Psychological Support Committee helps Afrin's children to overcome war's effects

ALI KHADRO – GANDI ALO- AL-SHAHAB

The Psychological Support Committee composed of members of three institutions was established in order to obliterate the outstanding scenes in the minds of children of Afrin from the shelling, massacres and destruction carried out by the Turkish occupation army and its mercenaries on the 20th of last January as they used the most sophisticated land and air weapons.

The Psychological Support Committee was established in coordination held between the Kurdish Red Crescent, the Social Affairs and Labor Authority and the Education Committee of the Democratic Society in Afrin with the aim of providing psychosocial support to the children of Afrin in Berxwedan and Serdem camps and al-Shahba canton.

The committee works according to a thought out program and a plan of action divided into three stages. The first stage aimed at creating confidence between the committee and the children through organizing collective celebrations and cultural activities that lasted for one month, and organized a number of ceremonies during al-Fitr and al-Adha Eids.

The second stage included awareness-raising activities through innovative and indirect means, where short-term plays were presented. The performances include tips and guidance about cleanliness, preserving health and regulating time through performances presented by three characters; Şaho, Şelmlê, Cido. The performances began last week and will continue and offer other educational and awareness-raising topics such as love for language and encouragement to study. The purpose of these activities is to link children to the culture and mother tongue, and remove the psychological effects of the war. The events also include the organization of cultural competitions among the children to develop their information in addition to the organization of recreational activities.

In the third stage, children with psychological problems are identified and sent to the Psychological Support group which includes specialized psychologists and socialists. During this stage, awareness-raising lectures are organized for the parents of children about the ways to deal with children under the circumstances they are going through.

The member of the Psychological Support Committee Agid Khalil said that many organizations specialized to the psychological support came to the camp, but did not achieve a result because of dealing with children in Arabic. He added, "These children are ours and we know what they feel and what they saw in Afrin from the horrific and brutal scenes as a result of the bombing of the Turkish occupation army and its mercenaries' shelling."

Haidar Mustafa, the actor in the role of Şaho in the plays said in this regard, "Our goal is to connect children with the Kurdish culture and language through a play performed by three characters who are Şaho, Şelmlê, Cido. Since a week, we have started organizing theatrical performances focused on cleanliness, health preservation, time management, love for study and language."

(T/S)

ANHA