In June, we responded to ongoing needs in Morocco, accelerated our mental health work, and shared priceless moments of collaboration and bonding with our volunteers and the young people we support.
Here’s a look at some of the moments that made this month so meaningful:
Up and running: Education spaces for Morocco’s quake-affected communities
On June 5, our team returned from the Al Haouz region in Morocco, where the trauma of the 2023 earthquake still lingers. In partnership with the communities of Ighil, Tafarghoust, Tazalt, and Wawgmout, we co-created multi-purpose educational spaces to support long-term healing and growth.
These safe, welcoming spaces now offer:
- Academic support for children through remedial classes.
- Quiet, well-lit study zones—especially crucial for families without electricity.
- Play areas where children can laugh, play, and begin to heal.
- Literacy classes for adults and connection points for women.
- A shared community library open to all.
This mission is the fruit of an effort that began days after the devastating earthquake in September 2023. Within a week of the disaster, we mobilised over 20,000 relief supplies. A follow-up visit in January helped us assess needs and co-create solutions, culminating in a key partnership with Better Shelter to deploy innovative, durable housing units for displaced communities.
Back to last month, as the final shelter was installed in Wawgmout, our journey came full circle. With training complete and ownership handed over to local communities, we left behind more than durable structures—we left behind renewed resilience and hope. The spirit of People for People has never felt more alive.
Here are the heartwarming photos recently shared by the local community of Ighil! Children who’ve lived through immense hardship are now learning, laughing, and healing in relief housing and educational spaces we built with them and their communities.
🎧 Listen to this NOS Radio 1 interview with our Director, Marcella Simons, about the mission.
Strengthening mental health support for young refugees
June also marked critical steps forward in our long-term mental health initiative, which will soon enter its pilot phase through re-engineered Rolling Aid Events:
Why mental health matters for refugee youth
To mark World Refugee Day, we released a preview of the programme we’ve been developing with our partner, Laguna Collective. It’s grounded in years of engagement with unaccompanied migrant children in the Netherlands and insights from over 30 expert consultations, volunteer engagement and a 5-month collaborative project with research students.
Key findings shaping this effort:
- Mental illness remains one of the most urgent, yet invisible, challenges for unaccompanied migrant children in the Netherlands
- Amid challenging political climate and limited funding, there is a need to transform the existing unsupported, fragmented, and unsustainable programmes into one evidence-based, cost-effective, scalable, preventative, and holistic Programme.
- Through investing in such initiatives, we’re not only supporting young refugees, but also fostering a healthier Dutch society.
- Co-design with youth is a must: Failing to engage unaccompanied migrant children directly leads to low impact.
- Refugee-led and culturally congruent care matters: Language and trust barriers are real. Refugee-led initiatives improve both access and outcomes.
- Systemic reform and frontline support are critical: Stakeholders working closely with the children are crucial gatekeepers but often overstretched. Coordination and capacity-building are urgently needed.
📖 Read our latest article to learn more.
Re-imagining Rolling Aid Events with our volunteers
At People for People, we know that solutions must be built with those they support. This month, we gathered our vibrant volunteer community—many of whom have refugee backgrounds—for an energising brainstorm to reimagine our Rolling Aid Events.
Together, we explored how these events could better support mental health outcomes while remaining inclusive, adaptable, and impactful. The insights shared are already shaping how we design upcoming Rolling Aid Events and overall mental health programming, all of which will be piloted soon.
Research in action
As we approach the pilot launch of our national mental health programme for unaccompanied migrant children, we continue to strengthen our evidence-based design approach. In June, months of collaboration with research students from the University of Amsterdam culminated in an in-depth presentation of their findings.
Complementing our desk research, expert interviews, frontline feedback from our Rolling Aid Events, and volunteer reflections, the students presented critical insights into the mental health journeys of unaccompanied children. Their research mapped key barriers in existing national responses and surfaced global models that can guide our development process.
The session validated our direction and provided tangible recommendations to refine a more holistic, responsive mental health approach.
Young Impact Night with our volunteers
On June 11, we joined thousands of change-makers at Young Impact Night—a celebration of youth-led action and a day full of meaningful activity.
Thanks to Young Impact, we shared moments of connection, joy, and gratitude with our volunteers. We were also delighted to invite unaccompanied migrant children from Amsterdam, with whom we had lots of fun.
Looking Ahead
June reminded us of something vital: that healing is not just about addressing crises. It’s about creating space for learning, play, belonging, and voice.
At People for People, we are committed to walking alongside young people and their communities as they build futures defined not by hardship, but by hope.
💻 We’re also counting down to the launch of our new People for People website—stay tuned!
Want to get involved? Join us!
