Trauma recovery to take years<\/p>\n
A. Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Husen, a six-year-old boy at a shelter in Banda Aceh, Nanggroe
\nAceh Darussalam, drew a big red wave and several figures in black
\non a piece of paper.<\/p>\n
Husen and dozens of other children, accompanied by volunteers
\nfrom Yayasan Pulih and UK-based Save the Children, tried to
\nexpress their memories of the Dec. 26 disaster.<\/p>\n
Drawing is part of a recreational, trauma recovery approach to
\nhelp thousands of children in the province deal with their grief
\nand loss.<\/p>\n
\"Drawing is a method by which children can express their
\nfeelings and memories. We didn't ask the children to draw
\npictures about the tsunami,\" said psychologist Norcahyo Budi,
\nhead of the community recovery and empowerment division of
\nJakarta-based Yayasan Pulih.<\/p>\n
Besides art therapy, Norcahyo also uses song, dance and games
\nto help the children heal.<\/p>\n
He emphasized the importance of introducing elements of local
\nculture in recovery methods, such as traditional Acehnese songs
\nand dances.<\/p>\n
\"It's better that the children maintain ties with their
\nculture during the process of healing,\" he told The Jakarta Post
\nlast week.<\/p>\n
Norcahyo, who had been in Aceh six months when the tsunami hit
\nand remained there for two weeks afterward, said it would take at
\nleast two years for the children to recover psychologically and
\nemotionally.<\/p>\n
\"It could be more or even less than that, since children are
\ngenerally more resilient than adults,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Norcahyo urged people not to assume off-hand that a child was
\ntraumatized, as this could have a negative impact on the child,
\nand could alienate them from their friends.<\/p>\n
He said a child could be diagnosed as suffering from trauma if
\na change in behavior was observed over an extended period of
\ntime.<\/p>\n
\"Feeling sad after the tragedy is normal. It's not trauma if
\nthe child can resume their social activities within their
\npersonal environment,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, Save the Children country director Tom Alcedo said
\na comprehensive effort was needed in trauma recovery for Acehnese
\nchildren.<\/p>\n
\"Besides the psychological method, other efforts, such as
\nreconstruction of educational facilities and economic recovery,
\nare important for the children,\" Alcedo told the Post.<\/p>\n
He said all efforts targeting children should be based on five
\nprinciples: family unity, the children's best interest,
\ncommunity-based care, local culture and the child's
\nparticipation.<\/p>\n
He said separated and unaccompanied children must be provided
\nwith services focusing on reuniting them with their parents or
\nprimary or customary caregivers as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
\"We have a list of hundreds of separated children. Dozens of
\nthem have been reunited,\" Alcedo said.<\/p>\n
He agreed that children who had lost their entire extended
\nfamily could be helped best in their homeland.<\/p>\n
Save the Children is cooperating with the government, local
\nleaders and organizations to develop a policy for Aceh's orphans,
\nsuch as fostering, community-based care and local adoption
\nschemes.<\/p>\n
The organization is also targeting around 3,000 separated and
\nunaccompanied children in several areas across the province, such
\nas Banda Aceh, Pidie, Lhokseumawe and Bireuen.<\/p>\n
Save the Children has allocated US$2.8 million for this year's
\nprogram, and plans to channel more funds annually for the next
\nfive years, he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/trauma-recovery-to-take-years-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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