Holistic Rehabilitation for Post-Earthquake Nepal

School-based interventions are crucial to helping children gain key psychological and social skills like problem management, self-awareness, non-judgmental acceptance, non-violence, communication and valuing diversity. This is particularly important in areas affecting by the 2015 earthquake, which are still in the process of recovery – both physical and social.

In Pharping, Nepal, IsraAID is training teachers in how to use art therapy to support their students’ mental health. An area with a high dropout rate, improving mental health support systems in schools will also encourage students to remain in education for longer, improving their long-term livelihood prospects.

Pharping municipality lies about 19km south of central Kathmandu. Although relatively close to Nepal's large capital city, there is a stark difference in development, lifestyle and access to basic necessities.

In the first few months of 2018, IsraAID has trained 36 teachers from 19 of Pharping’s schools in art therapy techniques. They will reach 3,285 students. For many teachers, this was the first time they had received any psychological support training.

One of the teachers trained by IsraAID said:

“Thanks to the IsraAid trainers for providing a platform where we were able to learn so many new things, many of which were new to me, despite my long teaching experience. The training helped me to understand the importance of students’ underlying emotions. Meditation and art therapy activities motivate children to be more active and to explore and bring out their internal capacities and strengths.”

Thank you for your generous support, which makes this program possible. More updates to follow ...