Online Emergency Smile Missions 2021 – BiH & Mainland Greece

The online activation of the Emergency Smile Missions Program proved fundamental during the various lockdowns in BiH, imposed inside and outside the TRCs, to guarantee, although at distance, minors on the move a presence and an inclusive psychosocial support, based on their collective participation in playful and recreational activities aimed at improving their psycho-emotional and social wellbeing. Based on the excellent results obtained during the first online mission in BiH (March 20^th– April 24^th,  2021), RNI launched two other online missions in BiH and Mainland Greece (May 22^nd– December 16^th, 2021), for a total of 28 sessions, in collaboration with Save the Children North West Balkans, Wave of Hope and Omnes organization. The two missions aimed to:

• Give children the opportunity to process their traumas and express their feelings in a playful manner, to help them reconnect to positive feelings and regain reliance and hope;
• Create safe and protected spaces (Supportive Environment) where minors can regain their right to childhood, and with a smile, the joy of living, and the hope of a better future;
• Transfer new strategies of Self and Collective Care, based on Humour, to local aid-workers to improve their psychosocial wellbeing, help them reduce the stress they experience in their everyday professional lives, interact and communicate in an empathic and synergic way with the minors on the move and UASCs.