A COMMUNITY BASED AND SCHOOL BASED PSYCHOSOCIAL PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN IN IRAQ Vera Remškar Executive Director, Foundation “TOGETHER”, Slovenia 12/2/2015Foundation

A COMMUNITY BASED AND SCHOOL BASED PSYCHOSOCIAL PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN IN

IRAQ

Vera RemškarExecutive Director, Foundation “TOGETHER”, Slovenia

04/18/23 Foundation TOGETHER

ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF HUMANITARIAN AID PARTNERS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION

"IMPLEMENTING HUMANITARIAN AID IN THE FIELD"BRUSSELS, 10-11 DECEMBER 2009

OUR PRESENCE

Regions, where we are present:• Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Serbia

• Kosovo

• Macedonia

• North Ossetia Allania

• Chechnya

• Iraq


PROJECT IN IRAQ

“PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT TO

CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND TEACHERS IN IRAQ”

2003 – 2009


• Started in 2003 on the initiative of the Slovene and Austrian Ministers for Foreign Affairs in the frame of Human Security Network.

• From the year 2003 until 2006 financed by Slovene Government and ADA

• Since 2007 by Slovene Government. • It started in the region of Babylon, in the year 2004

extended to the region of Karbala and Baghdad. In 2008 extended to Ainajaf.

• Implemented by the Foundation “TOGETHER” in partnership with local partner organizations:

- Local Network for the Psychosocial Help to Children of Babylon (Babylon)

- Iraqi Human Relief Organization (Baghdad)


WORKING WITH INTERNALLY DISPLACED FAMILIES

- Our research on internally displaced families showed that majority of children ,

aged 8-15 years, suffer from various severe psychosocial problems and disorders.

- Meetings with 4000 internally displaced families along Babil.

- Religious leaders, later followed by the government officials, embraced the

project’s aim to provide financial aid for extremely poor families.

- Public awareness about the problem of child protection inside the internally

displaced families was raised by the 2 radio shows and subsequent increased

media covering.

- Our efforts resulted and media coverage resulted in 21 children re-entering school

in the Abu Garak region.


IN THE PERIOD FROM 2003 – 2009:- Directly included in the trainings:• 110 local mental health professionals • 70 primary mental health workers • More than 2.000 teachers • More than 3.500 parents• More than 250 schools, including over 20.200 children• 30 primary health care centres

INCLUDES CRITICAL MASS OF ENTITIES WHICH MEANS IT HAS AN IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY

THE MOST SUSTAINABLE AND WIDELY SPREAD COMMUNITY BASED PSYCHOSOCIAL PROGRAM IN IRAQ

Child physical abuse due to

ADHD

Child Abuse due to ADHD

IMPROVING SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE

• The quality of water and sanitation remains very poor, a factor known to greatly facilitate cholera contamination and other diseases. In Iraq, it is often the case that rural schools have only one or two toilets for all the pupils (even 500).

• Experience has shown that long term-prevention of cholera and other diseases depends on access to safe water and adequate sanitation to prevent exposure and interrupt transmission.


COMMUNITY CENTER FOR CHILDREN IN BABIL

• The focal point of organizing and implementing outreach activities in the region of Babil & Karbala

• Place of implementing workshops for children, women and parents


Babil Community Center Activities

Mr Kassim Al Yaseri

Social worker

Babil Community Center


HUMANITARIAN WORK OF MEDICINE STUDENTS

Students of the Faculty of Medicine are visiting families with handicapped children and children with severe psychological illness and disorders (very stigmatized and therefore isolated from the community life).

Students provide medical care for them on voluntary basis in the frame of

the project.




WORKING WITH THE ROMA POPULATION

• The Roma were before stigmatized and in constant danger by the genocide of the Muslim militia because of their lifestyle and occupation.

• An inquiry showed the following problems of the Roma:– Poverty– Unemployment– Poor housing– Physical and emotional violence against them

• The project raised awareness on the subject of children and human rights and first steps are made toward the reduction of hostility and increasing the publics acceptance of the Roma and their culture.

• Project shall continue with visits to the Roma groups and their areas • Our Iraqi partners are put in charge of including the Roma children in the

school system.



ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Human and other resources are activated. • Professional and school based infrastructure is developed. • Philosophy and practical models of the program are locally

accepted, spread and rooted in the community.• The combination of project based work and voluntary work is

supporting the process of solving various issues that are faced by the community.

• WE ARE DEVELOPING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION OF THE TRAUMAS IN THE REGION THROUGH HUMANITARIAN WORK.


CHALLENGES

• How to incorporate the existing programs with other existing activities such as health, social support. (Coordination with governmental and other Non-Governmental organizations).

• Measuring the long terms effects of the psychosocial programs.

• Extension of program and activities to other areas with great needs for such programs.

• Increasing the solidarity and voluntary work amongst Iraqian professionals and students.


THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!


Documents

A COMMUNITY BASED AND SCHOOL BASED PSYCHOSOCIAL PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN IN IRAQ Vera Remškar Executive Director, Foundation “TOGETHER”, Slovenia 12/2/2015Foundation