From Ashes to Hope: Empowering Children of Chios after the Wildfires
SUBMITTED FROM:
Child and Adolescent’s Center
Child and Adolescent΄s Center is the largest non-profit company in Greece based in the province and in fact on the remote island of Chios and one of the most dynamic organizations in the field of mental health in the country. In its 26 years of operation (founded in 1996) it has supported 9,364 children, adolescents, adults with developmental, emotional and psychiatric difficulties and their families. Our vision: A world that talks about mental health comfortably and recognizes, understands and accepts the diversity of people with psychiatric / psychological / developmental disorders.
The aim of the program was to provide immediate psychosocial support and empowerment to children affected by the wildfires of summer 2025 in Chios, as well as to prevent long-term trauma-related effects.
At the same time, the initiative sought to strengthen children’s resilience, support the school environment as a stable source of safety, and activate the local community as a network of care and recovery.
Target Audience
The program primarily targeted primary school children living in wildfire-affected and remote areas of Chios.
At the same time, it included the indirect involvement of teachers, school communities, and families, aiming to provide holistic support to the child within their natural environment.
Duration
December 2025 – April 2026, including preparation, implementation of school-based interventions, and completion with an open art exhibition in Volissos.
Description
Following the devastating wildfires of summer 2025 in Chios, the Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, with the support of the Bodossaki Foundation, implemented the “Psychosocial Support Program for Wildfire-Affected Areas of Chios.”
The program was designed as a comprehensive, community-based intervention and was implemented from December 2025 to April 2026 in 10 primary schools.
Through experiential workshops in art, storytelling, play, and mindfulness techniques, children were supported in expressing feelings of fear, loss, and uncertainty and transforming them into creative expression and narrative.
An innovative element of the initiative was the delivery of psychosocial support within the natural school environment, the active participation of children as meaning-makers, and the connection of individual experience with collective expression.
The initiative culminated in an open art exhibition in Volissos, where the children’s works were presented as a public narrative of resilience and hope.
The program had a substantial and multi-level impact, both quantitatively and qualitatively, directly strengthening the psychosocial support of children and indirectly benefiting families and local communities affected by the wildfires in Chios.
Measurable Results:
Participation of 11 school units in wildfire-affected and remote areas of Chios
Direct benefit to more than 160 children
Implementation of 20+ experiential interventions/workshops
Engagement of teachers and school communities throughout all phases of the program
Organization of an open art exhibition in Volissos featuring children’s works
At the same time, a systematic assessment of the children’s psychosocial condition was conducted through structured questionnaires, aiming to capture the impact of the wildfires. Two questionnaires were administered—one to each child and one to their respective family—enhancing a holistic understanding of needs and family dynamics.
The collected data were used to better tailor the interventions and to document the program’s impact.
Qualitative Impact:
The program significantly contributed to strengthening children’s emotional expression and psychological resilience. Through their participation in experiential activities:
children were able to express feelings of fear, loss, and insecurity that had remained unspoken
their ability to recognize and manage emotions was enhanced
traumatic experiences were transformed into creative expression through art and storytelling
a sense of safety within the school environment was reinforced
At the same time, a positive impact was observed at the school level, as schools were strengthened as spaces of support, stability, and acceptance, while connections between school, family, and community were reinforced.
Overall Impact:
The initiative contributed to reducing the stigma surrounding mental health and to activating the local community, creating a framework of collective care and resilience.
The program functioned not only as a recovery intervention but also as a process of empowerment and long-term support for children and the community.
Initiative Location
Wildfire-affected and remote areas of Chios, implemented in 11 school units and concluded with an open art exhibition in Volissos.
Working with Organization
The program was implemented in collaboration with the Bodossaki Foundation, which supported both the funding and execution of the initiative.
At the same time, close collaboration was established with local school units, the Head of Primary Education in Chios, school advisors, teachers, and local communities to ensure effective implementation.
The implementation of the program relied on the active participation of specialized mental health professionals from the Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, who designed and carried out the interventions in schools.
The team worked systematically in the field, across 10 school units, delivering experiential activities and supportive interventions to more than 160 children.
In addition, teachers actively contributed by helping to create a safe and stable environment for the children.
The implementation of the program “From Ashes to Hope: Empowering Children of Chios after the Wildfires” provided significant benefits for the Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, both in terms of operational capacity and institutional and scientific development.
Measurable / Operational Outcomes:
Implementation of a structured intervention across 11 school units in wildfire-affected areas of Chios
Activation of a multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals in the field
Development and implementation of 20+ experiential interventions in real crisis conditions
Direct collaboration with educational communities and local stakeholders
Organizational Strengthening:
The initiative significantly enhanced the organization’s operational readiness in crisis and disaster settings through the implementation of a flexible and adaptable field intervention model.
It also strengthened the organization’s capacity to design and implement interventions in remote and island areas, addressing challenges such as geographical dispersion and limited access to services.
Scientific and Institutional Impact:
The program further strengthened the scientific identity of the Center as an organization that develops innovative, community-based mental health interventions.
It also enhanced its role as a hub connecting schools, families, and local communities, promoting a holistic model of care.
Long-term Added Value:
The program created a replicable intervention model for crisis situations, enhancing the organization’s ability to apply this experience in future projects at both national and European levels.
