This graphic guide outlines the key elements of a trauma-informed approach to citizenship education. It defines stress, traumatic events, and psychological trauma, and explores their impact on the educational process. The guide discusses how to apply the principle of “Do No Harm” in citizenship education and introduces basic psychological first aid techniques that can be used in educational settings. It also addresses the issue of preventing burnout among citizenship education providers.

This publication is intended for professionals working in citizenship education and will be especially valuable for those supporting individuals with traumatic experiences, helping to promote their integration into society.

The guide was prepared as part of the project Applying a Trauma-Informed Approach in Civic Education, developed and implemented by a consortium of experts under the Eastern European Association for Civic Education, with the support of the Federal Agency for Civic Education (bpb) and funding from the German Federal Foreign Office. The project is coordinated by the NGO “Democratic Initiatives Incubator”.