Child-friendly spaces bring hope to refugee children in Adjumani

Child friendly spaces bring hope to refugee children in Adjumani

By James Kamira

Children are the most affected in the South Sudanese civil war conflict. This is evidenced by the fact that children make 66% of the total population of refugees in Adjumani district.

Many of them have lost their families, relatives, and friends. They are struggling to cope up with the traumatizing journey from south Sudan to Uganda so as to find safety.

The sound of guns, horrifying images of dead bodies on roads as well as witnessing their siblings be abducted has left them with significant scars and many un-answered questions.

To the guardians settled in Adjumani refugee camps, their children have exhibited violent behaviors of even fighting amongst their own family members. This has left parents worried and seeking for psychosocial support to their emotionally hurting children.

One such child is 12 year old Makerere, whose young brother was abducted. he lost the entire family he was staying with which included mom, dad, grandfather and, uncle. He would flee to Uganda with his auntie and is now resettled in the refugee camp in Adjumani district.

“I used to play with my young brother Deng, we played ball games, rode the bicycle together and also go to school. My brother was taken, I think of him always and I hope I will meet him again. When our family was attacked, I fled with my auntie, the one I stay with here in the camp,” Makerere says.

Makerere was introduced to the child friendly space by the auntie through Rebecca a care giver at the facility. According to the auntie, Makerere used to fight with any child at home and always kept himself alone.

At the child friendly space he has made new friends, plays ball games and enjoys rolling tyres. The care givers have kept helping him heal from the trauma he went through. He keeps himself busy at the child friendly space and his auntie remarks he is changed now.

“Makerere was so violent in that he could just fight any little child who went close to him. He would not listen to any one at all and was always lonely. He would loiter around the camp and we would struggle to find him. He has changed now, he has friends and can talk to us ever since he went to the child friendly space. He even goes to church and he is part of the dancing children in the Sunday school. The child friendly space has helped in transforming his life,” remarks Rebecca, Makerere’s auntie