Psychosocial support in education brings hope for children in crisis: NOK 6 million for international programme

The Norwegian Refugee Council’s project Together for Wellbeing will provide more children and young people affected by war and displacement with support to cope with trauma and continue their education.

The initiative builds on NRC’s established method, the Better Learning Programme (BLP) – a research-based approach with documented effectiveness for children and young people affected by conflict and crises.

Learning to manage stress and emotions

Prevention and early intervention are central to Better Learning, developed in collaboration with Professor Jon-Håkon Schultz and the University of Tromsø.

By creating inclusive and safe learning environments and strengthening teachers’ and caregivers’ ability to support children’s mental health and emotional development, the programme increases the chances that children and young people can process their experiences and maintain stable schooling.

– A good school with skilled and confident teachers provides stability and can provide a moment of calm in an otherwise unsettled daily life. Kavli Trust is proud to support a project that aims to improve children and young people’s mental health and learning opportunities in a long-term and systemic way, says Ingrid Paasche, CEO of Kavli Trust.

Children also learn practical strategies to manage stress and regulate strong emotions. Simple breathing exercises, singing, dancing, drawing, and role play help them relax and create better conditions for learning and development.

Making documented knowledge accessible to more

The programme will be expanded to more conflict-affected areas and ensure long-term integration of psychosocial support into education systems, in close collaboration with local authorities, education actors, and other organisations.

In addition to dissemination and adaptation of BLP and training of local and international partners, a digital learning platform will be developed. This will make documented knowledge and resources on psychosocial support available to education stakeholders globally.

Through the project, NRC and its partners will reach more than 260,000 children and young people.

– Conflict and forced displacement have led to a global increase in trauma among children. This project ensures that far more of them receive the support they need to process their experiences and continue schooling, says Ingrid Paasche.

Facts about the Together for Wellbeing Initiative

• Together for Wellbeing is an international three-year project (2025–2027) led by NRC, strengthening psychosocial support for children and young people affected by conflict and displacement.
• At the core of the project is the school-based Better Learning Programme (BLP), a research-based method that helps children process trauma and creates better conditions for learning.
• The programme emphasises prevention and early intervention, providing children with practical coping strategies and creating safe and inclusive learning environments.
• The aim is to integrate psychosocial support into school systems locally, nationally, and internationally, while strengthening the ability of teachers, parents, and caregivers to support children’s emotional development.
• Through partnerships, the project reaches over 260,000 children and young people, both directly and via partners.
• The NOK 6 million support from Kavli Trust contributes to implementation, capacity building, and dissemination of BLP, as well as the development of a digital learning platform for global knowledge sharing.
• The project supports UN Sustainable Development Goals 3 (good health and well-being) and 4 (inclusive and quality education) and aims to achieve lasting improvements in children’s mental health and schooling.