PROGRAMS
Introduction
On this page, we list our programs across their tiers of development — from initial conception, to pilot phases, to fully established, adaptable models. Not every pilot becomes a permanent program. Here, you can explore what we’ve incubated, tested, and ultimately templated into scalable approaches, organized under our Programs subpages to clarify these important stages. We invite you to see how our thinking evolves into tangible interventions that advance our mission of achieving equity through education and community engagement, and to consider utilizing or supporting this work.
On August 29, we recorded a hybrid podcast dialogue (held in Bonn and via Zoom) exploring the human-centered possibilities and risks of AI in therapeutic settings. The project now enters its next phase: preparing a policy white paper and curated publication based on GHEF’s executive summary culminating the first year groundwork—due January 2026.Over the past year, we have developed a project focused on the emerging field of AI-Assistive Psychotherapy—its ethical, legal, and practical implications across medicine, law, and psychology. The project is practitioner-led and collaborative, involving active practitioners, legal researchers, and psychologists in Switzerland and Germany. It was conceived by GHEF’s founder and is currently coordinated by Dr. med. Seyid Mansuroglu-Selle, a practicing medical doctor in anesthesia and emergency medicine.
This program illustrates how our work matures from pilot to flexible framework. Conceived as Ghosts, a theatre project in Bonn under Stefan Herrmann, it evolved into Shadows, a film-based workshop format, broadening reach with participatory discussions in Bonn, Berlin, San Francisco, and Zurich. It helps communities recognize trauma and define first steps toward support. Contact us for manuals or technical assistance to bring this program to your community.
Let’s Talk is GHEF’s long-running program addressing youth suicide through dialogue, participatory learning, and targeted community engagement. Initially piloted in Eastern Montana — where adolescent suicide rates are among the highest in the U.S. — it has since expanded to Ohio and Switzerland. Its curriculum combines evidence-based discussions on depression, resilience, and help-seeking with tools that empower schools and local leaders. We invite you to explore milestones and contact us for manuals, technical support, or coaching to adapt Let’s Talk to your setting.
Connecting Cultures is GHEF’s flagship multimedia program, evolving from concept to pilot to an adaptable, research-informed model that fosters intergenerational, cross-cultural dialogue on psychosocial themes such as loneliness, intimacy, migration, work, and belonging. Initially piloted in Bonn under the title Drei Zusammen, it brought together native Germans and Arabic-speaking refugees through debates, filmed discussions, and podcasts. Building on this, the program developed The Speed of Change, with dialogues in Bonn, Düsseldorf, and Zurich exploring how generational shifts shape values around work, stability, and social expectation. We invite you to explore its milestones and contact us to request manuals, technical support, or coaching to adapt it within your community.
Our Study Abroad & Field Immersion Program began with Montana State University Billings and Aschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences, where students explored the Syrian refugee crisis through filmed interviews, examining how migration shapes health and access to care. It now grows to include modules on mental health, trauma literacy, and ecological health with German and Swiss partners. Facilitator training on participatory field research is also available. Contact us to discuss partnerships or support.
The Salam Concert Series is GHEF’s philanthropic platform that merges music, poetry, and community dialogue to preserve intangible cultural heritage. Originally launched as Salam to Syria, it now fosters conversations on identity, memory, and healing through live performance, raising critical funds for our programs. Hosted from Istanbul to Zurich, it connects youth, newcomers, and established artists. Explore highlights and contact us about hosting, sponsoring, or adapting Salam for your community.
Our symposia advance dialogue on mental health literacy, trauma, and equity-driven care. Held in Geneva and with local and international partners, they convene researchers, clinicians, and community leaders to share findings and shape adaptable frameworks. We welcome proposals; selected contributions may feature at upcoming events or in our publications. Contact us to submit ideas or for support on collaborative initiatives.
GHEF supported the implementation of home monitoring systems to advance health equity for patients with chronic illnesses and disabilities who preferred to remain in their own homes. This project delivered integrated monitoring, secure prescription management, and media-based interaction tools, enabling individuals to live more autonomously and with dignity as they aged. By reducing logistical and psychological barriers to accessing care, these efforts strengthened local support networks and enhanced long-term resilience within community health systems.
GHEF hosts live consensus building forums that bring together healthcare providers, administrators, experts, community leaders, and crucially, rural and small community leaders who often have no formal health background or support.
These gatherings identify critical gaps, discuss practical solutions, and build collective ownership of actions needed to strengthen healthcare systems and advance equity.