Morung Express News
Kohima/Dimapur | November 12
In every conflict situation, the most affected are children, the ultimate victims. This is more so because adults come to accept the realities of change and situation, but for a child, he cannot recognize the reality of the situation that caused his trauma, suffering or pain. Naturally, this trauma and ill-past find stronger and easier hold on the fragile mind of the child which ultimately deepens to breed an emotionally and psychologically wounded personality. Nagaland has children in whom trauma and pain have been planted at an early age by various exigent conflict situations, from domestic violence to familial tribulations and from ‘militarization’ to socio-political conflicts, as being witnessed today.
Awakening Bells Centre, a home for children affected by conflict situations was inaugurated today at Kruoliezou in Kohima village. Keduotuolie Mepfuo, chairman of Kohima Village Council declared the center open with many dignitaries in attendance including Additional Chief Secretary Banuo Z. Jamir.
In her message, Sano Vamuzo, chairperson of Nagaland State Commission for Women appreciated setting up of the centre and called for showing care and concern for children ‘whose parents are no more because of conflict situations’. “They are suffering and experiencing misery and hardships because of conflict situation,” she said. Vamuzo said the time has come to nurture a new generation.
Highlighting the vision behind Awakening Bells Centre, Neidonuo Angami said 12 children from different villages have been confirmed so far to join this centre. “Every child has a God-given and inherent right to choose and build quality life and to hope for a new vision to live in an open society that is free from militarization and conflict-related traumas,” the center said. “Where there is conflict and war, there is trauma. The prolonged political turmoil in our land has left, in its wake, many children traumatized.” With the urgent need that is felt to help and give hope to these broken children, the center was set up by concerned like-minded citizens to awaken the social, moral and spiritual consciousness of the people to the silent damage being done to children.
Interacting with The Morung Express, Neidonuo Angami said trauma from conflict in children grows which would in turn affect deeply their later life. ‘In conflict situations, adults come to accept the change in realities, but for children they cannot recognize this and so, are affected deeply’ she said. Citing an instance, Angami said the child who has been affected by conflict situation tend to develop emotional health issues like depression and aggressiveness. This the centre desires to “arrest” with ‘psycho-social support’ Angami explained.
Conforming to Sano Vamuzo’s reminder that the time has come to nurture a new generation, Angami implied that if trauma in children is left unaddressed, they grown into emotionally disturbed personalities and in turn be a liability on the society, so the vicious cycle continues. “We are not going to play the role of caretakers but just to offer support” Angami said and called for greater consciousness to the unspoken issues that characterize the minds of traumatized children.
Neidonuo Angami informed that the center came into as a charity and humanitarian initiative and for now has to be run from own resources. Still, she said, it will be run by a dedicated team of administrators.
A number of children have been registered for the home and sooner as they have completed their examinations, they are expected to be in residence. Angami also added that the center for now will cater only to children who are in most need although there are many families and children who share a similar need.
Awakening Bells Centre hopes to help create a safe and enabling environment for affected children and journey with them to heal their deep, hidden wounds. This would help in nurturing and building them into responsible and conscious persons of the society. With a 20-bed facility, the centre will provide ‘psycho-social’ support and community care for a period of 6 months to one year, depending on their needs and circumstances.
The main objectives of the center is to provide a safe community-based residential facility to reduce the burden of child-care for extended families who are affected and empower them with life skills, social support and networks, to provide access to proper nutrition, informal education and health care and to create public awareness on trauma and enhance community participation in sharing responsibilities towards healing for traumatized children to grow up with a sense of security and hope. Earlier, Rev. Neirielie Mechieo, Sr. Pastor, Baptist Revival Church, Kohima said dedication prayer.
