In Focus

Salmiati was holding Alif, her baby boy, in her arms, peering inside a tent full of children. “He is very curious about what is happening in the tent and he kept asking me to take him here,” said Salmiati.

The tent was big enough to hold 30 children and their mothers, who took part in fun and educational activities or FEAT, an activity that Church World Service has set up to create children friendly space. FEAT aims at addressing the trauma that children experienced following the recent 7.9 R.S. earthquake in West Sumatra.

Salmiati with her son, Alif, participating in fun and educational activities at tent
(Photo Caption: Lesvi Roseliem)

“Sari, my daughter, is more clingy and afraid of the dark after the earthquake,” Salmiati described her 10 year-old daughter.

Dessy Susanti, the Psychosocial Specialist of CWS pointed out that each child reacts to trauma differently. Some tend to cling more to their mother; some wet their bed, while some others lose appetite.

Through various activities such as drawing and playing in groups will help the earthquake-affected children to connect with their thoughts and feelings, as well as express themselves in order to relieve the stress.

“I can see how this kind of activity can help children forget about their worries. My daughter will definitely join the next session,” explained the mother of two while watching over Alif, her 16 month-old baby boy, who was happily drawing using a bunch of colorful crayons on a piece of paper.

The CWS Psychological Support Program consists of 12 thematic FEAT sessions, each of which has a theme to help the earthquake-affected children cope with the traumatic experience. CWS is currently implementing FEAT in three villages in Sungai Limau sub-district.