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Lessons Learned in Distant Lands:
JMU Professor of Psychology Helps Children in Sri Lanka Begin to Heal
VIEW ITINERARY and PHOTO ALBUM
PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES
ARTICLE IN MADISON MAGAZINE
LETTER FROM THE MAYOR OF GALLE
On December 26, 2004 a tsunami struck South Asia and parts of Africa. The tsunami created a legacy of destruction and loss. In an effort to facilitate the emotional recovery of the children, the Association for Play Therapy (APT) joined with Operation USA (an NGO relieforganization) to assemble a team of mental health professionals to provide play-based interventions to children in Sri Lanka. Two teams were selected to work in the county. Team 1, consisting of seven members, departed on January 28th and Team 2, consisting of eleven members, departed February 4th. I was fortunate to have participated with Team 2, with members from around the United States and Japan. After arriving in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, Team 2 was broken down into 3 groups to work in the south, north and northeast. I served as team leader for the southern team.
Travelling south from the capital city of Colombo to Galle, the beauty of the coastal scenery is compelling. And then the devastation appears. The road, running parallel to the beach, becomes lined with rubble -- pile after pile of bricks, cement, and decaying tree trunks. The piles are dotted, poignantly, with colourful tangles of clothing. We are told that these are bright sari's, stripped from the women and girls during the tsunami. While we silently offer wishes that the people who once wore the clothing are safe, we know it is not likely that they survived.
The team had the opportunity to work directly with children and family members who survived the tsunami, as well as consult with teachers and caregivers. We visited one to three sites each day, seeing children who were residing in orphanages and tent camps. In most instances, the camps were in close proximity to their previous home community and very close to the sea. The children approached the team curious and shy, and very quickly joined us in our play activities. Our team included our translators and fellow playmates, Sarangani and Kumari, who helped us identify and engage with the group's leaders, and then have a playful introduction to the children, usually with a "Hello" song. We found the children also enjoyed having a time to perform for us, often singing songs they composed about the losses they had sustained.
The play activities for all the teams were derived from research regarding the components of effective treatments for child survivors of trauma. Therefore, we addressed factors in the activities that helped normalize reactions, promoted positive coping and self-soothing, corrected misattributions, encouraged social support, and instilled hope. Translated (literally and figuratively) into action, these factors were incorporated into culturally congruent puppet plays, songs, and expressive arts and experiential activities. For example, guided by information from the orphanage or camp leader, a puppet play might have characters displaying a range of trauma-related symptoms and exploring a variety of ways to feel better. A particularly powerful activity was "Rebuild your Village," in which children were asked to work together to create a new village using the materials at hand. In a few minutes the children gathered materials and collaboratively constructed a village to their liking, replete with a temple, homes, a school, bridges, roads, and, of course, a playground.
Like the team in the north, we also had the opportunity to conduct training. We discussed the rationale for our work and provided experiential training in the play activities for 25 teachers and community development officers. We first described our approach with the municipal officials and received assurances that it was just what the participants were expecting and desired. However, a short way into the program, we noticed some women seemed quite shy, and perhaps, embarrassed. Concerned that we were violating some cultural or religious norm, we asked for guidance from the officials to make sure our group was comfortable and satisfied with the training. After consulting with the participants, she approached us. We were readying ourselves to make needed adjustments, when she announced that "the women would very much like you to repeat everything, so they can learn it more thoroughly while you are here." What a delightful surprise. It was a deeply gratifying training experience and a tender and tearful parting as we genuinely told the women, "From our hearts, to your hearts, we wish you well." And we continue to, every hour, every day.
We found the devastation of the communities is more than matched by the grace, wisdom, and resilience of the children and families we met. I believe the pain and hope is best conveyed by a young teenage girl who shared:
I had to take an interval from my happy life, which I spent with my parents, brothers, and sisters.
Nature is a gift for us. We were proud to have such a beautiful gift. But today situation is different. It is so sad.
Whenever I think about the day of December 26th, I feel like crying. I am helpless, because our happy home was washed away by the sea and now we have to ask someone else for a shelter. My mother used to prepare tasty meals, but now we have to keep in hunger for several meals. I have very sad memories, which I can never forget.
My friends, my relatives lost their lives. The sound of weeping, crying, and shouting are still in my ears. We can't bring back those lives. We never thought such an incident would happen, even in our dreams.
I don't hate the sea. I will not be able to get anything back by blaming nature, so I will not weep by thinking about what I lost. I wish to live with what I gain.
