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February 24, 2026
My Coming of Age Story is a two-year project cofunded by the European Union, through the 2021- 2027 Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF). This project was implemented by five partners: the Italian Council for Refugees (Italy), who led a consortium composed of Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) (Belgium and Slovakia), European Lawyers in Lesvos (Greece and Poland), the Alliance of Lawyers for Human Rights (France), and PIC – Legal Center for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment (Slovenia).
The goal of this project is to improve the support given to guardians of unaccompanied and separated children when they transition to adulthood, in order to ensure that these children have access to their rights and proper information during this critical phase of their life.
During the My Coming of Age Story project, partners met with young people and child protection actors to understand their needs, and the main challenges they encountered in their roles. This led to a better understanding of good practices and lessons learned across the region, and of the support that guardians need to better assist children as they transition to adulthood.
The aim of this Practical Toolkit is to build on existing materials and on the outputs from My Coming of Age Story to offer practical guidance to guardians on how to best support unaccompanied children, while keeping a child-centred approach in line with children’s best interests.
The project partners are proud to organize a final conference for its project “My Coming-of-Age Story” (CO.A.ST) which will take place in Brussels on March 5th and showcase our collaborative work on unaccompanied and separated children as they transition to adulthood.
My Coming of Age Story (CO.A.ST) is a two-year, EU co-funded project focused on enhancing guardianship for unaccompanied children transitioning to adulthood. Led by the Italian Council for Refugees (CIR) with partner organizations across six EU Member States, CO.A.ST strengthens collaboration between lawyers and guardians through training, resources, and practical tools. The project aims to […]
Read My Coming of Age Story (CO.A.ST)The transition to adulthood represents a crucial moment in the lives of unaccompanied children, often marked by uncertainty and vulnerability. The forms of protection guaranteed during childhood either cease or change radically, leaving many young people without adequate support at a key stage in their path toward integration and independence. This fact sheet presents research […]
Read The Coming of Age of Unaccompanied Foreign Minors in Six European CountriesThis fact sheet provides an in-depth look at how six European countries—France, Greece, Poland, Slovenia, Italy, and Slovakia—protect unaccompanied foreign minors through voluntary guardianship systems. It outlines the different types of guardianship, including ad hoc administrators, curators, and volunteer legal guardians, and explains how each country appoints and supports guardians for migrant children. The resource […]
Read Guardianship of Unaccompanied Foreign Minors in Six European Countries
