On 24 April, the seminar ‘Initiatives and Support in Education for Migrant Populations’ was held, given by Nuria Lores Sánchez, Elvira Mateos Carmona (Cidalia) and Eva Bajo Marcos (Pontifical University of Comillas). This session was part of the 9th edition of the Migration and Refugee Seminar, an initiative of the Chair of Refugees and Forced Migrants of the Comillas’ University Institute for Migration Studies, which organises six annual conferences to promote open dialogue on key issues in the fields of migration and refuge.
On this occasion, the speakers presented the progress of the European project LET’S CARE – Safe Education for Students with a Migrant Background, funded by the Horizon Europe programme. The participatory approaches of the project were highlighted, in particular two innovative tools: photovoice, which uses images and stories to show how school dropout is not usually a conscious choice but a structural consequence, and the SMAT technique, a sensitive tool based on quadrants of dreams, fears, joys and sorrows, which allowed for an in-depth exploration of migrant students’ emotions and perceptions of their bonds, the school climate and their well-being.
The results strongly reflect the importance of having secure adult role models, making the curriculum more flexible and promoting school cultures that recognise diversity and encourage inclusion. So-called ‘second chance schools’ and the figure of the teacher-mentor emerge as key resources for repairing fractured school trajectories. LET’S CARE not only conducts research but also drives systemic change: it proposes a model of safe education, develops detection and intervention tools, and translates its knowledge into policy recommendations and pilot experiences aimed at transforming the education system from the ground up.
