“He is no longer afraid of people around him and playing with other children. Alhamdulillah, I see him happy,” says Ibrahim’s mother.
Ibrahim is a 10-year-old Syrian boy whose life has been affected by a conflict older than himself. He lives with his family in an informal tent settlement in the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon. When he joined the first group of children who participated in the psychosocial support sessions (PSS), he was reluctant to participate, play or draw something as his physical disability made these activities more difficult.
With time, however, Ibrahim’s peers encouraged him to join the others in play. They showed him how to draw, write and use colouring pencils. After several sessions, Ibrahim loved participating in the sessions. He is now self-confident, social, and no longer afraid of others!
Ibrahim’s mother says: “I am very proud of my son’s progress. His life has changed completely. These sessions had a remarkable and positive impact on his personality. He is no longer afraid of people around him and playing with other children. Alhamdulillah, I see him happy.”
The sessions provided in Social Development Centres are tailored to the children. Play and recreational activities provide opportunities for personal and social development. At the same time, children learn about topics such as their rights and public and personal hygiene through interactive activities and discussions.
In cooperation with our local partners Terre des Hommes, Abaad and Afel Liban, Qudra 2 provides children with a safe space to interact with their peers, express themselves, deal with their emotions and release their negative feelings. In times of crisis this is particularly important when many families’ - especially children’s - vulnerabilities, increase.