Welcome! - Preparatory online school for children with migration background

The 'Welcome!' project was conceived in response to the pressing challenge of integrating migrant and refugee children into European education systems, a situation amplified by the conflict in Ukraine. Our schools struggled to meet the diverse linguistic, cultural, and psychological needs of these new students. Our research confirmed critical gaps, so we applied for this project to create a comprehensive and sustainable transnational support structure. The primary needs we addressed were: - the lack of accessible, engaging language resources for children (10-14); - the social and cultural barriers leading to isolation; - insufficient support and methodologies for teachers in multicultural classrooms; - the need to empower children by valuing their own heritage and language; - and the critical importance of addressing their, and the teachers working with them, psychological well-being. Our fundamental goal was to create a holistic, innovative, and freely accessible online platform to welcome these children and empower them to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally in their new homes.

The "Welcome!" project's objectives were designed to create a proactive, integrated system of support for children with migrant backgrounds. Our overarching goal was to launch the "Welcome!" platform as a centralized, multifaceted online tool—a comprehensive and freely accessible resource to equip children with the foundational tools and confidence needed for their new educational environments. A core objective was to facilitate smooth linguistic and cultural integration. We aimed to achieve this by providing engaging, age-appropriate language courses (in Polish, Czech, and Bulgarian) that focused on practical, school-related vocabulary, complemented by fun cultural materials to demystify local customs and social norms. Simultaneously, we sought to empower and support educators. We developed a multimedia guide for teachers offering practical, accessible strategies to effectively manage diverse classrooms, assess student progress, and leverage cultural diversity as a classroom asset. Critically, we aimed to nurture the well-being and value the heritage of every child. Through activities like digital storytelling and tandem learning, we created a system that encouraged children to share their culture and feel a sense of belonging

To translate our objectives into tangible outcomes, we implemented a series of interconnected activities in a collaborative effort. The project's heart was building the "Welcome!" web page with a digital platform, which hosted our core plurilingual and pluricultural integration methodology. This was brought to life through creative workshops (music, art), shared experiences (digital storytelling, cooking), and collaborative tandem learning sessions for children. A major focus was developing structured language courses (Polish, Czech, Bulgarian) with engaging multimedia like interactive videos, games, and friendly mascots, all tailored to school life and refined through piloting with our target group. To empower educators, we created a multimedia guide for teachers in a modern video and podcast format, offering practical strategies for inclusive classrooms. This was also piloted in workshops to ensure its effectiveness. Finally, all activities were supported by robust project management, quality assurance, and a wide-reaching dissemination strategy, which included creating a strong online presence and hosting five Multiplier Events and a final conference to share our findings. www.welcomeatschool.eu

The "Welcome!" project delivered a suite of concrete outputs and achieved significant intangible results. The central output is the "Welcome!" online platform, a lasting, open-access resource. This platform hosts three core intellectual outputs: A repertoire of plurilingual integration activities with a supporting methodology, designed to valorize children's own heritage through storytelling and creative workshops. Three structured language and culture courses (Polish, Czech, Bulgarian) featuring over 30 videos per language, interactive games, and friendly graphics to make learning fun. A multimedia guide for teachers offering practical strategies in a modern video and podcast format. Beyond these deliverables, the project's key outcomes include a marked increase in the motivation, confidence, and pride of participating migrant children. Teachers reported enhanced skills and confidence in managing multicultural classrooms, leading to more inclusive and welcoming school environments for all. This directly supported our primary goals of fostering successful integration and well-being.