DCHI partner War Child will from now on focus more on psychosocial problems in international emergency aid, but cannot do that alone, argues CEO Tjipke Bergsma.
War Child’s Tjipke Bergsma has written emphatically in the Volkskrant about the need to offer psychosocial support as a fundamental aspect for children in conflict areas. He describes the compelling reasons why this form of care needs to be integrated into emergency aid, in order for a child to ever have a chance of healing from the traumatic experiences of conflict.
“Children show major changes in their emotions and behaviour. Even if violence stops, it is not peace for children. A war leaves behind not only visible but also many invisible scars. Children are scarred for life, although it doesn’t have to be this way.”
“With psychosocial help, children learn to regain social and psychological control. Article 39 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child obliges us, adults, that children who are victims of war violence can make use of special care: psychosocial support. At War Child, we do our utmost, but we must acknowledge that we alone cannot reach all children who urgently need this help.”
“That is why we are going to spend more time on innovation, to find the most effective psychosocial support methods and to make them available to others, so that more children benefit.”
Tjipke Bergsma shares a plea to Governments globally and Minister Kaag, in order to recognise the urgent need and necessary support to make Psychosocial care for children a permanent part of emergency assistance.
“The outcome more than justifies the effort. Today’s children are the adults of tomorrow and must be given the opportunity to shape their future and that of their country. Doing nothing should not be an option.”
This psychosocial support relates to the DRA Innovation Fund Call on Safety & Protection that was facilitated together with DCHI. DCHI’s facilitation of the Dutch Relief Alliance Innovation Fund 2019 came to a close, when 5 proposals were chosen as the granted pilots.
