How KEIF brought culturally grounded support to displaced children
2025 WINNER · Charity and non-profit supporting mental health
KEIF’s winning entry described work with displaced Palestinian children in Egypt in May 2025. Led by Dr Haneen Jarrar from The Free Spirit Collective, the initiative responded to the need for support that could meet children in a familiar community setting.
What they did
The work involved the Success Centre and Yad bi Yad, combining support for teachers with activities for children. Art, play and music offered different ways to participate, with culturally adapted approaches and routes to specialist support where needed.
The submission emphasised relationships and the context in which children were living. Teachers were part of the response, helping connect the intervention with the children’s everyday environment.
What the entry shows
The entry documented delivery and positive feedback from the people involved. School population figures described the settings, rather than the number of children who received a defined course of treatment.
It also identified the need for longer-term follow-up and more support for parents and caregivers. Those reflections are important: a short intervention cannot be assumed to resolve the effects of displacement.
What others can learn
Community partnerships can help an initiative reach people in ways that are culturally relevant and practical. Supporting teachers and caregivers can also strengthen the environment around a child.
The lesson includes continuity: planning for what happens after an initial visit matters as much as designing the activities themselves.
Based on the original 2025 mentl awards submission. Figures and observations are those reported in the entry.
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