From February 2022, 8 million Ukrainian refugees were registered across Europe. The vast majority has arrived in Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Slovakia, and Czech Republic. Forty percent of these refugees are children, who have witnessed distressing events and are experiencing anxiety and unhappiness that could develop into long-term mental health difficulties.

ISSA Member Kind en Gezin from Belgium is committed to creating opportunities for every child, wherever and however it was born and raised. Children’s rights and respect for diversity are the organization’s guiding principles. Kind en Gezin contributes to the well-being of young children and their families in an active way through preventive family support, childcare, and adoption.

In Europe and North America, the arrival of heightened numbers of refugees and asylum seekers in recent years has challenged the ability of governments and service providers to both meet initial reception needs and provide effective long-term integration services. Young children make up a significant share of these newcomers.