Following the Beirut port explosion and its aftermath, Save the Children partnered with The Big Heart Foundation to launch a project aimed to provide children impacted by the blast with learning and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS).
The project supported children with MHPSS sessions, emergency cash assistance, and case management.
“The primary purpose of the cash provided was to cover basic needs and transportation costs for children who had experienced severe neglect and were suffering from malnutrition. It also covered safety kits for children involved in child labor,” explained the organization.
With the support of The Big Heart Foundation, the organization also worked to implement a child resilience program, focusing on 101 girls and boys to enhance their self-confidence and help them acquire skills to deal with challenges and recover from past traumas.
Parents and caregivers were also provided emotional support sessions, which helped them reduce stress levels “and think about positive coping mechanisms for psychological and social distress.”
Throughout the project, around 630 girls and boys received assistance, “half of these were involved in child labor, of which 46% were also experiencing physical and emotional abuse. 69% of all the children targeted were experiencing psychosocial distress,” commented Save the Children.
“As Lebanon continues to grapple with a multi-layered crisis, Save the Children – together with our valued partners such as The Big Heart Foundation – will continue to prioritize reaching the children who need us the most,” stated the organization.
The International NGO previously warned about the collapse of Lebanon’s economy and the multiple crises affecting children on Lebanese territory.
The organization commented that the children and families they work with tell them “every day of the impossible choices they have to make between food and rent, electricity and medication, and sending their children to school.”
