are supported to find employment with the aim to achieve financial independence and gain self-respect. 

The Impact

KA-MER has expanded to 23 centres across many provinces and districts in the South-eastern and Eastern Anatolian regions. Despite initial disregard of the ideas behind the centres, the project is slowly expanding its reach across villages and regional communities. Through this work, KA-MER challenges the poverty, male sovereignty and political turbulence that obstruct democratic ideals in these regions. The project was internationally recognised and continues to affect communities at both a local and global scale. 

The Problem

The 21st century has been identified as the ‘migration century’ due to the increased global movement of people. Since 2015, Europe has experienced a heavy influx of refugees and migrants after which many European cities have become ‘super-diverse’. Places are defined by the differences in ethnicity, religion and culture, but often migrants do not feel like local services – such as support with mental health – are available to them. Additionally, local services are not often equipped to understand and help cope with cultural differences and mental health issues related to migration and (lack of) integration.  
 

The Solution

Solentra stands for solidarity and trauma. The organisation aims to transform the mental healthcare system by training professionals who work closely with refugees and applying its PACCT-Methodology (Psychiatry Assisting the Culturally diverse Community in creating healing Ties) of community-based and culturally sensitive psychology for refugees and other migrants. The method acknowledges the importance of equal and open dialogue. To ensure the support of children in different stages of integration, Solentra mobilises a community of actors involved in their lives. Its method removes cultural and language barriers to make mental healthcare accessible for migrants.  

The Impact

Solentra has reached over 3,000 migrant and refugee children with its PACCT method. The method was awarded the 2016 Maselis prize for innovation and efficiency. It has been appointed one of the top 3 practices across the 27 EU member states by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The organisation’s founder – Geertrui Serneels – has been invited by the Flemish Minister of Welfare to present the PACCT methodology as best practice of community-based approach in the youth sector.

InterVolve / Irida Women’s Center

Founded by Chloe Kousoula, Represented by Christina Calbos

The Problem

InterVolve was created in response to the growing needs of refugees and asylum seekers arriving in Greece in unprecedented numbers. After a year of emergency response, InterVolve recognized the necessity to invest in long-term sustainable solutions for a portion of the population being provided with little resources and opportunities: refugee women.

Women represent almost half of the 244 million migrants and half of the 19.6 million refugees worldwide. Displaced women and girls face specific challenges and higher protection risks in transit, including family separation, psychosocial stress and trauma, health complications, Physical harm and injury, and risks of exploitation and gender-based violence. Women also often serve as the main caretakers for children and family members.  While women hold infinite potential and far-reaching impact within their communities, few support systems were in place to empower refugee women in creating community, accessing the labor market, and integrating into local society. Furthermore, there are even fewer initiatives that open their doors to refugee and Greek women alike, creating cross-cultural interactions and multicultural support networks.

The Solution

In January 2018 InterVolve created Irida: a safe, welcoming, participatory space where women have a voice, a sense of ownership, and the opportunity to receive information and support. Irida is also the only women’s community center in Thessaloniki. At Irida, women have a chance to make social connections and build community; to bond, to develop, to thrive - all in an environment of safety, trust, and diversity. Additionally Irida wholistically supports women and their families by providing child support through collaboration with a partner organization: Refugee Trauma Initiative.

The Impact

Since opening, Irida has registered over 350 women from over 12 countries.

Their programming has developed into providing Greek and English language courses, French and Arabic literacy for native speakers, art, movement/fitness, sewing, crafts, beauty/self-care, woodworking, computer classes, life skills, and one-on-one job search and CV writing support. Additionally, they have provided over 20 unique workshops such as photography and massage therapy. Their community has taken part in and hosted community-wide events, as well as visits and excursions to museums and significant landmarks throughout Thessaloniki. Since joining Irida, several of our members have been able to enroll in higher education and receive job offers.

