In summer 2025, two wildfires burned a large part of Chios, adding to a growing share of the island's surface that has been lost to fire since 2016. The psychological toll on children and other vulnerable groups is severe and well documented, and burned land continues to shape daily life, safety and the community's sense of resilience across the island today.
An earlier phase of support could reach only a small part of Chios's schools, leaving most children without help and a formal request from the island's Special School still unanswered. With wildfire-related psychological strain still high, stopping now would leave excluded pupils, including children with additional support needs, without the specialised support they need.
The project
The programme uses art-based and experiential methods to help children process trauma and rebuild hope, running two cycles of workshops built around creative expression, mindfulness and group resilience, led by specialised mental-health professionals. Children take part in collective artwork inspired by nature, the wildfires and hope, developing at their own pace within a safe, structured setting that prioritises inclusion, especially for pupils from the island's Special School.
The work leads to a community exhibition, opened with QR codes linking each piece to the children's own reflections, shared through schools, families and the local press. The aim is to prevent chronic psychological distress and strengthen the resilience of wildfire-affected communities on Chios, turning individual experiences of trauma into a shared, lasting sense of community resilience.
Who the project is for
The project's direct beneficiaries are around 150 to 160 first- and second-grade pupils from 10 to 12 schools across Chios, with priority given to the island's Special School.
Its impact reaches further: parents, guardians and teachers benefit from stronger cooperation and communication around the children in their care, while local communities, visitors and institutions gain greater awareness of the island's needs and a model that can be adapted for future crises.
Project name: Psychosocial Support Programme for the Fire-Affected Areas of Chios Island
Proposing organisation: Child and Adolescent’s Center
Area of intervention: Environment & Sustainable Communities
Country: Greece