A school-based intervention programme for refugee children

Abstract

Since the bord ers of South Africa opened Cape Town has seen an influx of people, including increasing numbers of children. The government offers refugees a safe haven and the right to work, but the load of direct services and assistance mostly falls onto NGO's such as the Trauma Centre. At the request of teachers a therapeutic activity group, to assist children in working through their traumatic experiences, was established at a school within one accommodation site for refugees. The programme consisted of eight 90 minutes sessions each focusing on a different theme. It was done alongside workshops with teachers to assist them in coping with refugee children. The programme was evaluated principally by observations during the group sessions and records of teachers pf the behaviour.al problems ·manifested by the children. These showed a general positive response : mostly in the areas .'of reduction of anxiety -symptoms and increased social confidence.