In Focus

The sense of normalcy and the feeling of safety need to be maintained among children who experienced disaster such as the recent earthquake in West Sumatra. CWS paid special care for disaster-affected children through its training on Psychosocial Care for Children on October 12-13, 2009. Fifteen volunteers took part in the training, which aimed at providing knowledge to care for earthquake-affected children and creative ways to conduct fun and educative activities in tents.

On October 15, CWS plans to start an after-school Children Friendly Space of CFS in 3 tents, which will also function as classroom in the morning. The CFS will run in tents, where each tent will accommodate more 50 children will be targets in each tent.
 
CWS observed that a lot of children are still traumatized by the earthquake, they are still afraid that another one yet to happen. Schools have resumed in Padang Pariaman, although they are still studying in tents since most of their school buildings were destroyed or damaged. A heartbreaking scene in post-disaster Padang Pariaman is children who have gone to beg for money on the street.

Children in front of their destroyed school
(Children in front of their destroyed school)

 
“We want the children to feel safe and to restore their sense of trust and self esteem,” said Anastasia Heni Wijayanti, the Psychosocial Officer of CWS, in highlighting the importance of Children Friendly Space.
 
CWS has been conducting survey in three locations in three villages to set up tents for CFS, which is expected to run in the next two days.