Because of the armed conflict which has started in 1983 in Sri Lanka, access to basic healthcare is difficult. A good number of children need psychosocial support to deal with their trauma.


Solutions proposed by Terre des hommes


Mother-and-child health – Terre des hommes (Tdh) trains health workers to provide advice for families and identify infantile diseases. Pregnant women and mothers learn that breastfeeding for the first 6 months is essential for the development of the child. In addition, Tdh takes care of recovering access to drinking water and constructing latrines.

Psychosocial support – Tdh has created 30 childcare centers, and is slowly turning their management over to the community. Children who have suffered from the violence of the civil war can play and take courses. They receive food and care. In the framework of a new project, the children receive psychosocial support, in order to allow them to deal with their trauma related to the war and the tsunami. Particular emphasis is given on working with water and fear of the ocean.

Reconstruction of health services – Since 2008, the less favored regions in the districts of Ampara and Batticaloa have been integrated into the rehabilitation of health services: reconstruction of sanitary positions, training in health and nutrition, and enlargement of the drinking water supply.


Results achieved in 2008

Mother-and-child health – The health project allowed for the care of 8,000 mothers and their children in 150 villages and communities. In addition, Tdh supported 56 health centers, specialized in care before and after birth.

Psychosocial framework – The psychosocial project aimed at victims of the tsunami has helped 5,000 children.


Challenges to be taken up

Manage the end of the conflict – Our intervention towards the displaced population from the North, traumatized by 30 years of conflict, is complex. The people now live in camps that are quite difficult to access. Psychosocial framework – The primary responsibility for children protection at local level has been entrusted to voluntary committees monitoring children rights. Their training and sustainability is difficult to ensure.


“Healing children's fears through play”

Psychologist Maria Bray has coordinated the Tdh child protection and psychosocial framework projects in Sri Lanka for two years. She managed a team of 43 collaborators and 120 local volunteers.

“After a traumatic event, language isn't the preferred method of communication for children. They express themselves more easily through play and drawing. These ways to communicate allow them to reproduce the events and deal with them. We favor games based on their cognitive, emotional and physical development, and we train local activities leaders who organize group games based on the development of self-confidence and team spirit.
If we want to encourage long-term change in Sri Lanka, we must transmit our experience and establish entities which will continue well after the end of Tdh's mandate. It's important for me that Tdh helps collaborators, communities, and local volunteers to take responsibility and manage themselves. To help that happen, we manage our projects in close collaboration with the inhabitants, integrate their knowledge, and adapt our concepts to the cultural context.
I firmly believe that we can positively influence the future of a country if we take care of the children and their social environment. The children who undergo serious trauma normally recover very quickly thanks to psychosocial activities. The speed with which the healing process takes place is very motivating.”