A safe place for the children of Bethlehem
With the intensification of the conflict in Gaza and the increasing difficulties of operating in Palestine, the Foundation chose to stay and intervene alongside children.
Our primary thought has been to safeguard the little ones, creating a safe place for them to find relief. Even in the West Bank, children live in fear and anguish aware of the difficulties their parents have in providing for their families.
Several scientific studies regarding the consequences that war has on young children have caught our attention. Children respond to the stress of armed conflict with increased anxiety, isolation, sleep disturbances and nightmares, poor appetite, learning disabilities, developmental delays, and aggressive behavior.
Because of the developmental stage a child is in, exposure to war-related stressors affects the formation of a personal identity and personality, notions of right and wrong, aggressive impulses, and how they relate to others (Shaw, 2003). Some authors, such as Duffy and Gillespie, argue that prevention and treatment of PTSD is also possible in active conflict situations through therapeutic workshops that help children manage anxiety, strengthen their emotions, and find strategies for coping with stress derived from conflict.
For example, Landy (2010) points out that in dramatherapy we can use the play space as a safe place to reenact an actual event, so that "the player and/or observer of the drama can discern a safe way to see it more clearly and deal with its consequences."
Ultimately, many authors cite the benefits of therapeutic workshops as the opportunity to explore their difficult experiences in the safety of the play space. This distance allows them to process very painful and, finally, helps them in social growth.
These evidences, and the resulting intervention methods developed, inspired our work. Thus we chose to implement the project "A Safe Place for the Children of Bethlehem," which provides music therapy, drama therapy and personal awareness workshops for the little innocents. The activities are carried out at our headquarters alongside selected professionals trained to offer psychological assistance aimed at reducing the tragic consequences of war as much as possible.
Martina Marzano
Office of Communications and Fundraising