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Description
This project aims to involve 100 children and young people aged 10-17 living in temporary or permanent foster care in the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon and Vale do Tejo. In order to promote group cohesion and develop personal resources among participants, the programme combines surfing with group psychological intervention, including surf initiation classes, awareness-raising activities, environmental sustainability, and activities to promote social and emotional skills.
Summary of project results
Ensuring the proper development of children and young people is a responsibility of the State and society, as stated in the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic. The Portuguese State itself acknowledges in the CASA 2017 Report the inefficacy and insufficiency of existing traditional responses in effectively promoting the resumption of healthy development processes, both physically and mentally, for the primary target group. Children in care face numerous challenges throughout their lives, including issues related to education, employment, housing, health, substance abuse, and involvement in crime. Compared to the general population, they have poorer educational outcomes, fewer job opportunities, lower annual earnings, are more frequently homeless, have more mental health problems, higher likelihood of alcohol and substance abuse, and greater chances of involvement with the justice system (Gypen et al., 2017).
In terms of attachment, these children are often classified with avoidant, ambivalent, or disorganized attachment styles. Children repeatedly rejected by their parents may learn not to trust their emotions, relationships, or even their own bodies. The instability and insecurity of their relational patterns contribute to a vulnerable environment where trauma can occur, hindering the development of adequate internal models (of self, others, and self in relation to others) and skills such as self-regulation, appropriate expression, and safe exploration of the environment (Cook et al., 2003). The experiences they are exposed to pose serious risks to their emotional and intellectual development, potentially leading to repercussions in adolescence and adulthood (Erol, Simsek, & Münir, 2010).
According to the CASA 2019 Report, only 35.8% of the 7046 children and young people in care receive regular psychological support, indicating a clear lack of investment in their recovery. Therefore, the need for intervention with this population is growing and not being met adequately. Intervention programs for children and young people in residential care can help reduce and prevent recurring problems in this population and contribute to the development of healthy, well-integrated adults in society. The CASA 2019 Report highlights behavioral and mental health issues as the main challenges for the primary target group. The pandemic context has forced many entities to rethink their investments, and there was already a recognized lack of support responses in this area pre-COVID. The Annual Cycle Program by Wave by Wave aims to address the Portuguese need for more integrated mental health responses that promote the physical and mental health and social inclusion of its 100 participants from the 15 care institutions we work with.
Between 2021 and 2023, the project carried out several activities. In the summer of 2021, two weeks of summer camps were held as an entry point to beach activities funded by the Active Citizens program, with 20 children and young people participating. From September 2021, all preparatory meetings with care homes and educational coordinators were conducted to implement the 2021-2022 annual intervention, which included two therapeutic groups exclusively linked to the project. These sessions took place on the beach every Monday and Tuesday from 08:30 to 13:30.
In July 2022, a summer camp was held from the 11th to the 15th, from 08:30 to 13:00, where the same group of children and young people, along with the same technical team, attended the beach in Carcavelos for five mornings. The 2022-2023 annual intervention included a camp with 11 registered participants, meeting weekly on Tuesdays from 09:00 to 14:00. In the first week of July 2023, another summer camp was held with 12 children and young people participating.
Initial training for the team took place in September 2021 over two days, including both theoretical and practical training. Continuous training sessions were held throughout the 2022 and 2023 academic years, either during the school year or during team meetings. Feedback meetings were also scheduled to adjust and recognize each team member''s work, based on intra and inter-evaluation methodologies developed during the training period, as well as the job descriptions created.
In 2021, the search began for an entity to diagnose and accompany the association in its capacity-building process. After the diagnosis, an action plan was developed, prioritizing the definition of the most current and coherent mission and vision for the organization. This was followed by an update of the organizational chart and the creation of job descriptions for each position. Evaluation points for the organization''s employees were also defined.
The first experience of the Wave by Wave Youth Forum took place in 2021, starting with meetings with the Division for the Promotion of Rights in the Territory of the Municipal Directorate of Cohesion and Capacity Building of CMCascais. This led to the opportunity to participate in UNICEF''s "Tenho Voto na Matéria" initiative, with two forms of participation from Wave by Wave children and young people. Following this initial experience, a pilot event was held in 2022, involving young people in organizing one of the Wave by Wave events, where they contributed their opinions and ideas. In 2023, the formal Wave by Wave Youth Forum group was established, beginning with awareness-raising work on fundamental rights, supported by the Unit for the Promotion of Rights in the Territory of the Municipality of Cascais. This was followed by a second phase of more specific work based on the Theatre of the Oppressed methodology, allowing young people to express their most challenging experiences and draft the Wave by Wave Youth Manifesto. The Youth Forum held weekly sessions every Thursday from 17:00 to 20:00 between March and June 2023. The Youth Forum group was responsible for organizing the Wave Talent Show 2023, where they presented their Manifesto for their Rights.
The capacity-building component brought by the Active Citizens program became increasingly important, providing clarity and practical thinking necessary for the association''s reorganization and implementation. In 2022, an action plan based on the organizational diagnosis was initiated, with the hiring of Elena Heieck, an expert in team management in surf therapy from England. Alongside consultant Ana Neto, a concrete and realistic action plan for the expected organizational change was detailed. This plan focused on redefining the association''s mission, vision, and values, updating the organizational chart, and creating job descriptions. The strategy was further refined by delegating responsibilities among team members, developing an external communication plan, and implementing human resource management practices.
Other points worked on and defined in the action plan included the following: preparation of the Employee Manual (attached); preparation of the Employee Integration Manual and Procedures (attached); preparation of a training needs assessment and training plan; management of intellectual capital and internal knowledge; and implementation of human resource management practices.
The project aimed to promote the psychological rehabilitation and social inclusion of its participants. It successfully implemented two annual cycles, progressively including children and young people from normative family backgrounds. This objective was achieved through two therapeutic intervention groups and three summer camp cycles between 2021 and 2023.
Specific objectives included socio-emotional skills, group cohesion, emotional regulation, reduction of behavioral problems, resilience, and physical health. These points were promoted and evaluated internally through the Behavioral Observation Grid (GOC). The children and young people showed high levels of active, positive, and dynamic participation and active listening, especially during the Initial Circle (4.83 out of 5), Surf (4.91 out of 5), and Final Circle (4.84 out of 5) sessions. Participants demonstrated healthy autonomy and initiative, proactivity, curiosity, and interest in interpersonal relationships, both with the staff (1.8 out of 3) and with other children and young people (1.79 out of 3).
Throughout the intervention, there was a significantly low percentage (1.16%) of moments when a child or young person entered a crisis during a session. In these incidents, the crisis was always addressed and resolved with the young person still in the session.
In quantitative terms, the following was achieved: 16 NGOs work specifically with young people at risk of exclusion; 63 beneficiaries of the services provided; 13 young people covered by empowerment measures.