Child Protection & Welfare
Child Protection
Protect a child today. Change a future forever.
In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, millions of children face daily threats to their safety and well-being due to ongoing conflicts, violence, and socio-economic instability. At MENA Trauma Healing Resource Center, we're dedicated to changing this reality and creating safe, nurturing environments where children can heal, grow, and thrive.
Crisis for MENA Children
The MENA region is one of the most affected areas globally by natural hazards, climate change, and displacement due to conflict. The intensity of violence and maltreatment of children in conflict-affected areas is unimaginable. Child rights violations in the Middle East include:
Child Marriage
Child labor
Statelessness and lack of identity documents
Conscription to armed groups
Gender-based violence
Sexual assault
Neglect, abuse, and exploitation
Family separation within and across borders
The Stories We Encounter Daily Break Our Hearts
Yazidi children have witnessed the sexual abuse and assault of their mothers by armed
groups. Some have been prisoners in IDP camps since birth, unaware of the world beyond
their confines.
Sudanese children, having lost their parents and facing rejection from the host
community, are rendered mute by the trauma they've endured.
In some countries, children are becoming targets of war, forced to join unofficial
military forces.
We're witnessing an alarming rise in child suicide attempts as young souls seek to
escape their unbearable reality.
The Impact of LAMSA
Through LAMSA, we've witnessed transformative change.
-
Thousands of children have found safety and hope in our programs
-
Communities have been empowered to protect their most vulnerable members
Healing Is A Journey, Not A Destination.
But numbers only tell part of the story. Each child we help represents a future
change, a cycle of violence broken.
Amira, 12 a 12-year-old girl, fled conflict in Syria, carrying deep emotional
wounds. Through our LAMSA program, she found healing and hope. "I used to have
nightmares every night," she shares. "Now, I can sleep peacefully and even help
other scared children find comfort. THRC showed me that I'm not forgotten and that I
have a future."
Today, Amira is thriving in school and dreams of becoming a counsellor to help other
refugee children.
Where We Work
We currently operate in Lebanon, Egypt, and Iraq, serving diverse communities including refugees, children with disabilities, and those in conflict-affected areas.
34 Million Children In Need of Protection Services
Through our child protection and welfare initiatives, children are provided with
emotional support and trauma healing in their own communities through a wide range of
activities, such as structured play, storytelling, and sports, designed to help children
manage their feelings in a fun and interactive way. We understand that each child is
unique and has individual needs, so we offer care tailored to those needs.
We also focus on equipping parents and caregivers with the knowledge needed to provide
the best possible care for their children. We offer mental health and trauma-healing
training programs, ensuring that caregivers have the tools and understanding to create a
nurturing environment.
Love-Driven Action
- Christ-centered healing practices
- Evidence-based child-focused trauma interventions
- Holistic approach to child well-being
Awareness and Advocacy for Child Protection
- Interactive trauma-informed workshops
- Media campaigns on trauma-informed care for children and positive parenting
- Community outreach to reduce mental health stigma
Mental Health and Support Programs
- Bible-based parenting and caregivers training in child development to help them
understand and respond to children's emotional needs as well as create supportive
environments for healing
- Trauma-focused healing groups for parents and caregivers facilitated by THRC-trained
lay counsellors
Safe Spaces for Child Healing and Development
- House of Compassion & Rest Program in crisis-affected areas and host communities
- Local and church community venues offering child-friendly safe spaces promoting
children’s trauma recovery
Active Community Engagement in Child Protection
Empowering local communities is key to sustainable child protection:
- Training for community leaders and teachers
- Capacity building in child-focused trauma-informed care
- Collaborative support systems for at-risk children
The Challenge for At-Risk Children in MENA
- 1 in 4 children affected by conflict or displacement
- 60% increase in child labor since 2019
- 40% of refugee children show signs of PTSD
- Limited access to trauma-informed care and support
Our Child Protection Initiatives
Trauma-Focused Safe Spaces for At-Risk Children
- Child-friendly safe spaces established in crisis areas
- Trauma-focused structured activities promoting healing and development
- Evidence-based therapeutic individual and group counselling for children affected
by conflict
Capacity-building programs for Parents and Caregivers
Healing starts at home. We equip caregivers with essential skills and support: Training for caregivers in trauma-sensitive parenting focuses on Understanding and responding to children's emotional needs Creating supportive environments for healing Trauma Healing Support Groups: Inclusive groups for caregivers, parents, and schoolteachers Serving diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds Special focus on refugee communities Facilitated by THRC-trained lay counsellors
Community Engagement
Training for community volunteers
Our Reach
We are currently operating in Lebanon, Egypt, and Iraq, serving diverse communities such as at-risk Lebanese and Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Sudanese and South Sudanese refugees in Egypt, and Yazidi and Kurdish children in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Kurdistan, Iraq.
