The Small World Brings Hope to Children Traumatized by the Bhote Koshi Floods
Kathmandu, September 15: For children whose homes, schools, loved ones, and sense of a secure future have all been swept away by floods, relief means more than simply providing food and clothing. It also means helping their frightened minds feel safe again. Recognizing this urgent need, The Small World (TSW) has launched psychosocial support and nutrition programs for children affected by the floods in Rasuwa.
Under the initiative of Sonam Doka Sherpa, Director of The Small World, trauma assessments and psychosocial support activities are being carried out for approximately 60 children staying at the holding center at Yallo Monastery in Kathmandu.
During the floods, the children witnessed circumstances that were completely different from normal life and deeply frightening. Some directly saw the force of the floodwaters, homes and other structures being swept away, and painful incidents involving relatives and people they knew. Even when there are no immediately visible physical injuries, such experiences can have long-term effects on children's mental health. For this reason, The Small World has made children's psychological well-being a priority alongside its emergency relief efforts.
With the belief that helping children feel safe and restoring hope are the first priorities, the organization is conducting activities designed to rebuild a “sense of safety” and help children regain a “normal feeling” after the disaster.
The program provides children with a safe and supportive environment where they can express their experiences and emotions. It also includes initial assessments of their behavior and psychological condition, as well as activities aimed at reducing fear and anxiety following the disaster.
More than half a dozen volunteers have been mobilized for the program, while more than half a dozen individuals have also received training related to trauma assessment, according to the organization.
Sonam's focus, however, goes beyond relief distribution. The Small World aims to ensure that children have a safe environment following the disaster, that their daily lives gradually return to normal, and that psychological trauma does not develop into long-term problems. The organization has therefore made psychosocial support an integral part of its relief response.
Another critical concern for children at the holding center is nutrition. Displacement can disrupt regular household meals and increase the risk that children will not receive the nutrients they need. Taking this into consideration, TSW has also arranged healthy and nutritious food for the children. In this way, The Small World is addressing food, safety, and mental health together as part of its response.
According to the organization, the program began toward the end of August. Following the Rasuwa floods, children in the affected areas have become particularly vulnerable. UNICEF has also highlighted the risk of psychological trauma among children who witnessed their homes, schools, and other structures being destroyed before their eyes.
UNICEF has reported that children affected by the floods face increased risks of disease, malnutrition, violence, and exploitation, and that they require psychosocial counseling and support.
Growing Concern for Flood-Affected Children
Parliamentarian Ramesh Kumar Malla has called on the government to ensure continued education for flood-affected children and to take responsibility for the protection and education of children who have lost their parents . For more details news link
Against this backdrop, the work led by Sonam Doka Sherpa and The Small World is being viewed not simply as immediate emergency relief, but as an effort to support children's recovery, rehabilitation, and rebuilding of confidence.
The Small World Team and Nepal Police Working Together for Child Safety
Featured in Nepali Media
We are grateful to Nepal One HD and Satya Press for highlighting The Small World’s work supporting children and families affected by the devastating floods in Rasuwa and surrounding communities.
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