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Drawing their Fears: Children Express Themselves Through Art
While childhood should be a time for nurturing and growth, the children of Israel's north lived in constant fear for nearly five weeks of conflict with Hezbollah. Many of the tens of thousands of youngsters living in bomb shelters showed signs of distress and trauma as the strain of living under constant threat of attack took its psychological toll.Often the children in these shelters expressed their emotions through artwork, facilitated by the over 15,000 activity kits delivered by JDC volunteers and staff during the war.
Among JDC's myriad programs to address the needs of these children caught in the confrontation zone, week-long day camps and one-day recreational outings were arranged in safer areas of the country. JDC also deployed a cadre of psychologists who continue to provide critical emotional support to these children and their parents now that the rocket attacks have ceased. And with an eye toward beginning the school year on September 3rd, JDC has proposed a multi-pronged approach to help the children cope with the trauma they have endured this summer and to equip their families and teachers to support them in that process.
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