Nazarenes providing a safe place for kids in Haiti

Global Ministry Center

Monday, March 1, 2010

Walk down the streets of Port-au-Prince, and you'll see survivors who carry physical scars from Haiti's deadly January 12 earthquake. What's not as easy to see are the emotional scars inflicted by the disaster. This is especially true for the children who lived through the trauma and may not have the skills to process their grief.

The Church of the Nazarene in Haiti is responding to this need through the creation of Safe Place children's camps, where kids are encouraged to work through some of their stress through play therapy. The camps are part of Nazarene Compassionate Ministries' (NCM) holistic child development approach, which focuses on helping children from Nazarene churches and their neighborhoods socially, emotionally, mentally, and physically. After the earthquake NCM in Haiti has been working to create safe places for the children of Nazarenes churches and their neighborhoods. One such camp is currently hosting 100 kids on the Nazarene Bible College campus on the edge of the capital city for two weeks.

"The purpose of the camp is to let children act like children again," says Frantz Pierre, a 24-year-old volunteer who is helping lead the camp. They get to do this through activities such as sports, games, music, dance, reading, and art.

Thirty young adults volunteered to help with this camp, and NCM hosted training in how to work with children who have experienced trauma so that they could create a truly safe place for children to work through their feelings.

According to volunteer Sarah Faustin, "Children are the future of a country, it is important to help them to enrich themselves mentally, physically, socially, and spiritually. But after the earthquake, it is important to help them understand the aspect of the earthquake and to help them to resume their courage."

Volunteer Richard Domestoy admits that it's not common to talk about feelings in Haitian culture, but he believes it's important to provide a place where children can share what they're going through. "The first day of camp, there were kids who didn't want to play or talk," he said, "but after a week they now talk and play. They can say what they're feeling."

Valerie, a camp participant, added, "I really like the camp. I have some new friends after the earthquake. ...I was so sad because I know a lot of children who lost their parents. I just started to see things another way during this camp because we laugh together, play, and learn new things."

The volunteers who work with the children say that the camp has been a safe place for them as well. Domestoy, 26, is a first-grade teacher who offered his time because the schools in Port-au-Prince have not yet resumed. He is also a university student studying accounting. He was on his way to class when the earthquake struck, destroying the building he was traveling toward and killing more than 100 of his classmates and friends.

"I was very stressed before this camp," Domestoy said, "but I have been able to share my feelings as I ask the children to do that, and I feel better."

In a session Domestoy facilitated with a group of older children, a boy named Geoff stood to share his experience. "I can feel the first earthquake every time there is a tremor," he said. "I don't feel well sometimes. I don't feel normal. I ask God for help."

After pausing for a moment, he added, "I'm not better than those who died, but it's grace."
It's that same grace that NCM wants to help churches share with the children in their communities.

NCM Earthquake Relief funds have been used to help fund Safe Place camps.

Persons and churches wishing to make a donation for Haiti Earthquake Relief online can do so through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries at ncm.org. Checks can be marked "Haiti Earthquake Relief ACM1204" and mailed to Global Treasury Services, PO Box 843116 Kansas City, MO 64184. In Canada, checks should be made payable and sent to the Church of the Nazarene Canada, 20 Regan Road, Unit 9, Brampton, Ontario L7A 1C3.
--Caribbean Communications Office (Slideshow available)
 

 

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