Day 19

One hour of psychological care for a child in Lebanon

Playing, laughing, being a child Playing, laughing, being a child Playing, laughing, being a child Playing, laughing, being a child

One hour of psychological care for a child in Lebanon
Day 19
Support for refugee children in Lebanon

Many refugee children and young people have found a new home in Lebanon: Nine-year-old Lulu is one of them, who fled from Syria to Lebanon a few years ago. However, the negative experiences of war and flight are deeply felt by many children. Lulu's mother remembers: "The hardest thing about the flight was that my daughter came to me and told me that she was afraid and I couldn't do anything about it." Arriving in Lebanon was difficult for Lulu. At first she didn't like playing outside and it was difficult for her to make new friends and settle into the new environment. But through the creative courses in dance, music and art that are offered to children with a migration background in Lebanon, she has met other children who have had similar experiences to her. She particularly likes the painting course. She looks forward to the next class all week.

Support for refugee children in Lebanon
need
Psychological support services for refugee children and young people in Lebanon.
activity
Conducting courses in which refugee children process their experiences through music, theater, dance or art.
Measurable performance
Number of hours and courses conducted to provide psychological support to children.
Result
The children can process their experiences and strengthen their psychological well-being.
Systemically relevant impact
Refugee children are given the chance to grow up healthy and safe. They have the opportunity for personal development and participation in the new country.
background

In 2011, people all over Syria protested against the authoritarian government of Bashar al-Assad. They demanded democracy and the resignation of their president. Since then, Syria has been in a civil war with ongoing armed conflicts. The terrorist militia Islamic State took advantage of the chaos of the war to expand in Syria for a time. Several states, such as Russia, Turkey and the USA, have intervened in the war. The foreign powers are sometimes pursuing their own interests. This makes ending the conflict difficult. Since the start of the civil war in Syria, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 5.6 million Syrians have fled abroad and 6.1 million people have been displaced within the country. Since around 21 million people live in Syria, this means that more than half of the population has been on the run since the start of the conflict.

Since the beginning of the Syrian war, Lebanon has taken in the largest number of refugees in the world, measured in relation to its total population (European Commission, 2019). However, taking in refugees is a major challenge for a small country like Lebanon (with only around 6 million inhabitants). Even before the arrival of refugees from Syria, there was already a shortage of school places, for example. Furthermore, wage levels have fallen in recent years and competition for jobs has intensified. This repeatedly leads to conflicts and tensions among the population. It is therefore not easy for many Syrian refugees to build a new life in Lebanon. Children in particular are suffering from the situation. Many of the children experienced terrible things during the war and are suffering from the traumatic experiences. They therefore need comprehensive care.

Chatila Camp, Wadi Khaled und Mouhammara, Nahr el Bared Camp, Kobbeih, Bouday, Ain El Helwe, Libanon
Day 19 Day 19
The good deed

By doing a good deed today, you are enabling a refugee child in Lebanon to take part in music, theater, dance, or art courses. Here, they can process their experiences through play and creativity, come into contact with other children, and confide in people. Trained staff lead the courses and provide the children and young people with psychological support. The courses also look to see whether the children are suffering from psychological stress and how serious this is. If children have already developed mental illnesses such as depression or anxiety disorders, psychotherapists are involved and the children receive additional treatment. Lebanese and refugee children come together in the creative courses. Breaking down prejudices and peaceful coexistence is therefore an essential part of the courses.

AboutLebanon
Beirut
Beirut
Capital city
6,100,000
6,100,000
Population
13.378
13.378
Gross domestic product per capita per year
Rank 80 of 189
Rank 80 of 189
Human Development Index (Human Development Index)

Lebanon has hosted the largest number of refugees in the world in relation to its population (European Commission, 2019). 70 percent of them live below the poverty line in Lebanon.