By Melissa Brosig | Corporate Fundraising Manager
Over 100.000 Nigerian refugees currently live in the Diffa Region of Niger. They come from the Nigerian states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, where violent attacks frequently take place. The refugees themselves were affected by violence: Their hometowns or villages were raided, neighbours or family members were attacked and killed and women and children were often taken captives and detained by members of these violent groups.
Our member organisations are working in Niger and Chad to help the refugees who are often traumatised or wounded. The refugee camp of Sayam Forage is located 40 km from Diffa town in Niger. It currently hosts more than 10.500 refugees with new arrivals every month.
World Vision and Aktion Deutschland Hilft set up a child-friendly space in Sayam Forage refugee camp in 2015. Here the children receive psychosocial support, and counselling and they learn about children rights and hygiene. Fidele Nindagiye, World Vision’s child protection in emergencies specialist for this emergency, says: “A child-friendly space is a place for children to release traumatic experience and emotions they may have gone through. Children like to play a lot in normal situations. During stressful circumstances, playing becomes vital. World Vision uses recreational activities to keep children busy and help them release some psychological blockage.”
Twelve year old Hindatou made great progress visiting the child-friendly space. Together with her mother and her siblings she was a captive of violent groups and was detained for several months. Hindatou was nine years old by this time. They were able to escape and arrived in Sayam Forage one year later. Hindatou was deeply traumatised: “I remember our arrival. Every night, Hindatou had nightmares. She was seeing the tragic events during the attack over and over again”, her mother Rahana said. Frequently, Hindatou visited the child-friendly space and stabilized. Nowadays, she is a happy girl with lots of friends. Rahana says: “My children are now very likely to have a better life. That makes me a fulfilled mother”.
We are very grateful for your donation for our project „Help for refugees“. Your support helps us to set up child-friendly spaces in refugee camps all over the world to help children overcome trauma. Thank you very much.
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