Emergency and Trauma Pedagogy: A glimpse of hope amid a deteriorating humanitarian crisis
The series of unfortunate events and sudden disasters have severely shaken the word view of those affected, mostly children and adolescents who are particularly vulnerable. However, following Beirut Blast and COVID lockdown, adults were left traumatized more than ever and were no longer capable of helping their kids to cope with the situation.
Despite the fact that teaching children and youngsters who have been through traumatic experiences can be an enormous challenge, Step Together took action against all odds, to counteract the development of possible negative consequences in their students’ biography as well as their families.
In collaboration with the friends of the Waldorf education – emergency pedagogy – the international speakers and specialists came to support us the week after the blast in August 2020. As part of this initiative, we planned an intervention both in Beirut and at STEP TOGETHER to support staff, children and their families affected by the blast and provide them with means to cope and deal with such stressful situations.
This year, in August 2021, the month that marks Beirut explosion, they paid a follow-up visit. They also introduced the emergency pedagogy concept to 22 members of STEP TOGETHER including teachers and therapists committed to learning the 12 modules of emergency pedagogy certification training. In fact, speakers and specialists addressed the topic of traumatic experiences during a week-long workshop in order to teach STEP TOGETHER’s educators, trainers and workers to apply such interventions and deal with students at risk of developing post-traumatic-stress disorder to improve their well-being. As part of the emergency pedagogy, our team also worked with children with special needs and their families, as well as young children from the immaculate conception school.
Today, our team members who attended the workshop are equipped with 2 modules and can start the work with children and their families at the first stage. It is worth mentioning that each participant to the training is eligible to work in basic trauma relief consulting and reporting to the international team.
Education is a priority and the wellbeing of teachers and children and their parents is a must in challenging circumstances. Having said that, we need to work together especially with the accumulation of stressors on a daily basis.
Meanwhile, we are looking forward to introducing the emergency pedagogy to more schools and working with them in this regard.