Help Gaza Kindergartens Heal

“My little child has stopped having nightmares,” declared Wafa, a relieved mother of seven in the Gaza Strip. Like many in Gaza, she is the parent of children who have witnessed war firsthand and have been afflicted with severe trauma as a result. Among the many symptoms of childhood trauma are nightmares, fear, clinginess, and frustration. Without proper training on how to recognize and deal with trauma, many parents are left feeling trapped, not knowing how to approach their children or deal with their changed behavior.

Wafa’s son Yasser, who was 12 years old during the 2014 war, displayed the symptoms of trauma. Nightmares, fear of loud noises, and aggression towards his siblings became common. He was unable to sleep alone, and often refused to leave the house. Yasser hated going to school, and experienced a decline in academic performance. Try as she might, Wafa was unable to find a solution to remedy her son’s behavior. She felt that she was losing him.

“When I heard about UPA's psycho-education sessions from the Zaharate Al Madean kindergarten, I immediately agreed to join, hoping I could find any help or support to rescue my child from drowning,” Wafa said. Through the Healing Through Feeling program, Wafa was able to join a supportive group of mothers in similar situations. She spoke to UPA mental health practitioners about her concerns, and they provided her with training and advice on how she can best assist her son and help him overcome his symptoms of trauma.

“Yasser has completely changed, he became more energetic, more active and motivated. He loves school. He started to believe in his own abilities because of his teacher and our support and has improved academically,” Wafa said. “I wish all mothers would participate in this training, as I believe many children suffer from similar problems, but mothers are unable to deal with them properly.”

UPA’s mental health practitioners are now expanding their reach by working with 56 teachers, 82 parents, and 680 children in six new kindergartens. UPA is also training three new graduates to provide more consultations to parents and teachers in these schools. It is important to us that the children have safe and supportive school and home environments, as caregiver involvement is essential to healing. By providing mental health education and training, Healing Through Feeling is rekindling family bonds, making for happier families, healthier children, and brighter futures.

To learn more, check out the new Healing Through Feeling Video and as always, thank you for making our work possible!