REHABILITATION AND REINTEGRATION OF COMMUNITIES RETURNED FROM ARMED CONFLICTS
Radicalisation leading to violent extremism and terrorism is now a phenomenon of concern in many countries of the world. Most of the countries that have been affected by the phenomenon are actively engaged in preventing violent extremism, and those that have repatriated persons or families, are putting efforts in their successful reintegration and rehabilitation.
As such, also the Republic of Kosovo is dealing with more than 240 returned persons, merely women and children, most of whom arrived in April 2019 and are still in the process of re-adapting to the new life circumstances. Jointly with the Government of Kosovo and other CSOs, KRCT is one of the main actors supporting the reintegration of children returned from armed conflict zones and their families but is also among the rare to offer direct psychosocial and rehabilitation services to children.
Children returned from armed conflict zones and their families.
To ensure that children returned from armed conflict assume a constructive role in society by being socially integrated, protected and fulfilling their rights.
Provide psychosocial rehabilitation services and increase capacities of state institutions in responding to the needs of children returned from armed conflicts.
Through enhancing capacities of state authorities and provision of psycho-social oriented activities:
KRCT interventions are focused on strengthening the psycho-social resilience of children and their families as well as installing a trauma-informed approach to enhance the psychosocial rehabilitation and re-socialization of the child in a safe and stable environment. By utilizing this approach, the risk of children becoming radicalized or violent is mitigated and provides an opportunity for the children to become contributing members of society.
Capacity building of front-line workers – health care professionals are trained on early identification of trauma, identification of children at risk of mental health difficulties.
Trained in Psychosocial Support for Children Returned from Armed Conflict Zones, a 5-day training held by Dr. Heidi Ellis and Dr. Emma Cardeli:
- Health Care Professionals – Ministry of Health officials, Municipal Family Health Care Professionals and Nurses – 31 participants
- Mental Health professionals – School psychologists, Psychologists in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kindergarten Educators – 21 participants
Psychosocial intervention with children – school age returned children are provided with psychosocial activities in schools.
- So far, 3 schools from 2 different municipalities have had a series of psychosocial activities with children. The activities are continuing in other schools.
- In total 14 returned children took part in the activities unseparated from the rest of the classmates.
Awareness raising– Information sessions for professional and educative staff in schools and kindergartens, social work centres and family health centres on radicalization and early identification of trauma.
- So far, 11 schools of Prishtina have been visited – more than 200 teachers, professional and administrative school staff have attended the information sessions.
- Information sessions to be conducted in 5 other municipalities (8 schools and kindergartens) by the end of this year.
Needs assessment of children returned from armed conflicts and institutions providing services to the returned community has preceded all the project activities. The program has been based on the findings of this needs assessment.