The Project

Document Analysis of policies

April 2024 - September 2024

In this initial research phase, each project partner carries out an in-depth document analysis to examine how national and EU-level policies address the social inclusion and mental wellbeing of young Roma, migrants, and refugees. The teams review legislation, national strategies, statistical data, academic studies, and grey literature to map the current knowledge, identify institutional priorities, and highlight gaps in existing support systems.

This work results in six national reports, each outlining the country-specific policy landscape, available evidence, and areas where current measures fall short of addressing the needs of marginalized young people. The comparative findings reveal common challenges across Europe, such as limited access to mental health services and inconsistent inclusion frameworks.

The insights gained from this phase form the evidence base for the next steps of the project and will directly support the drafting of policy recommendations in later stages, ensuring that future proposals are grounded in solid research and reflect the realities faced by the target groups.

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Data analysis

April - June

During this phase, all partners analyze the data gathered from questionnaires and interviews to understand the mental wellbeing, social inclusion, and everyday challenges experienced by young Roma, migrants, and refugees. Each country applies its own appropriate analytical methods to interpret the quantitative data—ranging from descriptive statistics to additional statistical tests—while the qualitative interviews are coded to capture recurring themes, needs, and expert perspectives.

This combined analysis provides a rich and multidimensional understanding of the realities faced by the target groups, highlighting both shared experiences across countries and context-specific issues. The findings serve as the evidence base for the joint research report and directly guide the development of the toolkit, mobile app, and policy recommendations in the next phases of the project.

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Resource development kick off

May

The Resource Development Seminar brings together project partners to translate the research findings into practical, youth-friendly resources. Across five days, participants explore the key needs identified during the research phase and work together to shape the foundations of the project’s two main products: the toolkit and the mobile app. Through group discussions and collaborative design sessions, partners define priority themes such as community support, safe spaces, emotional connection, and accessibility for young people.

A field visit to a youth mental health organization provides additional inspiration, offering real-life examples of effective youth engagement and support. By the end of the seminar, two dedicated working groups are established—one for the app and one for the toolkit—with clear roles, responsibilities, and timelines. The seminar closes with a shared action plan and structured follow-up process to guide the next steps of resource development.

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TC of Youth Workers on wellbeing in Serbia

July

The second international training course held in Novi Sad, Serbia (14-19 July) brings together youth workers from all partner countries to deepen their competencies in supporting the mental health, resilience, and emotional wellbeing of young Roma, migrants, and refugees. Through non-formal education, practical workshops, group work, and reflective activities, participants explore key topics such as stress and regulation, burnout prevention, self-esteem, inclusive communication, and youth-centered approaches. Field visits to local youth organizations provide real-life examples of effective support practices, while collaborative sessions allow teams to contribute to the development of the project’s Toolkit and Mental Health App. The training strengthens participants’ practical skills, enhances their understanding of youth mental health needs, and equips them with concrete methods and tools to apply within their communities and organizations.

 

 

 

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National Expert panels

May - October

🇷🇴 Romania: Nevo Parudimos Association
The National Expert Panel in Romania takes place on May 22, 2025, in Bucharest, bringing together 25 participants, including representatives of Roma civil society, youth organizations, mental health professionals, and other relevant stakeholders working with vulnerable young people such as refugees and migrants. The central aim of the meeting is to validate the national research findings on the relationship between social inclusion and mental well-being, and to identify key needs and systemic gaps currently affecting young Roma, refugees, and migrants.

Participants review national data on access to mental health services, discrimination, and institutional shortcomings. Through focused discussions, the panel collects expert input for the development of national policy recommendations. This expert input is crucial for formulating evidence-based measures that are aligned with the project’s objectives to strengthen social inclusion, improve service accessibility, and enhance cross-sectoral cooperation among institutions and civil society organizations. The resulting recommendations serve as a foundational contribution to the project’s future advocacy work.

🇬🇷 Greece: United Societies of Balkans
The National Expert Panel in Greece, organized by the United Societies of Balkans (USB), takes place on June 26, 2025, at the Municipality of Ampelokipoi-Menemeni. The event aims to strengthen civil-society organizations and public institutions working with Roma, refugees, and migrants, focusing on mental wellbeing and social inclusion. The panel brings together a multidisciplinary group of professionals, including mental health practitioners, municipal staff, and Roma mediators, providing a holistic perspective on the challenges faced by marginalized youth.

The session begins with an introduction to the project and its upcoming deliverables, such as the educational Toolkit and the digital mental-wellbeing application. USB then presents the preliminary research findings from the Greek national study, highlighting high levels of discrimination, persistent barriers in accessing mental health services, and the crucial need for mediators and culturally competent professionals. Discussions explore five key areas, including the need for continuous training and support for professionals, strategies for community collaboration and trust, and the development of anti-stigma initiatives. The event explicitly adopts an intersectional framework, and participant contributions from the open dialogue will be integrated into the project's national and European-level policy recommendations.

