The healing journey of forcibly displaced children through art
The healing journey of forcibly displaced children through art
Imagine a future where every child uprooted by conflict finds sanctuary and hope—this is the vision propelling UNHCR and its partners, like Caritas Nigeria, as they weave a safety net of protection around the youngest victims of forced displacement in Borno State. These young lives have witnessed unspeakable horrors: families torn apart, homes abandoned in terror, and childhoods interrupted by the violence of non-state armed groups (NSAGs). Left with deep psychological wounds, many of these children exhibit signs of trauma—aggression, withdrawal, and a profound loss of self-esteem—testaments to their harrowing experiences yet also silent pleas for protection and healing.
Recognising the need for intensive child protection initiative in the State, UNHCR launched a Child Protection project that spans the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Bama, Banki, and Monguno Local Government Areas. The project, supported by the Muslim World League, is primarily focused on protecting children who have been separated from their families or caregivers, as well as other vulnerable young ones. The program aims to provide these children with a safe and engaging environment through activities in Kids Clubs and Child-Friendly Spaces, with a particular emphasis on the therapeutic art of drawing, to promote their overall well-being.
Working with Caritas Nigeria, the project has taken a hands-on approach in the Kids Clubs, helping children to process their experiences and find empowerment in creativity. These clubs provide a safe and supportive environment, allowing children to delve into their creative instincts and self-expression. The initiative is committed to nurturing healing and resilience among children affected by the violence and disruptions caused by NSAGs in their communities.
“During profiling by humanitarian actors, these women and children were emaciated, hungry, sickly, shaken, hopeless, and confused about the next phase of their lives,” says Godswill Uche Peters, Caritas Nigeria Information Management/Reporting Officer.
Journey to recovery
UNHCR and Caritas Nigeria initially struggled to engage traumatised children in Kids Club and Child-Friendly Space activities. However, they discovered that art activities, such as drawing on bare floors, had a calming effect on the children, many of whom expressed their experiences with conflict through their artwork. This observation led to the targeted enrolment of talented children in an arts and creativity club as part of their healing journey. Recognising their drawings as silent calls for help, the initiative focused on providing special attention and care, facilitating both engagement and emotional recovery through creative expression.
Through regular engagements in Arts and Creativity Club activities, the healing process unfolded and progressed. These clubs became safe spaces for emotional expression and healing, where children could paint their experiences on paper and slowly detach themselves from the harrowing memories that haunted them. The clubs facilitated a therapeutic environment, fostering trust and providing an outlet for the suppressed emotions often lingering beneath the children’s minds.
“The inception of Arts and Creativity Clubs in various locations was more than a response to the need for art. It was a profound initiative rooted in the belief that creative arts could be a powerful tool for healing and provide an outlet to mend children’s emotional wounds,” states Daniel Bisu, UNHCR Assistant Protection Officer in Bama.
A dramatic turnaround
Images were drawn by kids at the child-friendly space in Bama.
Through persistent effort, empathy, and creative interventions, the narrative within the children's artwork shifted from conflict to hope. Symbols of war in their drawings gradually gave way to positive images of houses, schools, and animals, reflecting a significant internal transformation. This change not only highlighted the therapeutic power of creativity but also marked the Kids Clubs as pivotal in helping these children envision a world beyond conflict, thereby facilitating their emotional and psychological healing.
“As we reflect on the healing journey of these young minds across the Child Protection project locations in Borno State, we ascribe these great strides to our donor Muslim World League for their continuous support of the project, our partner Caritas Nigeria for their relentless sacrifice in moulding the children, and UNHCR staff for ensuring the smooth functioning of the programme,” says Mr. Mahamadou Guindo, UNHCR Head of Sub Office Maiduguri.
The transformation of children burdened with conflict into symbols of resilience and hope demonstrates the profound impact of creative therapy on personal and societal healing. The success of the Kids Clubs and the entire Child Protection project is not the end but a continuation of a journey that requires ongoing support and collaboration to ensure that conflict-affected children's futures are free from past traumas. This story celebrates their recovery and serves as a beacon of hope for global efforts to heal communities affected by conflict, demonstrating the indomitable spirit of creativity in overcoming adversity.
