International Society for Health and Human Rights




		Lina Kostarova Unkovska University of Sts Cyril and Methody, Faculty of Philosophy - Institute of Psychology, Republic of Macedonia Can school be a promoter of health in conditions of protracted community crisis? A case study on developing a model of community crisis intervention in schools Puede la escuela ser promotora de la salud en condiciones de crisis comunitaria prolongada? Un caso de estudio sobre el desarrollo de un modelo de intervencion comunitario de crisis en la escuela The Republic of Macedonia has recently faced an immense humanitarian crisis, accepting over 300,000 refugees, forcefully expulsed from their homes in Kosovo. One third of them were school children that in a short time were to be integrated in regular classes in the primary schools in Macedonia. This was happening in circumstances of economic instability, high unemployment and emphasized inter-ethic tensions in the country. After having conducted research that included 65 schools in the region, ten schools were selected as schools of highest risk for the mental and emotional health of children and adults. Aims: How to help the schools and the broader community to cope with the crisis and the uncertainty of their future, and Can school be a promoter of health in conditions of crisis and what does that mean in terms of the school policy and taking action? In reply to these questions, several levels of strengthening the school community became a part of the action program for psychosocial assistance to schools and communities under risk. Discovering the schools potential for dealing with the ongoing community changes, regarding the principle of participation of each school community member in overcoming the difficult situations. Organizing the school and creation of crisis teams for the purpose of raising the sensitivity and internal support in strengthening of the school community. Involvement of pupils in improving the quality of school life through their own projects, as well as inclusion of University students in assisting pupils and teachers, as a form of external support to the school community in the process of its empowerment. We expected this type of crisis action in the schools to serve as a model of health promotion in conditions of crisis; whereby sensitive recognition of the potentials of the community and their organization, support and activation, in a flexible system for help and self-help, is made and utilized for changing the community from within and in one's own direction and volume. The results of a yearlong project proved that this HPS strategy might become a key point in further development and creation of community crisis actions, through schools as direct health promoters, instead of being the opposite.