🇲🇰 North Macedonia: Rroma
The National Expert Panel in North Macedonia takes place on September 3, 2025, at MladiHub Skopje. The event, organized by RROMA, gathers a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from UNHCR, Public Municipal Centers for Social Work (JUMCSR), the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy (MLSP), legal associations, psychologists, youth activists, and youth workers.

The meeting opens with a welcoming address and a brief description of the project by Urmeta Arifovska, Deputy Director of RROMA. The national expert, Deniz Selmani, delivers the presentation of the findings from the national research, key results, and recommendations. The event then proceeds with World Café working groups, moderated by RROMA staff, where thematic discussions take place in small groups, resulting in recorded ideas and recommendations from each table.

The expert panel's plenary session formulates recommendations divided into four thematic areas: Education and Youth Participation, Mental Health and Social Support, Anti-Discrimination and Inclusion, and Institutional Cooperation and Policies.

The panel assesses that a large portion of the recommendations can be partially realized, but a risk exists that they may remain on paper unless political will and practical implementation are ensured. Successful application requires an integrated and long-term strategy, multi-sectoral cooperation, active participation of youth and target groups, provision of resources, and continuous monitoring of results.

🇹🇷 Turkiye: Kargenc Club
The National Panel organized within the scope of the “When Scars Become Art” project takes place on September 25, 2025, at the Sakarya University Diaspora Center. A total of 25 participants, including academics, civil society representatives, mental health professionals, and youth workers, attend the panel. The event is organized with the aim of focusing on the inclusiveness and mental health of Roma, refugee, and migrant youth, as well as developing policy recommendations in this field.

The panel starts with a Welcome Coffee, followed by opening speeches delivered by the Project Coordinator and representatives from Sakarya University and the Diaspora Center. A student from Sakarya University introduces their TÜBİTAK project. A general presentation of the "When Scars Become Art" project is delivered, followed by a presentation of the research findings on the mental health of Roma, refugee, and migrant youth. The innovative tools developed within the project, namely the Mobile Application and the Toolkit, are introduced to the participants. The panel session entitled “Youth, Mental Health, and Artistic Expressions” allows participants to discuss the topic from multidisciplinary perspectives.

In the final part of the panel, a Question & Answer session and an Open Discussion are conducted, during which participants share their views and contributions. During the closing session, three different working groups are formed among the participants in order to collect solution-oriented recommendations addressing the identified challenges. The responses and proposals presented by the working groups are recorded as the main Policy Recommendations.

🇩🇪 Germany: Amaro Foro e.V.
The Expert Panel, titled "Shaping the Future: Towards an Inclusive Youth Policy in Germany," takes place on October 16, 2025, in Halle (Saale). Organized by Amaro Foro e.V., the panel is a key event of the “When Scars (!) Become Art” Erasmus+ project, which addresses the link between inclusion, discrimination, and the psychological well-being of young people. The event opens with welcoming remarks and a general overview of the project's aims, including its upcoming tools like the app and toolkit. The main session features the presentation of the German research results, which highlights central findings on discrimination, social inclusion, and mental health among young people. This is followed by a Fishbowl Discussion, which provides a dynamic platform for experts and participants to exchange views on the implications of the research findings, particularly concerning structural support and participation.

The crucial afternoon sessions are dedicated to collaborative work in thematic Working Groups, resulting in concrete Political Action Recommendations. These recommendations place a strong emphasis on the local political level, arguing that this is where policies are implemented and where trust in institutions is built. Key inputs from the groups stress the necessity of structural support for youth self-organization and participation. Furthermore, the experts advocate for mandatory trainings on diversity, anti-discrimination, and anti-racism for all state workers, and they call for accessible, culturally sensitive, and multilingual services (especially mental health support) to ensure all marginalized young people are fully included. The outcomes and priorities identified by the panel are compiled to directly inform the project's final policy recommendations.

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International Expert Panel

November

The International Conference RePol 2025, titled "From research to policy: wellbeing and social integration of persons in vulnerable groups. Focus on young Roma, migrants and refugees," takes place on November 7, 2025, in Timișoara, Romania. The conference, organized by the West University of Timişoara, is a major dissemination and policy event held within the framework of the "When Scars (!) Become Art" project. The primary goal of the conference is to translate the project's extensive research findings into concrete policy recommendations, ensuring the project's evidence base reaches national and European decision-makers.

The day-long program features several parallel sessions and an International Expert Panel. Following the registration and opening session, the conference moves into structured sessions designed to showcase various research papers and best practices related to the social integration and mental well-being of vulnerable youth. The afternoon culminates in a crucial International Expert Panel for Policy Recommendations, where key experts discuss and validate the project's final advocacy measures. The conference concludes with closing remarks and a final session that formally reinforces the commitment to continue the work initiated during the event.

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