ICAM project created a beneficial school environment for migrant children

In the period December 2019 –  May 2022, Terre des hommes  foundation implemented  ICAM (Inclusion of Children Affected by Migration) project in  Romania, in partnership with Prahova county School Inspectorate.

The purpose of ICAM project was to increase inclusion and to improve learning capacity of children affected by migration (CAM) by enhancing the climate of ”convivencia” in schools and at home, by raising awareness of children’s rights and the law protecting them, and by providing additional support in school and in the family for their social and emotional learning (SEL) and general well-being.

The project achieved this through the professional development of ICAM school leaders who increased the capacity of schools to maintain a safe learning environment and enhance Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). Trained ICAM school leaders worked to improve the learning capacity of all students and provide for the additional SEL needs of those affected by migration, helping them to overcome the disadvantage they face as a result of separation, trauma and loss they have suffered.

In order to respond to Ukrainian refugee children crisis and support their inclusion into European schools,  ICAM  programme proposed a guide and practical resources for schools which promote children social and emotional well-being.

ICAM project methodology has been appreciated recently by the European Commission and mentioned as an inspirational model in the good practice guide referring to inclusion of  Ukrainian refugee children in schools.

Through contacts and influence of partners, the project developed and tested ICAM dissemination and improvement in all schools at county or city level in six European countries, so that national education and protection agencies from all over Europe can test models for disseminating the project in schools and families.

The project closing conference, which took place in Bucharest on 20 May 2022, gathered over  90 teachers from Romanian schools, and also partners from Spain, Italy and UK. The participants discussed the situation of migrant children, particularly Ukrainian children  who took refuge in Romania, their educational, mental and emotional needs, methods for their integration in the Romanian education system.

ICAMnet was funded by the EU Erasmus+ programme and was tested in Italy, Spain, Romania, UK,  with a view to being implemented in two other countries or even fully across Europe. The six partners of the ICAM project were The Northampton Centre for Learning Behaviour (NCfLB) in the United Kingdom, Accessophia in Spain, Consortium of ICARO Social Cooperatives in Italy, School Inspectorate of Ploieşti Romania (ISJP) and Terre des hommes (Tdh) in Romania, Eurochild in Brussels, together with associated partners in each particular country, some of the most important experts in the field of inclusion in schools or in creating a friendly environment.