CENTER FOR AUTISTIC CHILDREN

Founder, Artem Tuliuk

THe PROBLEM

Autism spectrum disorder has become a very important topic in recent years as more and more people are being diagnosed. However, not all countries offer high-level care, rehabilitation and support. Eastern European countries still struggle with providing well-developed and advanced help in this area, which creates a real problem for those with the disorder. Many families are forced to move to a different country in order to have access to specialised care. However, this poses another issue as the language barrier becomes an obstacle for people seeking help outside of their country of origin.

THE SOLUTION

Artem has experienced this problem himself – together with his family he moved out of Ukraine in order to access better care and support for his son. However, he had the advantage of knowing Polish, which many of his fellow migrants do not have. Having a deep understanding of this topic he realised he could support others with the same need and so has begun a journey to start the center for autistic children that provides services in Russian, Ukrainian and Polish. As the number of migrants coming to Poland seeking help for their children is growing, there is a high demand for a service like this.

THE IMPACT

This initiative is still in the process of being developed. Having such a place would allow parents to easily communicate with counselors and pedagogues, and lead to better results as the children would receive treatment in their native language. The center would also provide employment to migrants, as speaking Russian and Ukrainian would be a requirement to work here.

AERIAL DANCE GYM

Founder, Sofia Diduk

THE PROBLEM

In most post-Soviet states, such as Ukraine, rhythmic gymnastics and aerial dance are a very prominent part of the culture and one of the most popular sports. Gymnasts from those countries are among the best in the world. However, not many migrants are able to keep in training after moving away from their home countries, both because of financial barriers and a lack of training centers. Additionally, aerial dance can be a great remedy for problems stemming from a sedentary lifestyle, mental and physical disabilities, reduced mobility due to age, lack of novelty at traditional gyms and being uninspired to move.

THE SOLUTION

Aerial Dance Gym is a place where physical activity meets art. It provides a space for people to not only train and perfect this discipline, but also connect and bond with one another while experiencing a sport so fundamental to Ukrainian culture. Another positive side is that aerial dance can be practiced by virtually anyone – from children and elderly people to those with mental and physical disabilities. It does not pose a big risk of injury and may be used as a form of physiotherapy.

Aerial Dance Gym aims to promote physical activity by offering unique and creative classes, which also provide pain relief and help battle movement disorders.

THE IMPACT

Aerial Dance Gym is in the process of being created. Aerial Dance Gym aims to promote physical activity by offering unique and creative classes, which also provide pain relief and help battle movement disorders. Additionally, the center will provide free classes for people with disabilities as well as migrant families. In the future they plan on expanding the list of classes to yoga, fitness and more.

DIGITAL INCLUSION POLAND

Founder, Roman Boreńko

THE PROBLEM

Web accessibility is the practice of designing websites in such a way that they are accessible and easy to use for people with all types of disabilities and the elderly, as well as in hard weather conditions such as harsh sunlight. This is important as the internet offers many opportunities for education, growth, employment and entertainment, which people with disabilities often cannot take advantage of because of the design of the websites. There are laws which regulate the obligation of website owners to make them accessible, however they are not always obeyed.

The web accessibility market is a great opportunity for employment for people with disabilities, whose experience and insight are needed to create functioning, practical and accessible websites. Additionally, working in this field can easily be done from home, which may create more opportunities for people with disabilities and those from small cities and villages.

THE SOLUTION

Roman is very passionate about computer science and has his own experience with living with a disability. He wants to create “Digital Inclusion Poland” where he will employ people from small cities, those with disabilities and migrants who will work on spreading the idea of web accessibility. He wants to work for public and private institutions in order to make their websites accessible to everyone. The employees will offer both their expertise in web design as well as their opinion on whether the website is truly functional for people with their kind of disability.

THE IMPACT

This initiative is still in the process of being developed. The web accessibility market is a great opportunity for employment for people with disabilities, whose experience and insight are needed to create well function, truly practical and accessible websites.