Call for pilot projects: Care Fair

Call for projects: CARE FAIR – A school-based wellbeing event

Access to wellbeing resources remains a significant barrier to improving the health of young adults in Europe. Education systems may not have the resources or knowledge to fully screen and support adolescents in accessing help, although evidence suggests that this represents a significant and sensitive transition period for this age group. The COVID-19 pandemic particularly helped put the spotlight on the importance of pupils’ wellbeing, which was greatly impacted by the closure of schools. Since then, more emphasis has been placed on helping teenagers learn about their mental and emotional health, discuss their feelings, and ask for help when needed. 

More recently, the humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine has started to generate other major consequences: thousands of displaced students are being accommodated in schools across Europe. They will face serious mental and physical wellbeing problems and will need help to access the care they need and additional resources, beyond teaching programmes, to support their difficult journey of recovery. 

Crises, both global and personal, can be complex to resolve and narrate. Against this context, this pilot project will aim to reduce the barriers that prevent young adults (aged 15-18) from accessing support services for their wellbeing, including, but not limited to, mental, emotional, psychological, sexual, reproductive, social and community health. To this purpose, the project will develop and implement a “Care Fair”, thematic event set up as a fair, consisting of stands, workshops, lectures and other appropriate activities aimed at sharing information about wellbeing, and access to help. 

The event will be aimed at secondary school students. It will take place in one or more selected schools. A core element of the Care Fair pilot will be the inclusion and active involvement of students at all stages of the project, including the choice of the topics to be covered, the organisation of the event, and the evaluation of the project. 

what should the project achieve?

The pilot project will aim to:    

• Raise awareness among the student population about the importance of a holistic understanding of wellbeing
• Expand access to knowledge and resources for prevention, care, and self-care among students
• Foster a dialogue about these issues among students and within their institution
• Give students the possibility to actively engage in the implementation of a project, outside the teaching programme.

What sort of projects are we looking for?

The project should be based on the following principles:

• Participation and ownership. The applicant must ensure a high level of participation of students in as many tasks as possible.
• Diversity and inclusiveness. The project will promote diversity both in terms of the topics covered and the target group, addressing the specific needs of students according to their gender, sexual identity, nationality, ethnicity, socio-economic status, disability and other relevant categories.
• Involvement and continuity. The programme will include at least one activity to foster continuity of the project within the school. 

Timeframe and funding

The pilot project should run from September 2022 until April 2023.

The maximum grant amount per project is 25,000€. We plan to fund two projects.

Who can apply?

Projects should be implemented in one of the eligible countries: EU27 as well as UK, Serbia, Iceland (except Spain, Austria and Turkey, since applicants from these already received funding to implement the first cycle pilot projects). Given the current refugee crisis with higher numbers of children and young people fleeing the war in Ukraine and settling in the neighbouring country schools, organisations from the CEE region (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia) are especially welcome to apply.

Eligible applicants are non-governmental organizations or associations from civil society involved in the field of wellbeing, ideally with a focus on young people and teenagers. Student associations from higher education are also eligible. It is expected that the lead applicant will involve one or more Secondary school(s).

How to apply?

This call is now closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted applications!

Do you have a question?