Project title:

Mental health of Venezuelan forcibly displaced children living in refugee shelters in northern Brazil: A socio-ecological examination of potential risk and protective factors

Collaborators:

• Federal University of Roraima (UFRR)

• Voz de Migrantes (civil society organization)

• AVSI (Association of Volunteers in International Service) 

The project was reviewed and is supported by the Brazilian Ministry of Social Development and Assistance, Family and the Fight Against Hunger (MDS) through the SUFAI Subcommittee. In addition, UNICEF Brazil has endorsed and supported the project since its start by providing organizational and informational support.

Research team:

• M.Sc. Alexander Ruberl - Freie Universität Berlin
• Univ.-Prof. Dr. Claudia Calvano - Freie Universität Berlin
• Prof. Dr. Beatriz Lima Costa – Federal University of Roraima (UFRR)
• Dr. Florian Scharpf – Bielefeld University
• Prof. Dr. Francilene dos Santos Rodrigues -  Federal University of Roraima (UFRR)
• Alba Marina González Andrade – Voz de Migrantes
• Yuliana Jesus Carpintero Chacón – Voz de Migrantes
• Erika Letícia Oliveira de Souza – Federal University of Roraima (UFRR)
• Ruth Beatriz Barbalho Alves – Federal University of Roraima (UFRR)
  
  

Project description:

The aim of this project is to investigate potential risk and protective factors related to the mental health of refugee children and adolescents from Venezuela living in refugee shelters in the state of Roraima, Brazil. The project adopts a socio-ecological framework that considers aspects at the individual, family, community, and societal levels. 
The project integrates both quantitative and qualitative methods and incorporates participatory elements in the research process. Close collaboration with academic partners, civil society organizations, the Brazilian government, and international organizations is a central component of the project. 
A key objective is to generate evidence-based recommendations for policy and practice.

Current status:

Data collection was conducted during a research stay in Boa Vista, Roraima, Brazil, between June 2025 and May 2026 and has been completed as planned.
In addition to the research activities, the project included capacity-building initiatives. A short training on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and post-migration stressors was developed and delivered for professionals working in shelter-based NGOs. Furthermore, psychosocial support groups were conducted for the Venezuelan community living in the shelters to support primary caregivers in coping with stress.
Preliminary findings have already been presented to the collaborating and supporting partners.

Next steps:

The next phase of the project involves preparing qualitative and quantitative data for analysis. The data analysis will be conducted within a German, Brazilian, and Venezuelan research team. A short research stay is planned to disseminate the final results among collaborating partners, the Venezuelan community living in the shelters, and other interested stakeholders.