In the NAVIGATION project, OlamAid is working with the Central Welfare Board of Jews in Germany (ZWST) to implement psychosocial support for refugees in Berlin. The project provides art therapy services to refugee children and young people directly in shelters and schools. It fills a gap in the German support system and helps participants process traumatic experiences and navigate their new environment. The project contributes to the reduction of stress among the participating children, adolescents and their parents and has a stabilizing effect on traumatic symptoms. Art therapy is a particularly effective method that can be used across language barriers.

The project also addresses professionals and volunteers who work with refugees: needs-based advice and training sessions strengthen their psychosocial skills and support their emotional resilience in a challenging work environment.

In recent years, the project has also included so-called leadership groups, in which participants with a refugee background act as navigators, initiating and implementing aid activities for the majority society as well as for other refugees. Since this year, the focus of the project has shifted to art therapy work.

The NAVIGATION project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.