Psychosocial Support for School Communities Affected by the Tsunami
`Helping tsunami affected children lead sound lives`
Basic information
| Duration |
April 2005 ` March 2007 (2 years) |
| Region |
Tissa Maharama, Hambantota District, Ambalantota, Southern Province, Sri Lanka (4 schools) |
Target group
(number) |
Approximately 5000 children who are suffering from psychological/emotional wounds caused by the tsunami and approximately 3500 members of the school community (teachers and parents) |
| Associates |
The Sri Lanka Ministry of Education |
| Donor |
Sponsor businesses and public donations |
| Project scope |
Approximately JPY 60 million (2 years) |
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Project background
As a result of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami which occurred on 26 December 2004, more than 30,000 people lost their lives and over 4000 are still missing in Sri Lanka. Currently, approximately 52,000 people are living as internally displaced persons (IDP). People have lost not only their homes and possessions by the tsunami, but many have lost their families as well. eSoftf support such as psychosocial care has been recognised as important as ehardf support such as the restoration of infrastructure.
Problems Identified
Adults and children who suffer from mental/psychological wounds exhibit symptoms such as: withdrawal, lack of concentration, anxiety and negligence of their health. In order to overcome this traumatic experience and to regain regularity in their lives, it is important for the victims themselves to participate proactively in the recovery and reconstruction process. Although it is necessary to create a framework for the adults (parents and teachers) to properly support the children, the schools and communities have neither the necessary knowledge nor the funds.
Project Objective
To heal the psychological wounds of the affected children, and enable them to lead physically and psychologically healthy lives.
Main activities
Parents, teachers and school staff carry out the below activities, centring on a gschool support grouph which plans and executes activities aimed at the healthy development of students
| Pj |
Understanding the needs of the children
A detailed understanding of the need for childrenfs support is gained through conducting interviews, focus group discussions, and other interactive techniques among the children, teachers, and gschool support grouph members. This assessment is done to investigate the nature and level of the psychological/emotional impact of the tsunami on the children.
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| Qj |
Workshops/training sessions
Awareness-raising workshops and skill-training are conducted for school teachers, staff, parents and upper level students. Through these workshops they gain knowledge of childrenfs symptoms and counter-measures and enhance their ability to respond effectively to the studentsf needs. |
| Rj |
Participatory creation of action-plans
A separate action-plan is developed for each school according to its childrenfs needs. As these plans are specific to each school, they are likely to incorporate a great variety of activities. Examples include: recreational activities such as games, sports and music to cheer up the children; various events; the reconstruction of school facilities, etc.; and the formation of sport/drama youth groups, as well as social support groups that carry out community service, etc.
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| Sj |
Participatory execution of action-plans
Support is given to ensure that each school community puts its action-plan effectively into practise and that the gschool support grouph members carry out monitoring and assessment activities.
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