Fifty persons are currently undergoing training to conduct a programme geared at assisting children who have experienced the trauma of natural disasters, conflicts and violence.
The programme, dubbed “Return to Happiness Programme,” is a psychosocial recovery one which targets children between 5 and 12 years old, according to Jemma Azille, Coordinator of the Child Abuse Prevention Unit at the Social Welfare Division.
“We are going to put together some persons throughout the country, we will have different locations and different centres in the event that a disaster occurs and we will bring these children together where we will be organising programmes and different activities for the children. So right now we are preparing people for that disaster,” she explained.
Azille added that after an initial two-day training, which got underway on Monday, another workshop will be conducted throughout outlying districts where facilitators will be trained.
She pointed out that a programme such as this is significant since the social needs of children, especially after a traumatic experience, must be taken care of.
“A lot of time we focus on a lot of things rather than our children, so the significance is to ensure that our children are happy, to ensure that if they go through a particular situation in their lives that they do not remain traumatized,” she noted.
Meanwhile Melena Fontaine, Coordinator of Special Education in the Ministry of Education, noted that the programme targets children between 5 and 12 because sometimes they are unable to express themselves appropriately.
“Because of how it (traumatic experience) manifests itself in children of that age group and sometimes they are unable to speak for themselves usually a teenager might be able to say that they need help but the smaller ones sometimes don’t know how to express themselves and so it will manifest itself in various ways and people may not recognise it,” she remarked.
The programme utilizes a range of activities such as drawing, storytelling, painting, modelling, cultural activities, puppetry and theater.
Through these activities, children are provided with the opportunity to express their feelings, anxiety, fears and ideas while displaying their creative skills.
They are guided through these activities using a process that allows them to relieve their anxieties and “return to happiness.”
GOOD JOB MY GIRL KEEP IT UP.
Dear Ms. Azille,
I would like to be part of your team. Is is too late to sign up? What is the contact information for your offce?
Please advise.
This is so important for the children great job to all those involve at my age it is so had to have been assaulted at an early age and it still hunts me thank you for looking out for the children
Hello, very good program and its just in time therefore please start with Mr Bertrand and Mr George children because we know they are very traumatized . Thanks.
Ms Azille I know that you have the children’s wellbeing at heart. Continue to do the great job. God’s strength in all that you do.
A very good initiative. Keep up the good work!God’s strength
I applaud the efforts of the Welfare Division. However, I believe that one of the factors preventing children, young people and people in general from discussing psychological and other issues affecting them is the lack of confidentiality among so called “social workers”. For instance, I know of a certain social worker who works at a particular institution in Dominica who discusses the affairs of the clients at that institution so much so that when a young person was admitted to that institution a few months ago a friend of hers said he would get the information from her. Children, young people and people in general need to feel confident that those persons who are supposed to assist them keep their business in confidence. I am not sure that that exists here.
If you are so certain that this is indeed happening, you should report it. By doing nothing, is the same as reinforcing that behaviour. Please report it .. someone will listen!
Report it to whom when the people you expect to be able to report it to do the same thing.
Nonsense. I don’t think you live in the society. Or your head is buried and your rear-end up.
First you say “I know”, Then you said “I’m not certain” it can’t be both. If you know of a particular situation of lack of confidentiality then do something about it, if it’s simply speculation or hearsay story, then keep it to yourself.
Allow the person to voice their opinion. In Dominica we too like the hush your mouth policy that is why when there are things of importance the talk shows drown them out. The meek should not be deterred by those who have a louder/more power voice.
Did you really read the comment? Try again.