Disaster Response Mozambique Project #39455

Cyclone Eloise Emergency Response

by IsraAID

Project Report | Sep 26, 2023
Nicavaco's Child-Friendly Space: One Year On

By IsraAID Staff | IsraAID Mozambique

Over the past year, IsraAID’s Child-Friendly Space (CFS) has provided crucial support to internally displaced children in the Nicavaco Resettlement Camp, Mozambique. The ‘'Espaço Amigo da Criança,' as it is known in Portuguese, was launched one year ago in response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Cabo Delgado, where over one million people live in a state of protracted displacement due to persistent conflict in the north of the country. The situation in the region presents numerous challenges for children and their families, including heightened risks of gender-based violence (GBV), limited access to basic services, and malnutrition concerns.

From the moment the CFS opened its doors, it has been a beacon of hope for children aged four to seventeen who confront the harsh realities of displacement. In an environment where child protection services are scarce, the CFS offers children routine and stability - two key elements for a child's recovery in the aftermath of a crisis. The CFS served over 300 children in its first week alone and has since ensured that thousands of children have a safe place to “just be kids.”

At the heart of the Child-Friendly Space are thoughtfully designed group activities that provide opportunities for children to come together in a predictable and stimulating environment. Here, children learn, play engaging games, express themselves, form connections with their peers, and receive the emotional support they desperately need. These activities offer moments of joy and normalcy in an otherwise turbulent environment. The CFS also facilitates communication with parents and other community members who may require support. This includes conducting awareness-raising activities for care-givers on various topics such as health and nutrition.

To ensure programming remains responsive to the needs of the community, the dedicated CFS facilitators, many of whom come from the community themselves, received refresher training sessions over the course of the year. This included a comprehensive four-day training program for five female CFS facilitators, covering sexual reproductive health, GBV prevention, psychological first aid, and referral pathways. This initiative empowers facilitators with the knowledge and skills necessary to enhance GBV prevention efforts, particularly among female adolescents in the camp, and ensures that facilitators can best support the well-being of all CFS participants.

Over the last 12 months, the IsraAID Nicavaco CFS has helped thousands of children and their families meet their immediate needs while sowing the seeds for long-term resilience. Thank you for your support; we could not do it without you!

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Jun 2, 2023
Prioritizing the Needs of Internally Displaced Children in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique

By IsraAID Staff | IsraAID Mozambique

Feb 2, 2023
What's happening in IsraAID Mozambique?

By IsraAID Staff | IsraAID Mozambique

The crisis in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, has rapidly escalated as a result of conflict, insecurity, and violence, leaving an estimated 1.5 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. Most internally displaced persons (IDPs) fled to the south of Cabo Delgado, where they have been absorbed either in IDP transitional centers, specific IDP resettlement sites, or so-called ‘extended’ host communities. In Metuge and Chiúre districts, where IsraAID is active, a total of 97% of all IDPs stay in ‘extended’ host communities - mostly extended family and friends whose already limited resources are being strained by the rapidly growing influxes.

To support hundreds of children currently living in the Nicavaco Resettlement Camp, IsraAID is operating a Child Friendly Space, as well as training community facilitators to build the community's resilience from within. At IsraAID activities, we are able to provide a safe space that offers children stability. Despite being away from their homes, schools, and communities, children are still able to receive an education with the mental health and psychosocial support necessary during this unpredictable period of their lives.

Additionally, we are focusing on children and adults with disabilities who are often overlooked during crises and do not receive the particular services or support they need to thrive.

Filomena is a 25-year-old community activist from Metuge, Cabo Delgado. She recently participated in one of IsraAID Mozambique's training for community activists that specifically support people with disabilities.

“I’m very proud of my job because I get to talk to people and make them feel better and happier. In this training, I learned what it means to give psychosocial support, the importance of letting a person breathe, and giving someone the time and space to share what is afflicting them if they feel comfortable. And most importantly, I’m happy that I learned new things and can pass this knowledge on to help more people.”

As we commit to vulnerable communities in Mozambique, we thank you for your continued support.

“We in Mozambique commit to providing psychosocial support to the IDP community affected by the conflict in Cabo Delgado.” - Manuel, PSS (Psychosocial Support) Officer

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