Helping Children in Emergencies

When the tsunamis hit Southeast Asia, affected children experienced incredible loss, distress, and grief. "We know from emergency situations all over the world that there is post-traumatic stress and children are not immune. In some cases, children are more affected," says Lynn Arnold, World Vision's vice president of the Asia-Pacific region.

In emergency situations, World Vision responds immediately to the needs of children with "child-friendly spaces." In Indonesia, for example, staff members will set up 20 tents where children aged four to 15 can express their grief and return to normalcy in a safe environment.



Express Grief

In "child-friendly spaces," World Vision helps children express their grief by offering games and activities, like drawing. "A lot of children have been drawing big waves and houses falling over," says Grace Hukom, who is overseeing World Vision's child-friendly spaces in Aceh, Indonesia.

Talking to other children and World Vision counsellors helps children realize that their feelings are normal reactions to an abnormal situation. By listening to the children and observing their play, counsellors can also identify which children need further support.

Return to Normalcy

Child-friendly spaces also help children escape the devastation and return to a routine. Playing with toys, drawing pictures, and singing songs reduce children's stress and allow them just to be children. Knowing their children are occupied and in a safe place reduces stress for parents, too.

For more pictures of the child-friendly spaces, click here