Project helps children from vulnerable groups in cross-border area of Greece, North Macedonia

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In4Child supports children – to live as childrenPetritsi Ioanna, Project ManagerInterventions developed through In4Child are based on surveys undertaken to identify the psychosocial  and emergency needs of the children of refugees, migrants and asylum seekers. Another survey looked into the challenges faced by families and children at social risk, or who form part of the Roma community.Key services on the moveOne of the project’s key initiatives has been the provision of the Association for the Social Support of Youth (ARSIS) mobile unit, which allows specialists in areas like health and education to visit Roma settlements throughout the cross-border region and underprivileged neighbourhoods in Thessaloniki, Greece.From the unit, a paediatrician provides health examinations and consultations, while educationalists deliver structured play and learning activities. Also in the framework of In4Child, human rights education interventions are implemented in the public schools of Thessaloniki.In4Child provides services through a fixed centre for vulnerable children and families based in the city of Bitola in the Republic of North Macedonia. Health interventions from the centre – and in the local hospital and nearby Roma settlement – have been delivered in areas such as family medicine, paediatrics, gynaecology and midwifery. Support is offered through workshops and individual consultations. The centre provides a range of youth services and pre-school activities.Training to help vulnerable childrenVolunteers and health and education specialist have received training through the project to help them better understand the needs of vulnerable children. Work here included provision of five seminars for health professionals who were not originally trained to work with children, along with support for social and health workers tasked with helping youngsters who live on the move.Psychosocial interventions included street work, where trained specialists would approach children to offer support. Help in this area was delivered at the fixed centre and by the mobile unit. In addition, 10 psychosocial training sessions have been provided to parents.Total investment and EU fundingTotal investment for the project “In4Child: Psychosocial and health Interventions for the wellbeing of children from vulnerable populations ” is EUR 824 996, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 701 247 through the “IPA CBC Greece-Republic of North Macedonia” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Development and Support of Local Economy”.