StorySafe: Empathetic Avenues in Trauma-Informed Youth Work

Aim of the project is to integrate a trauma-informed approach into youth work activities with the objective of enhancing resilience, inclusion, and comprehensive participation of young individuals. By emphasizing understanding, gentleness, and care, we seek to accommodate the needs of trauma-impacted youth present in virtually every youth-oriented endeavor. Concurrently, we aim to bolster the capacities of youth work professionals and fortify the ethos of youth organizations, equipping them to operate with a trauma-informed lens, thereby enriching the overall quality and impact of youth interventions. 

Trauma-informed youth work is essential to restoring and bolstering the self-regulation capabilities of young individuals. This approach goes beyond recognizing trauma’s signs—it deeply understands its impact. Trauma is a universal experience, touching many, not just those with refugee backgrounds. While many can self-regulate stress and trauma due to innate resilience, trauma-sensitive practices can enhance this self-regulation for others. This approach embodies understanding, gentleness, and care. By creating a protective environment, youth workers empower young people to reclaim their self-regulation abilities. 
 
Trauma-informed youth work prioritizes compassion and inclusivity. It emphasizes respect for individual narratives, recognizing that every young person brings a unique story. Keeping this empathy at the core promotes an inclusive and equal environment for all youth.