The context of this course is particularly relevant considering the data from the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), which indicates that in 2022, about 468 million children lived in conflict zones. These children, often directly involved in combat, are exposed to violence and a drastic reduction in their security and well-being. Specifically, areas within 50 km of high-intensity conflict zones housed 250 million children, highlighting a 12% increase from the previous year.
The Salesian provinces, located in these conflict areas, share the sufferings of the local populations and have expressed the need for a structural intervention. The response came from the Faculty of Educational Sciences of the Salesian Pontifical University, which developed a pilot training course for 22 participants from the Middle East and Ukraine. This program aims to provide a Salesian model of education and psychological support, applicable to other emergency contexts as well.
The faculty of the Salesian Pontifical University, in collaboration with colleagues from IUSVE, designed the course in direct response to the needs expressed by the participants. The focus of the course is to prepare trainers capable of operating in their original contexts, transmitting skills to transform the socio-educational environment and preventively manage traumatic experiences. The program is divided into three thematic areas: pedagogical, psychological, and Salesian, each led by experts in the respective field. The course includes the development of psychoeducation programs in the typical Salesian style, aimed at promoting personal resources and the development of life skills.
