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This report summarizes two studies on the impact of Good Neighbors’ psychosocial support (PSS) program in Morocco and Syria, highlighting how cognitive behavioral therapy and art stabilization program have recovered the lives of children affected by disasters (Elhoussine, 2024; Kim, 2024).
Background: Good Neighbors and Psychological Support
Good Neighbors, a humanitarian-development NGO dedicated to prioritizing children’s well-being and safeguarding their rights, underscores the importance of psychosocial support (PSS) for children affected by disasters. During crises, children are particularly vulnerable to psychological, emotional, and physical trauma, which can have profound and lasting impacts into adulthood. These children often struggle to cope with distress on their own, necessitating immediate and tailored support for their recovery both in the short and long term. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 1 in 6 individuals experiences mild to moderate mental health conditions, while 1 in 30 suffers from severe disorders that significantly impair their ability to function in emergency situations (van Ommeren et al., 2005).
Good Neighbors has developed its PSS program by leveraging expertise and experience gained through psychosocial initiatives in South Korea. This program is designed to support children in overcoming post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and reestablishing their pre-disaster routines. It emphasizes the creation of safe and supportive environments to foster psychological stability, complemented by group-based therapeutic activities. Good Neighbors (2017) defines PSS as “a set of activities aimed at alleviating the psychological and social suffering of affected populations, restoring their sense of normalcy and routine, and promoting self-restoration.” Since 2013, this program has reached over 150,000 children across 15 countries, making a significant impact in disaster-stricken communities.
Good Neighbors has developed four PSS programs, tailored to specific targets and methods applicable to various humanitarian crises.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Cognitive behavioral therapy assumes that emotions of behaviors are influenced not by events themselves but by one’s interpretation of them. Psychological problems are often caused by distorted and dysfunctional thoughts and beliefs. CBT focuses on identifying these distorted ideas and evaluating and correcting them. Good Neighbors developed a CBT-based program during the Philippines’ typhoon emergency response in 2013 and implemented its pilot in the Philippines and Syria in 2014. The GN’s CBT program consists of five sessions using a workbook titled “Listen to My Story,” featuring a fictional character named ‘Tutti.’ The workbook introduces children to various activities in a storytelling format, helping them form social support systems by expressing their feelings about the disaster with peers and teachers.
- Creative Crisis Intervention (CCI): Creative crisis intervention was developed to help children and adolescents recover from traumatic experiences and regain stability in their daily lives by expressing their emotions through artistic and non-verbal media. Good Neighbors created a CCI-based program after the 2015 Nepal earthquake. This program consists of six sessions involving art and dance activities. Repeated “warm-up” and “closing” activities help children feel a deeper sense of security and belonging within the gorup.
- RE-Play Program: GN’s CBT and CCI-based programs include workbooks designed for school-aged children. The “RE-Play” program, launched in 2023, specifically targets pre-school-aged children. It consists of eight consecutive sessions featuring repetitive activities aimed at fostering physical and psychological stability.
- Art Stabilization Program: The art stabilization program is designed for youth. It comprises 13 activities that can be completed in any order, making it particularly suitable for displaced populations. The program encourages selfawareness through creative activities and enables participants to self-respond to trauma.
In order to apply the Good Neighbors’ PSS programs to emergency situations, two prerequisites must be met before implementation. One is the establishment of a secure environment, referred to as a child-friendly space (CFS), and the other is the provision of adequate training to qualified individuals.
CFS is a community-supported space that provides children in humanitarian crises with structured activities in a safe, inclusive, and stimulating environment. CFS aims to nurture children by helping them regain a sense of normalcy and stability through structured playtime and learning activities. Good Neighbors’ CFS operations are guided by four core principles, which align with GN’s core values and child protection policy: