Did you know that many children in a center for people seeking asylum suffer from mental health issues? About 35% experience post-traumatic stress, 21% suffer from depression, 15% face anxiety, and 5% have suicidal thoughts and behaviors. These rates are much higher than those for Dutch children. According to the children’s rights, refugee children have the same entitlement to support as Dutch children. In addition, they have the right to grow up healthy, and sports can play a key role in this.

Save the Children Netherlands, War Child Holland and UNICEF Netherlands ​​have developed a sports and games program called TeamUp for children in centers for people seeking asylum. TeamUp aims to improve the psychosocial wellbeing of children in these centers.

Veel kinderen in een AZC zijn enthousiast over TeamUp. Helaas valt de deelname van jongeren in de leeftijd van 14 tot 18 jaar tegen. Jongeren in een AZC geven aan liever activiteiten te willen doen buiten het AZC. Zij willen graag meer deelnemen aan de Nederlandse samenleving. Save the Children wil daarom jongeren in een AZC mee laten doen aan sportactiviteiten op Nederlandse sportclubs.

But how can participation in sports club participation be encouraged? What factors make it easier or harder for youth in centers for people seeking asylum to join sports activities at Dutch sports clubs? Interaction provides an answer to these questions. 

Benieuwd naar de resultaten? Klik hier.

Interaction was funded by the Dutch Organisation for knowledge and innovation in health, healthcare and well-being (ZonMw): 07440122230006.