The GUARD-UP project, “Empowering Guardianship Systems to Improve the Guidance of UAC,” aims to enhance support for guardians of unaccompanied migrant children in Greece, Italy, Poland, Cyprus, Croatia, and Belgium. This will be achieved through transnational experience sharing, peer exchange, and knowledge transfer from the Netherlands. The project will also build capacity among guardians and stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, community organizations, legal staff, mental health professionals, local authorities, education providers, and other civil society organizations, to improve guardianship quality for unaccompanied migrant children.
Duration
1st April 2024 – 30th September 2026
30 months
Target
- Guardians of UAC
- Stakeholders involved in the care, protection, and support of unaccompanied migrant children, including government agencies, NGOs, community organizations, legal staff, mental health professionals, local authorities, education providers, and other civil society organizations
Expected Impact
Improved Guardianship Systems: Conducting a mapping and analysis of existing guardianship arrangements to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement through good practice exchanges.
Increased Capacity: Training 100 guardians and 200 stakeholders, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively support unaccompanied migrant children. Training materials will be based on the FRA (EU Agency for Fundamental Rights) training program.
Networking and Support: Providing a platform for guardians to connect, share experiences, and receive peer advice, thereby enhancing their ability to care for, protect, and support unaccompanied migrant children.
The project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them.
PARTNERS
CECL, GSVPIP, UNIWA | Greece
CNZD | Croatia
COSPE, LAI-MOMO | Italy
MCE | Belgium
HFC | Cyprus
NIDOS | The Netherlands
SIP | Poland