World Vision gave the children of Bam something to cheer about this week with the delivery of the first of many activity tents that are exclusively for their use. "The tents are being distributed by World Vision as part of a program to provide child-friendly spaces," explains senior relief manager Paul Sitnam.

"At present, children have no supervised activities and are not attending school," Sitnam notes. "Many are suffering recurring nightmares and fears because of last month's earthquake, so these child-friendly spaces are a way of providing a happier environment and assisting their recovery."

Activity tents for the children - which are being stocked by World Vision with crayons, games and toys, and supervised by local teachers - provide a safe, educational space where the children can have fun until their schools can be rebuilt.

"We need to keep them busy with painting, story-telling and games, and make the point that earthquakes do not come all the time," says local teacher Jamileh Asadi, who has volunteered to supervise one of the activity tents.

Providing safe havens where children can begin the psychological, emotional and spiritual healing process is one of World Vision's many reconstruction activities, along with the re-building of schools and the provision of sanitation facilities.

World Vision has distributed hand tools to victims of the earthquake to help them clear away rubble and begin efforts to reconstruct the area. The organization's staff members have been handing out kits comprised of shovels, pickaxes, hammers and wheelbarrows, as well as hygiene supplies and first aid kits.

The earthquake also completely leveled healthcare facilities or caused structural damage rendering them unsafe. World Vision, with permission of the Iranian Health Ministry, will rebuild two village health posts and three health centres. In addition to the reconstruction, World vision will supply clinics with refrigeration for vaccines, medical equipment, latrines, washbasins and furniture. 

World Vision Canada continues to raise funds for the Iran earthquake relief effort.

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization active in more than 90 countries, providing help to more than 85 million people each year.