Ms. Rikardia Pardo, Deputy Director, Department of Disaster Management & Emergencies and Ms. Ashley Adams, Deputy Director, Department of Social Development recently attended a three day “Train the Trainers” workshop, on a recovery management program, called “Return to Happiness” in Saint Lucia.
The workshop was conducted by Saint Lucia’s, Ministry of Social Transformation Local Government and Community Empowerment in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund-UNICEF on 27th to 29th June, 2016.
The aim of the psychosocial program design was to equip the 26 participants from across the region with the necessary skills, to assist children to externalize their feelings after any traumatic event. Creating an opportunity for children between the ages of 5-12 years, who have experienced a natural or man-made disaster, to process their experiences through a series of guided play activities for the purpose of reducing their post disaster anxieties and begin to re-establish their sense of joy, happiness, security and confidence in adult protection.
The program uses various child friendly methodologies, such as drawings, songs of hope, games and puppets to facilitate children in expressing themselves. It also creates an opportunity for children who are adversely traumatized during the event, to receive further psychological examination and counseling.
Ms. Adams stated; “Sometimes during and following traumatic events children are often forgotten. In the wake of a traumatic event, you may be filled with worry or sadness. Yet no matter how concerned or overwhelmed you may feel, as parents and teachers you have the power to help children recover; guiding them through their fears and grief, and preventing them from suffering lasting psychological effects.”
The UNICEF Return to Happiness Programme is not new to the Turks and Caicos Islands. Following the impacts of Hanna and Ike on the Turks and Caicos Islands in 2008 and the Ona Glinton Primary School fire in 2010, the Return to Happiness Programme proved very therapeutic for both teachers and students who were traumatized by the experienced.
