The TEENS project, coordinated by Fundacja LAJA (Poland), Permacultura Cantabria (Spain) and Oriel Aps (Italy), and co-financed by Erasmus+, aims to build specialized support networks for unaccompanied foreign minors (UFMs). The initiative emerges as a timely response to Europe’s growing migration challenges, driven by both conflict and socio-economic instability in countries like Ukraine, Syria, Afghanistan, and across sub-Saharan Africa.

Initially included in the reserve list of calls in October 2022 and March 2023 due to limited funding, the project gained urgency as the migration crisis worsened: according to the EUA, some 519,000 asylum applications were lodged in the EU in the first half of 2023, an increase of 28% compared to the first half of 2022.

When we first sent out this draft call, European countries were hosting more than 655,000 refugees and migrants, 23% of whom were children (UNICEF, 2022). This figure has grown steadily since then. The relaxation of measures against COVID-19 has allowed for a resumption of international mobility, with more than 100,000 refugees and migrants (of whom 25% are children) (UNICEF, 2022).

The number of people fleeing Ukraine, Afghanistan, Syria and other southern and sub-Saharan countries unfortunately follows a steady upward trend. The number of migrants in Italy between January and March 2023 was more than three times higher than in the same period last year (UNHCR). A total of 105,129 migrants arrived in Italy in 2022, compared to 67,477 in 2021 and 34,154 in 2020. In 2020, 9030 NBS were registered in Spain, almost twice as many as five years earlier (UNICEF, 2022). In the first six months of 2022 alone, Spain received 478,990 new migrants.

According to the UN, more than 14 million Ukrainians have fled their homes since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Poland has taken in 3,690,096 refugees, Spain about 110,000 and Italy 72,000. In 2021, 166,760 first-time asylum seekers were children, representing 31,2% of all first-time asylum seekers in the EU. The problem goes far beyond ensuring the basic rights and the most fundamental needs of these children (nutrition, housing, health care, education, legal assistance, etc.), their participation in host communities, transition to adulthood and future access to employment is a real challenge. In this regard, it is of utmost importance to bring together the efforts of governmental and non-governmental agencies, especially in view of the recent wave of legal and policy changes aimed at restricting the movement of people and criminalizing migration. 

To manage the additional influx of refugees and migrants, and mitigate potential threats to already vulnerable ones, the priority remains multi-sectoral advocacy, multi-sectoral coordination and responses, coordination and inclusive responses at local, national and EU levels.

This project not only focuses on cross-sectoral cooperation (LAJA: inclusion through arts and cultural heritage, ORIEL: human rights and sustainable development strategies and PASOS: managing emotions), but also on the idea of European citizenship and awareness, which is best developed through direct contact with organizations and participants from other countries.

The TEENS project is guided by a clear set of objectives aimed at improving support systems for unaccompanied foreign minors (UFMs) and the professionals working with them. Its core aims collectively seek to bridge the gap between urgent humanitarian needs and long-term integration efforts, creating a supportive, inclusive environment for young migrants across Europe, and are:

• Knowledge Exchange: Enhance the ability of youth workers and educators in non-formal and informal settings to support UFMs more effectively by sharing experiences and best practices across countries.
• Innovative Support Solutions: Develop and implement creative, crisis-responsive strategies tailored to the needs of UFMs, particularly those in the most vulnerable situations.
• Access to Knowledge and Awareness: Improve access to information and resources related to UFM support by creating educational tools, such as the interactive TEENS book, and organizing awareness-raising events.
• Building Sustainable Networks: Establish long-lasting connections between NGOs, educators, and institutions working with UFMs to foster collaboration beyond the project.
• Empowerment and Inclusion: Equip UFMs and disadvantaged youth with skills to manage stress, navigate their personal experiences, and engage actively with their host communities.
• Visibility and Dissemination: Increase the visibility of UFM-related challenges and share effective methods of support through dissemination strategies, conferences, workshops, and campaigns in Poland, Italy, and Spain.

The expected impact of the TEENS project centers on empowering both youth workers and unaccompanied foreign minors (UFMs) through targeted support, capacity building, and innovative tools.

For youth workers, the project will strengthen their competences in inclusive education by equipping them with methods rooted in human rights, sustainable development, emotional resilience, and cultural heritage. This will enable them to better support UFMs and other disadvantaged youth in navigating emotional challenges, social integration, and identity formation.

For UFMs, the project aims to boost resilience and self-awareness. Through participation in workshops and access to the interactive book developed during the project, these young people will learn to manage stress, reflect on their experiences, and initiate personal growth even before receiving formal psychological or social support.

At a broader level, TEENS will create sustainable links between organizations in Poland, Italy, and Spain, fostering long-term cooperation across sectors. The dissemination strategy—including conferences, campaigns, and internal workshops—will ensure that project outcomes reach a wide audience, influencing practices beyond the immediate partnership.

The interactive book and training methods developed are expected to remain in use beyond the project’s end, promoting a replicable model for working with UFMs and advancing inclusive practices across Europe.