Haiti Earthquake: Learning to Laugh Again
Three-year-old Cherlandine Alexandre was trapped in the rubble for three days, her mother and baby sister lying dead near her. Her father was unable to care for her so she was taken in by Mona Clervaue, a 53 year old widow living in Philippeau.
“When I found her, her wounds were still open, and she did not have an appetite,” explains Mona. “Taking her into my home made me feel very happy, she brought a lot of joy to my life. I comb her hair, I feed her, and I do everything to make her feel at ease and safe.
“We sing together, we talk about what happened to her mother and little sister. To help her deal with the trauma situation, I send her to the psychosocial center. There, they have activities like drawing, singing, and dancing. Since she has been attending the centre, I see that she is more open and she is smiling more. These activities are a blessing.”
Psychosocial Support provided by ActionAid and its partner COZPAM
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ActionAid recognizes that emotional as well as physical support is crucial in emergency situations. Helping people express their feelings about the disaster can aid the recovery process and help people to resume their normal lives.
ActionAid is running a number of programs that aim to help both children and adults do just this. In Philippeau, we are supporting a psychosocial center where children receive basic education and are encouraged to sing, dance and draw, to express their feelings.
