<section>

 

  <h1>Prevention through connection</h1>

 

  <h2>Enhancing the capacity of psychosocial care workers with practical, low‑cost, culturally grounded tools</h2>

 

  <h3>Authors</h3>

  <p>

    Kristýna Skriczka, UCL Social Research Institute<br>

    Kirrily Pells, UCL Social Research Institute<br>

    Chaste Uwihoreye, University of Rwanda

  </p>

 

  <h3>Funding to date</h3>

  <ul>

    <li>Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)</li>

    <li>UCL Global Engagement Fund</li>

    <li>HEIF Knowledge Exchange and Innovation Fund</li>

    <li>UCL IOE EC Impact Fellowship (Skriczka)</li>

    <li>Family For Every Child</li>

  </ul>

 

  <figure>

    <img

      src="family-tree-nkwihoreze.jpg"

      alt="A painted artwork titled ‘The Family Tree’ by the Nkwihoreze Team. A tree with a brown trunk and visible roots branches into green foliage. White square shapes hang from several branches, each containing silhouettes of people, representing family members and social connections."

    >

    <figcaption>The Family Tree by the Nkwihoreze Team</figcaption>

  </figure>

 

  <h2>When talking is hard</h2>

  <p>

    Children’s mental health is shaped by early family relationships, social connection and adversity. Many families do not feel safe or supported by formal services, while demand continues to rise, in the UK and worldwide.

  </p>

  <p>

  Interventions often focus on supporting either the child or the parent/caregiver while leaving the rest of the family behind.

  </p>

 

  <h2>Finding own solutions</h2>

  <p>

    Nkwihoreze is a community-led approach first developed in Rwanda. We have co-produced an arts-based toolkit that helps children and caregivers communicate about difficult past experiences, coping, resilience and hope.

  </p>

  <p>

   Structured arts-based activities strengthen family and community connectedness to support the whole family.

  </p>

 

  <h2>Meets the needs of many</h2>

  <p>

    International pilots with local NGOs, connection with Rwandan diaspora in Canada and ongoing UK Knowledge Exchange work suggest the approach is transferable because it is adaptable to different user group needs and is culturally sensitive. It can complement existing services by enhancing practitioners capacity. 

  </p>

  <p>

   Our findings suggest the benefits extend to practitioners using the toolkit.

  </p>

 

</section>

<h2>Who is the expert here?</h2>

  <p>

    Rwandan culture understands mental distress as rooted in social and external factors, not the individual. Our approach treats people as experts in their own lives, helping them identify challenges and create their own solutions.

  </p>

  <p>

    This leads to lasting change and lifelong skills. When interventions impose predefined problems and answers, people can feel disempowered and stigmatised. Nkwihoreze puts decolonial methodology into practice.

  </p>

 

  <aside>

    <p>

      <strong>Nkwihoreze</strong> means “taking care and strengthening one another” in Kinyarwanda, the national language of Rwanda.

    </p>

  </aside>

 

  <h2>Impact</h2>

  <p>

    From re‑integrating children into their homes and upskilling young people, to national training initiatives and global adaptations, the Nkwihoreze Project is transforming lives and professional practice.

  </p>

  <p>

    Learn more about our impact at

    <a href="https://www.nkwihoreze.org">www.nkwihoreze.org</a>.

  </p>

 

  <h2>Let’s talk</h2>

  <p>

    Current work of the Nkwihoreze Team includes:

  </p>

  <ul>

    <li>Developing a free, practical arts‑based toolkit</li>

    <li>Launching new pilots with Family for Every Child</li>

    <li>Exploring applications in the United Kingdom and co‑creating a new pilot tool with UK practitioners</li>

  </ul>

  <p>

    If you are interested in testing, adapting, or learning from this approach, please speak with the researcher, Kristýna Skriczka present at the conference.

  </p>

 

  <figure>

    <img src="kristyna-skriczka.jpg"

         alt="Portrait photograph of Kristýna Skriczka." />

    <figcaption>

      Contact: <a href="mailto:kristyna.skriczka@ucl.ac.uk">kristyna.skriczka@ucl.ac.uk</a>

    </figcaption>

  </figure>

 

  <h2>Don’t like reading conference posters?</h2>

  <p>

    Read a story instead. Learn about the young people behind this research by choosing a path through a maze and scanning a QR code to access different stories online.

  </p>

 

  <figure>

    <img src="maze-qr-codes.jpg"

         alt="Illustration of a maze with QR codes placed at multiple exits. Each QR code links to a different story on the project website." />

    <figcaption>

      Interactive storytelling activity with multiple QR codes leading to online content.

    </figcaption>

  </figure>

 

  <h2>Partners and funders</h2>

  <ul>

    <li>Family for Every Child</li>

    <li>University College London (UCL)</li>

    <li>UK Research and Innovation – Arts and Humanities Research Council (UKRI‑AHRC)</li>

    <li>AERG</li>

    <li>UNM</li>

  </ul>

 

  <p>

    Created for the Nkwihoreze Project © 2026

  </p>