A magnitude 7.8 earthquake with its epicenter off southern Philippines caused intense fear among children in the affected areas. In addition, unfamiliar evacuation conditions have placed significant psychological strain on them. AAR Japan (Association for Aid and Relief, Japan) is providing psychosocial support to help heal the emotional wounds of these children.

“I Forgot About the Earthquake and Had Fun”

Psychosocial support refers to efforts to help people who have experienced distressing events, such as disasters, regain their mental well-being and move forward with their lives. In partnership with the local organization PHILRADS, AAR is conducting workshops for children as part of these efforts.

At a workshop held on June 24 in Malapatan, Sarangani Province, around 140 children aged 3 to 15 participated. They were divided into groups of about ten to carry out activities. To help children express their anxiety and fear, they first drew pictures of volcanoes. Then, to help restore a sense of safety, they created drawings of “superheroes” representing places where they feel safe or people they trust. Other activities included puppet shows using paper dolls, and the session concluded after about 90 minutes with everyone sharing snacks together.

Precious (7), who joined the activities, shared her fears: “I’m scared of aftershocks and can’t sleep. I hope there won’t be any more earthquakes.” However, by the end of the session, she smiled and said, “Today I forgot about the earthquake and had fun.” After the workshop, children received disaster preparedness kits containing items such as helmets, flashlights, and wet towels. To help them feel more secure, the kits also included stuffed toys.

“I Want to Be There for the Children”

These workshops were held six times across Sarangani Province from June 20 to 27. Each session was led by around 15 volunteers, including university students and working adults.

Volunteers received two days of training from specialists beforehand, where they learned how to interact with traumatized children and provide psychosocial care to ease anxiety. Many of them were also affected by the disaster themselves but chose to participate because they wanted to support children suffering emotional distress.

One such volunteer, Nithy (20), was with two children she knew when the earthquake struck and witnessed their fear firsthand. “I decided to volunteer because I wanted to help children dealing with stress. Some of them had already experienced rejection from their parents even before the disaster. I want them to know that it’s okay to cry when things are difficult.”

AAR will continue to support people who are particularly vulnerable to the effects of earthquakes, including children and persons with disabilities. We sincerely ask for your support for AAR’s emergency response to the Philippines earthquake so that affected communities can regain a safe and stable daily life.