On May 15 2018, a dissemination seminar and a round table discussion about upholding the Rights of the Child through the innovative and successful ICAM Project, was held at the European Parliament in Brussels. This event was promoted by the MEP Nicola Caputo from the group of the progressive alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament.

CECE (Spain)

At the heart of this project, Including Children Affected by Migration, is the concept of ‘convivencia’ – a Spanish word meaning ‘living together in harmony’ and the knowledge that children do not learn well if they are unhappy, insecure or frightened.

In 2015 there were already 72 million people classified as migrants living in Europe according to the UNODC. Ongoing migration has accelerated so that, in the year up to October 2015, more than 644,000 people had arrived in Europe from countries such as Syria, Eritrea and Libya.

According to the UNHCR 361,678 arrived by sea in 2016, an additional 5,022 were known to be dead or missing on the journey. The total of those arriving in Europe now approaches 1.3 million. Thus, the purpose of the ICAM project is to increase the inclusion, and to improve the learning capacity, of children affected by migration (CAM) by enhancing the climate of “convivencia” in schools and at home, by raising awareness about 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 and general wellbeing. The project will achieve this through the professional development of ICAM school leaders so they can increase the capacity of schools to maintain a safe and secure learning environment and enhance Social and Emotional Learning (SEL).

Trained ICAM school leaders will work 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 the separation, trauma and loss they have suffered.

An important feature of ICAM is the integration of parent/carer education with the school based programme in order to provide additional support for those families affected by migration and to encourage on-going SEL for the whole family in the home.

For further information about the project visit, www.icamproject.eu