HORIZON

Trauma management and empowerment for refugees through multiplication

The HORIZON project met the needs of refugees in shelters in Germany by using a methodology that combined psychosocial support and an empowerment approach. By employing a multiplication approach, the potential of the committed group participants – the navigators – was used to specifically support newly arrived refugees in social aid campaigns.

The project was flanked by the component of psychosocial support (PSS), in which the PSS specialists from OlamAid contributed to improving the mental health of refugees. This was done through direct PSS programs and by the counselling service providers who worked with refugees.

At the same time, HORIZON combined the competences of the project by merging the potentials of empowerment work and psychosocial support in a unique methodology. The PSS specialists were supported by the navigators, who were trained to actively assist in the psychosocial support work. In terms of the multiplication effect, participants made a valuable contribution to the community of refugees in Germany and to improving their general well-being.