Healing - Trauma support

Summer holidays for children in the Holy Land are not usually so joyful. There are no trips away, or money for days out. In addition to this, there is little to no therapeutic support or intervention for children affected by war. Many are struggling to understand what is happening to their families and the world around them. 

Summer camps provide a time for children to come together and play. Children have a safe space to do fun activities and just simply be children, receiving a much-needed distraction from the terror of living in or close to a war zone. A concept which has no point of reference for the privileged lives our own children thankfully live. 

They also include activities that allow children to process their everyday experiences of life during war. Camp organisers have counselling training to work with the children and design the activities that will best help them best in finding relief. Many of the camps are run through churches or community organisations.

The situation in the Holy Land is extremely volatile. The logistics of running a summer camp, equally so. Organisers are determined to give the children the best experiences they can. Camps often bring in children from surrounding villages, and so the organisers must assess diligently each day how safe it is for families to travel. The number of children at each camp varies with as many as 100 children attending.

Nabil, aged 11

“I learned that the Bible is full of true stories and that God always takes care of us. I also liked the swimming trip and making the fruit cocktails, it was so much fun, After all the sad things we’d heard and seen, the camp helped me feel happy again and forget about the fear. The teachers were so kind and made us feel safe.”

FHL will be sponsoring 10 camps this year to the amount of £50,000 as our contribution towards trauma relief for children. More if we receive additional funding.

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