Media Release English s3

PRESS RELEASE

29 四月 2018

Return to Happiness programme brings smiles after hurricane

Eleven-year-old Kaleo Robinson drew peals of laughter from his classmates when in a dramatic fashion, he depicted the scene in his house when Hurricane Ike ripped the roofs and windows from his family’s home last month.

But his dozen or so other classmates quickly turned serious as they in turn either told stories or did drawings depicting the early morning of September 7 when a powerful Hurricane Ike came calling in the Turks and Caicos Islands with his devastating 140 miles per hour plus winds.

Some painted scenes of hiding in cupboards, under stairs or just cowering together with other family members as the familiar settings around them were tossed upside down by the storm which damaged or destroyed 95 per cent of homes in South Caicos and Grand Turks – two of the more populated islands in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

It was no ordinary class at the Iris Stubbs Primary School that afternoon; instead it was a session of the Return to Happiness Programme – a UNICEF-designed programme which recognises that children need psychological support when coping with traumatic events such as natural disasters.

The programme, which was last employed in the Eastern Caribbean in Grenada in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan in 2004, has already been used with great success in many other countries including Jamaica, Guyana, Mozambique, Columbia, Honduras, El Salvador, East Timor, Ecuador and Venezuela.

The programme was born out of the recognition that children respond differently to trauma than adults and it is important that they are given an opportunity to tell their stories, express their fears, concerns, hopes and dreams.

During the sessions the children use a variety of dolls, puppets, songs and other cultural expressions to help them through the process of psychological recovery. Another important aspect of the programme is the wall of dreams where children write their dreams for the future.

It is expected that after the Return to happiness Programme there would be a decrease in the number and frequency of stress-related symptoms among children and improved self esteem and a sense of protection and security for the future.

It is in recognition of the potential benefits of the programme that Iris Stubbs Principal Earla Elliot readily welcomed the programme at her school as soon as students were able to return to school after the hurricane.

United Nations Children’s Fund Telephone 246 467 6000 Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Facsimile 246 426-3812 1st Floor United Nations House E-Mail [email protected] Marine Gardens, Christ Church, Barbados www.unicef.org/barbados P. O. Box 1232, Bridgetown, Barbados PRESS RELEASE

“Every child here has been touched by that hurricane. Not one was left untouched … some of them would have lost everything and it was extremely traumatic on them. Even some of the teachers are affected psychologically too as they have experienced a hurricane for the first time.

“This programme us playing a great part in helping all of us get back to normal, especially the games and the drama which the children are using to great effect,” Elliot said.

UNICEF Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Tom Olsen said he was happy to witness the zeal with which children and the authorities in the impacted islands welcomed the programme and the early impact it was having on children.

“The safety and well being of children is important not only before and during a disaster, but we have to get in there as soon as possible after these traumatic events to ensure that children get the necessary help in dealing with the emotional scars,” he added.

Research in the programme in Grenada after Hurricane Ivan revealed that the programme was effective in helping children to reduce anxiety and the hope is that by the time they complete the programme, Kaleo Robinson and his school mates would have returned to happiness.

For More Information please contact:

Patrick Knight, Communication Specialist, UNICEF Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Tel. (246) 467 6162

United Nations Children’s Fund Telephone 246 467 6000 Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Facsimile 246 426-3812 1st Floor United Nations House E-Mail [email protected] Marine Gardens, Christ Church, Barbados www.unicef.org/barbados P. O. Box 1232, Bridgetown, Barbados