The ongoing war and violence have left deep scars on the hearts of Arab Israeli children, affecting every aspect of their daily lives. To help them cope with anxiety, fear and trauma, the team from the Hope for Youth programme at the Arab Bible Society-Israel organised two recovery sessions at a local primary school in early June. The team collaborated with the Latin Patriarchate School in Jaffa, Israel, as pupils returned to their classrooms following a prolonged break caused by the war.
These special recovery sessions are designed based on verses about recovery from the Bible. The meeting room is arranged and set up to create a sense of safety and comfort for the children so that they can share their feelings. The team strives to build rapport and offer comfort to those who have been feeling anxious and distressed. A total of 250 pupils from Years 1 to 8 took part in this activity, including children from various Christian churches and Muslim families.
Arab citizens in Israel live as a double minority group (both ethnically and in terms of faith) amidst a conflict-ridden region fraught with tension. As a result of these political conditions, they face severe economic hardship, with many living below the poverty line. These various challenges have different impacts on each child.
Creating a Safe Space to Process Trauma Through Faith
Bearing in mind that children of different age groups process stress in different ways, the team tailors the activities to each year group. They used age-appropriate methods, such as drawing, recognising and naming feelings, storytelling, and learning to rely on Jesus and their families for support. Drawing inspiration from Ephesians 6:16, the team introduced the concept of the ‘Shield of Faith’. Each child received a picture of a shield as a symbol of how faith can sustain them through difficult and dark times.
Children are encouraged to explore how faith is expressed in everyday life:
Calling on the name of Jesus and bringing their fears to Him in prayer.
Finding comfort through the warm embrace of parents, siblings and loved ones.
Strengthen your mind by reading encouraging Bible verses.
To reinforce this hope, the children wrote down the names of those who give them strength. These answers were then woven into a physical ‘Chain of Strength’ comprising names such as Jesus, parents, teachers and friends. This chain now hangs gracefully in their classroom as a daily visual reminder that they are never alone in life.
A Counsellor’s Testimony
The long-term impact of this recovery workshop was deeply felt by the entire school community. A school counsellor shared her testimony with tears of emotion:
“The children are still talking about those sessions and are eagerly asking for the activities to be held again. One boy admitted that he used to be gripped by an overwhelming fear at night. However, since taking part in the workshop, he told me: ‘Now, whenever I feel scared or hear an unfamiliar sound, I pray straight away.'"
Witnessing the children’s pure joy, enthusiasm and active participation touched and transformed the counsellor’s own heart. This workshop proved to have a profound impact, serving as a moving reminder of how tangibly God’s word and His love are present to accompany the children in every moment of their lives.
Translated from: UBS Community
