HoneyHeroes!
Making children strong for tomorrow
‘HoneyHeroes! Making children strong for tomorrow’ was launched in 2017 as a cooperation project between CHILDREN FOR TOMORROW and the State Ministry of Schools and Vocational Training. The project offers psychotherapy to children with a refugee background at the place where they attend school. The aim of HoneyHeroes! is to reach out specifically to children and families who would otherwise not seek a therapy service of their own accord or who have difficultly in accessing therapy and therefore have no chance of stabilising any psychological disorder.
Children who have suffered a traumatic event before the age of 11 are at three times greater risk of developing a trauma-related disorder later on. Early treatment is therefore particularly important for younger children. HoneyHeroes! provides needs-based psychotherapy on a weekly basis in a one-to-one setting at school locations, holds accompanying meetings with parents and offers training and supervision for teachers. This concept is unique in Germany because psychotherapy in schools is not yet covered by the healthcare system.
Behavioural therapy (one-to-one)
In behavioural therapy, children learn different methods to better deal with negative feelings and thoughts. The therapy involves weekly appointments and regular meetings with parents. We also offer a social counselling service and provide regular opportunities to talk to others within the child’s network.
Art therapy (one-to-one)
Art therapy gives children the opportunity to express themselves creatively and access their feelings through a playful approach. The therapy involves weekly appointments and regular meetings with parents. We also offer a social counselling service and provide regular opportunities to talk to others within the child’s network.
Group activities
The group activities give children the opportunity to talk to other children and take part in a wide range of enjoyable experiences. The various activities include holiday projects, extracurricular groups and theatre projects.
Parent meetings
In order to involve parents in the therapeutic process, we offer regular appointments where parents can ask questions and get information about further support services. Appointments are arranged as part of the social counselling service.
Training for teachers
Teachers are given the opportunity to attend trauma-specific training consisting of four modules. We also offer training courses on various psycho-educational subjects (e.g. emotion regulation) to train teachers and boost their skills in dealing with traumatised children.
Supervision for teachers
Following the training, we offer individual and group supervision. Here, the teachers can apply the knowledge they have learned and put it into practice. In this context, a professional is on hand to deal with any queries or difficulties that may arise.
Training for interpreters
Interpreters play a key role in the therapy. That is why we give them the opportunity to complete a trauma-specific training course that teaches them how to deal with refugees in a therapeutic setting.
Specific information
For children
For parents
For teachers
Voices
We would greatly appreciate it if this successful project could be extended to other schools
The barriers for turning up at a therapy practice and then keeping the appointments over the course of the therapy appear to be unattainably high for refugee families, even though their degree of suffering caused by the psychological trauma is immense.
It is a logical consequence for good psychotherapeutic care to consider and use the school as a potential therapy location.
The HoneyHeroes! project is groundbreaking in terms of integrating psychotherapy in schools.
Most of our schoolchildren would not turn up at a practice in another part of the city, or even make the leap ‘across the Elbe’. The HoneyHeroes! outreach service on our premises increases acceptance among parents and schoolchildren and makes access to therapy conceivable and possible in the first place.
Why therapy in schools?
The HoneyHeroes! outreach concept run by CHILDREN FOR TOMORROW reaches children who only rarely turn up at a psychotherapeutic or psychiatric practice. Since the school-based therapy takes place in a familiar environment, it is often easier for the children to open up. The children view the school as a constant in their lives – with familiar rules and structures. The therapy fits into these structures, taking place in the course of everyday school life, but away from the classroom. It also makes life easier for teachers, since they can refer children with noticeable problems for therapy in a straightforward manner. The name ‘HoneyHeroes!’ reduces reservations, removes the stigma and has positive connotations.
What is trauma and how does it occur?
What are the possible effects of trauma?
Why is the work done by CHILDREN FOR TOMORROW so important?
HoneyHeroes! is a project run in cooperation with the State Ministry of Schools and Vocational Training.
„Die Kinder würden ohne das „HonigHelden!“-Angebot an den Schulen in der Regel therapeutisch nicht versorgt werden. Ihre Probleme würden sich verstärken und ihren Ausdruck auch wieder in der Schule finden.“
Anna Turinsky
Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist
HoneyHeroes! Project Management
| T | +49 (0)40 – 47 19 308 40 |
| M | +49 (0)176 924 421 98 |
| F | +49 (0)40 – 47 19 308 25 |
| E | ed.worromot-rof-nerdlihc@yksnirut |
‘What I particularly appreciate about working at CHILDREN FOR TOMORROW is that we are always allowed to think outside the box – both in terms of working with people from different cultures and in terms of the outreach therapy in a new setting, namely the school.’
Sandra Morelli
Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist
| T | +49 (0)40 – 47 19 308 45 |
| M | +49 (0)176 513 360 31 |
| F | +49 (0)40 – 47 19 308 25 |
| E | ed.worromot-rof-nerdlihc@illerom |
‘I work at CHILDREN FOR TOMORROW because working in schools gives me the opportunity to reach children and young people who would otherwise not be able to access therapeutic support. Here, in addition to the important individual therapeutic work, I can play my part in designing and implementing new supportive projects.’
Lukas Krämer
Art Therapist
| T | +49 (0)40 – 47 19 308 37 |
| M | +49 (0)157 365 823 12 |
| F | +49 (0)40 – 47 19 308 25 |
| E | ed.worromot-rof-nerdlihc@remeark |
‘At CHILDREN FOR TOMORROW I can bring the wide-ranging experience gained from my work as a self-employed artist to the HoneyHeroes! project and witness how children manage to express the unspeakable in their art.’
Marco von Frieling
Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist
| T | +49 (0) 40 - 47 19 308 41 |
| M | +49 (0) 151 - 568 327 06 |
| F | +49 (0)40 – 47 19 308 25 |
| E | ed.worromot-rof-nerdlihc@gnileirfv |
‘I decided to work with CHILDREN FOR TOMORROW because the foundation has made it its mission to support one of the most vulnerable groups in our society. What’s more, the “HoneyHeroes!” project breaks new ground in the field of psychotherapeutic care. The outreach work in schools brings with it exciting challenges and is undertaken close to the reality of the children’s lives. I am delighted to be able to help shape this valuable work.’
Carina Kronberger
Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist
— on maternity leave –
‘What I especially enjoy about working at CHILDREN FOR TOMORROW is the openness of the families and the unique joy of the children during the therapy sessions, the appreciative and supportive atmosphere within the team and the close cooperation with my colleagues and project partners.’
Honey Heroes! can be found wherever there are few psychotherapeutic services for children. This gives children access to therapy close to home that they can reliably depend on.
First prize for HoneyHeroes! at the 2021 Hamburg Foundation Awards
Voices
CHILDREN FOR TOMORROW helps refugee children of primary school age to process traumatic experiences. It gives them the support they need to get their new life off to a good start. I wish to express my sincere thanks for this important commitment and I congratulate CHILDREN FOR TOMORROW on winning the 2021 Hamburg Foundation Award.
CHILDREN FOR TOMORROW looks after the most vulnerable members of our society: traumatised children who would otherwise have no access to help. This is a brilliant example of practical and lasting voluntary work.
