Child-friendly spaces help Georgia’s children heal scars of war

A year after the war between Russia and Georgia left 30,000 people homeless, ‘child-friendly spaces’ have been set up to help women and children scarred by the conflict recover.The 60 centres, or kindergartens, were created by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to give children made homeless by the war early childhood education. The new kindergartens also serve as a resource centre for parents in need of advice on health, nutrition and protection.

War erupted on 7 August last year when Georgia tried to retake control of South Ossetia, after a series of clashes. Russian forces repelled and pushed further into Georgia. The conflict lasted for five days before a ceasefire was agreed.One year on, some thousands of people from both sides remain displaced because of the war, the human rights group Amnesty International says. And many children witnessed the violence. The process of rebuilding is slow and because the communities are often isolated, they offer little in the way of amenities for children. There are few places to socialize and children generally do not have access to playgrounds.

Four-year-old Mari fled the village of Akhalgori with her parents and now attends kindergarten near her temporary home in Tserovani. For Mari, who is just one of thousands of homeless children trying to adapt to a new a life after conflict, the new kindergarten in her village is a safe, welcoming space. "Often we forget that play, learning, exploration and communication are the essential business of children - this is what children do with their lives," said UNICEF Georgia Deputy Representative Benjamin Perks. Child-friendly activities and a stimulating learning environment help get children 'back on track' and can challenge the impact war has upon them, he said. There are now about 60 child-friendly centres in Tbilisi and Gori, Shida Kartli villages and in various settlements. They offer not only sanctuary but also a chance to learn and develop. Along with painting and sculpture, the drama classes are one of several activities offered to children outside of school hours.

For 17-year-old Pikria Totosashvili, drama and poetry have made an enormous difference in her life. "Children were worrying a lot and we had enormous stress. Children are trying to ignore the fact there's a conflict, soldiers are still around and something could happen," Pikria told aid workers. "This place has helped us to overcome trauma we experienced during the war."

By Hayley Jarvis for SOS Children