Sending hope to quake-affected children through schoolbags and psychosocial activities
These children, who are in kindergarten and primary school, are displaced with their families after a series of strong earthquakes hit the province in October. All of them are staying inside makeshift tents and they are also learning inside temporary learning spaces made of light wooden materials and tents.
“This is a good relief for them,” shared a teacher who is assigned in the temporary school. “It is not easy for these children to cope with their new environment but assistance like this somehow gives them hope knowing that they are not alone in this difficult journey.”
The students who received the school bags also joined the 1st of 10 Child-friendly Space (CFS) sessions where they participate in fun and age-appropriate psychosocial activities. The CFS activity is funded by Aktion Deutschland Hilft (ADH).
“A lot of these children are still reeling from the distress caused by the disaster. These spaces are necessary for them to come in terms with their experiences and be able to express themselves through play, arts, music, and even dance,” says response manager, Franklyn Salindato. “Thank you, ADH for supporting these children.”
However, there’s still a long way to go before the displaced people get their normal life back. In one camp, the evacuees are expecting to stay in their temporary homes for months after their entire village was buried by a quake-triggered landslide. According to the latest Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) report, there are still 8,666 families staying in 67 evacuation sites in Regions XI and XII.
