Schaarbeek - Brussels, Belgium

Refugee children and families in Europe - social work and counselling

when 27 June 2022 - 8 July 2022
language English
duration 2 weeks
credits 3 EC
fee EUR 250

Persecution, conflicts and human rights violations continue to force people to flee their homes and seek safety in Europe. Many families with children or unaccompanied minors risk their lives to find a new life in European countries. These families and children do not only need a safe haven, housing, access to schooling and health services, many of them also need assistance to overcome the separation of their family and the consequences of violence and abuse, which they experienced in their country of origin or during the journey. Parents and especially children show a remarkable resilience in coping with difficult situations and trauma. Social workers and counsellors have the important task to strengthen this resilience and to support the recovery of families and children after forced migration.

This two-week summer course introduces key issues in social work and counselling for refugee families and children to students and professionals. Participants will get a thorough theoretical basis in lectures and workshops offered by specialized psychologists and social scientists. Field visits of organisations working with refugee families and children will confront the participants with relevant methodologies and how to apply them in this context.

During the lectures, migration will be approached from four different stages: (1) the moment people flee from the country, (2) the process of seeking asylum and finding shelter, (3) family reunion and (4) integration in a new community. So to speak, participants will follow the steps a refugee takes.

During the field visits and workshops, there will be a specific focus on three themes: (1) learning, playing and living, (2) supporting positive transnational family dynamics, (3) building up a future.

For participants, who doesn’t want to receive the ECTS points, it is possible to choose only the lectures or/and workshops and field visits of their interest.

Target group

Undergraduate students (2nd, 3rd and 4th grade) of social work, social sciences, applied psychology, family studies, anthropology, counselling, health sciences, education… who want to develop a broader view on social work and counselling work with refugee families and children, both on a theoretical and methodological level.

Professionals can participate in the whole summer school or can choose for some specific lectures or workshops of their interest. We would like to contribute to the professionalization of the sector.

Course aim

- For students: Develop a broader view on social work and counselling work with refugee families and children, both on a theoretical and methodological level.

- For professionals: We would like to contribute to the professionalization of the sector.

Credits info

3 EC
In order to receive the ECTS-points, all parts of the programme (student project included) are mandatory.

Fee info

EUR 250: For students of ERASMUS+ and COST-partners (with lodgement - lunches and visits included)
EUR 350: For students of other universities / university colleges / universities of applied sciences (with lodgement - lunches and visits included)