We are all ‘Samen T-rots’

On Friday, March 20, three primary schools from Westerlo gathered at ‘De Brem’ to conclude the pilot project Samen T-rots. This pilot project was tested in three schools with the aim of strengthening the mental well-being of fifth-grade pupils through creative sessions and interactive methods. For this project, Huis van het Kind Herselt/Hulshout/Westerlo, the Municipality of Westerlo, Bremmen, and KVC Westerlo joined forces.

Building mental resilience from a young age

In a world that is becoming increasingly fast-paced and complex, it is essential that children learn early on how to deal with emotions, pressure, changes, and uncertainties. This requires a solid level of self-confidence, resilience, and social skills. With Samen T-rots, the four partners aim to build greater resilience, self-confidence, social skills, and emotional awareness.

“These are not extras in life. With this project, we want to invest early in children’s mental well-being and resilience, and build a foundation they can rely on for the rest of their lives,” explains Lien Van Meldert, psychologist and one of the driving forces behind Bremmen.

Close collaboration between schools and experts

Schools are not left to face this alone but are supported by experts in mental well-being and group dynamics from Bremmen. The program consists of monthly active lessons, shared between teachers and experts, and runs over a period of six months.

Through relatable sayings, pupils learn that making mistakes is allowed and can be valuable, that believing in yourself is the first step toward success, how meaningful it is to give unconditional compliments or love, and how to cope with setbacks and challenges.

Owl and Elephant as recognizable symbols

In addition to the sayings, the content is based on the ACT methodology (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy), a psychological approach used to adjust behavior. Starting from their own “island,” pupils encounter various figures (owl, tree, heart, elephant, rock) that serve as metaphors to help them become more aware of their own emotions and thoughts. In this way, we create a shared and accessible language that matches the pupils’ level of understanding.

Samen T-rots Day

On Friday, March 20, the schools came together to celebrate the conclusion of the pilot phase. Through a large outdoor game set in nature, pupils revisited the material they had learned in mixed teams across different classes. The ultimate goal was for all teams to successfully complete the final game within the allotted time. Everyone worked together toward one shared objective. If they managed to raise all the flags, then all pupils could proudly call themselves truly Samen T-rots!

The next phase

Over the past months, the project was introduced in three primary schools in Westerlo to gather feedback and fine-tune the final details. Strong co-creation between the schools and the experts proved essential in this process. Throughout the pilot phase, the feedback and results were very positive, both from teachers and from the children. That is why the four partners are now exploring ways to expand the project next school year to more municipalities and schools.