© Archives An-Nahar

Continuing to live after the bombs and the trauma of war: this is the challenge that confronts certain Lebanese children. In this environment, game playing is the preferred means by which to encourage children to express their suffering.

Fadi leaves the rubble of his house in the suburbs of Beruit, a box full of books in his arms. He's going to live not far from there in the suburb of “Tarik Jadida” (the new road), with relatives. Already his school is too far away, so he will need to find a new one. He's upset not to have found his drawing book amidst the ruins.

Now in Cana, in the south of country. Souad's black scarf reveals a round face and shy look. Souad is a survivor of the Cana massacre of 1996. Six years old at the time, she was seriously injured and burned. “I lost my mother and my five brothers and sisters. I've become accustomed to war, I've adapted. I'm no longer fearful. But when they bombed Cana for the second time in august 2006, I began to cry and to scream. It was as if I was reliving the first massacre. When I was little, I drew pictures to escape my fear, but since then I have left school and I no longer draw.”

Fadi and Souad are two victims of war, traumatized forever by what they experienced. It is for them that, for the first time, aid programs have been implemented in Lebanon. Game playing is the preferred means by which to bring them to express what they feel. Claire El Saïd, Bureau Chief for the International Movement of Apostolate of Children in Beirut, a Catholic organization that works in advisory capacity for UNICEF, says: “Children must play until they are tired. We are studying the violence that manifests itself in their games. Children are a mirror of their surroundings.”

The International Movement of Apostolate of Children is particularly active in attempting to reduce the impact of media violence on children. “We must try to avoid the aftermath of war,” comments El Saïd.

Secretary General of the Higher Counsel for Children (Ministry of Social Services), Elie Mikhail has coordinated her activities with those of humanitarian associations in order to implement a psychological support programme. Programmes and activities have been rolled out to comfort children and help them to adapt to a new reality. A mechanism has been put in place to detect trauma cases and put children in touch with psychologists.

The Minister of Education and Higher Learning has also taken the issue on board. He has launched the training of 105 teachers in the Marjeyoun region. This seminar is based on providing emotional support to children after the war. Moreover, the Education Minister has collaborated with UNESCO and UNICEF in the regions of Bint Jbeil, Nabatieh, Marjeyoun and Hasbaya in southern Lebanon. Twenty-five public school teachers from public schools have participated in workshops organized by UNESCO'S office in Beirut. Their goal: help students to overcome the hardship of war with practical, artistic or theatrical activities, all while providing psychological support.

In parallel to extra curricular activities such as recreational camps on the weekend or excursions, drawing and singing activities are also taking place. The artist Jahida Wehbeh thus chose a group of children to sing a song about peace with her.

Line Jones, a consultant with the International Medical Corps (IMC) in the field of mental health, intervenes in the villages of the South. Using puppets, she teaches children how to stay clear of bombs and gives them an opportunity to express what they may be repressing. Upon arriving in Lebanon, she discovered that children in the South were prisoners of their own homes: recreational activities were generally taking place in ruins reminding them of a childhood they were forced to give up. Some children were taking courses in tents. For this reason, she suggested that the leaders of international organizations build a centre that would provide children with a place to play and speak openly about their fears. This centre was built in the Khiyam area.

Meanwhile, Claire El Saïd notes that this work would never have a significant effect if it consisted of short term activities. She hopes the Ministry of Education and specialized international organizations will implement a minimum one-year action plan and have children in need undergo therapy even if they do not show any signs of distress.

Ghassan Hajjar in Beirut

© Archives An-Nahar
© UNESCO/As-Safir
Damaged school in Bing Jbeil