The children of Syria never stop showing resilience but seven years of brutal conflict has left many with deep psychological scars. The Independent Doctors Association who run Hope Hospital for children (which was funded by the People's Convoy campaign) see the strain of war reflected through their young patients’ behaviour. They are frightened, nervous, depressed, and understandably at times — angry.
The doctors and nurses can help children recover physically, but they need the support of the global community to help relieve the mental trauma.
Meeting conflict with compassion: the Teaching Recovery Techniques programme
The team at Hope Hospital have a solution; they want to implement the Teaching Recovery Techniques (TRT) programme which has been developed by the Children of War Foundation. It’s an evidence-based programme that teaches coping strategies, to help young people deal with the psychological aftermath of war.
It will transform lives by:
- Promoting positive memories in place of traumatic thoughts
- Teaching coping strategies to overcome fear
- Providing a safe space for children to express themselves
- Increasing hope, happiness and self-confidence
We aim to help as many children as possible
The programme will evolve over two phases. First of all, ten community healthcare workers will be trained remotely to teach recovery techniques to children between the ages of 8 and 18. After the online training course is complete they’ll run the programme over two, two-month cycles, impacting a total of two hundred children.
The programme will also work with parents or caregivers, to teach them how to cope with their child’s behaviour, empowering another 400 people in the local community.
A track record for tackling trauma
The TRT programme has a history of helping children cope with the harsh realities of war. It proved extremely effective in Bosnia during 1998, encouraging psychologists to repeat it across the world in different places like Vietnam, Uganda, Iraq and Palestine, it has also reached displaced Syrians in Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan.
One particular report explained how it helped a 12-year-old picture positive memories of her uncle, rather than recalling graphic images of his death.
There’s no support like this for children in North Syria
The team at Hope Hospital hear many heartbreaking stories from the children they care for. Young boys and girls recall violent scenes of shelling and destruction, the frightening effects of being displaced multiple times, even more devastatingly — witnessing their parents being killed. The TRT programme is vital because this will be the first time it will be run in North Aleppo (an area heavily affected by displacement).
You’ll be supporting children like Azeezah
Azeezah’s father died during shelling, she was forced to leave her home, and moved with her family to a camp in North Aleppo.
“Azeezah now wants to keep all of her stuff close to her wherever she goes, she refuses to share anything since she fears that she may lose it, as she lost her father,” Azeezah’s mother explains.
With the TRT programme in place we can help Azeezah and children like her who are suffering from psychological disorders, before it impacts their overall health and wellbeing.
Let’s start making a difference
It’s crazy to think that for less than £15,000 we can ease the psychological suffering and give hope to two hundred children and their parents.
Every donation makes an impact. Support this campaign today to help provide North Aleppo’s children with the tools they need for psychological recovery. Thank you!
Learn more about IDA.
#HealWithHope
Impact
£ 25 would cover trauma recovery treatment for 1 child and their parents for 1 month
Why crowdfunding?
As an organisation we do not have any other access to direct funding. Crowdfunding is incredibly important for us in order to raise money quickly for essential health projects. Because of this lack of direct funding, if we do not reach our fundraising target the project cannot go ahead – we simply do not have any other method to ‘top-up’ the budget required.
For more info on this - please see CanDo’s FAQs ‘What is all-or-nothing crowdfunding?’ and ‘What happens if a campaign doesn’t reach its target?’
Comments
To aid children in growing up tobe compassionate people
we greatly appreciate your giving and your kind words
I want all the children to be safe and healthy
Thank you so much for your giving and kind wishes
My heart goes with you.
We are so grateful to you for your kinds words and recent donation—thanks!
Hearing Dr Rolla speak at Press for Progress about the phenomenol work you do in the face of true adversity, reminded me I must do more.
Simply put, if it wasn’t for faithful supporters like you, we wouldn’t exist. So a big thanks to you for supplying the funds that we need to make a difference in the lives of Syrian Children. And other big thanks to our hero Dr. Rolla who delivers our voices and our people needs to the public
Heal with Hope. Wish you the best, sending love from afar.
We are so grateful to you for your wishes, kindness word and recent donation —thanks!
Thank you for your work
I greatly appreciate your giving to our people
I'm from Pakistan, and i want to support this campaign to safe the children and people of syria!
Simply put, if it wasn’t for faithful supporters like you, we wouldn’t exist. So thank you for supporting us to make a difference in the lives of Syrian children who struggle with psychological disorders.
This is the least i can do. It breaks my heart how people are suffering only a few borders away in the 21st century.
You are a treasure to this world. Thanks again for standing with us.
Moved by Dr. Rolla's testimony of the war at the WITW event
Big thanks to you for your support and to our hero Dr. Rolla who delivers our people's needs to the public
My heart goes out to the children caught up in this nightmare and my gratitude goes out to your team for dedicating your lives to helping them
I greatly appreciate your giving and your kindness words , I hope we gonna reach our goal and the children will thank you in April
Thank you IDA for this important project.
Thank you we are really appreciating your support :)
these children need this kind of support
Thanks for your support. It is a great help towards this goal :)
Glad to see someone addressing this important work - great job IDA!
Sometimes the simplest things mean the most , thanks for your support and your nice words
Trauma carries lifelong risks... Children affected by war deserve the chance to grow into adulthood without the scars of trauma. This is a wonderful cause xx
IDA is doing its best to fill the gap of the mental health in northern Syria . Your support is a great step towards the success.
Thank you from the heart :)
Because its helping people
Thank you so much for your generosity :)
IDA team - well done on all your efforts. You really bring hope to people's lives. Keep up the great work.
Thank you so much - and a big thanks to Cando team who enables us to deliver our people's needs to the public .