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Monday, June 13, 2016

Safe memories hard to find for children traumatised by escape to Europe

At Ritsona camp in Greece, refugee children are encouraged to play and draw as part of efforts to provide relief from the anxieties of their uncertain lives Inside a cylindrical white tent at the Ritsona camp, children who have seen too much try to learn how to be young again. Every day, about 40 children, many of whom have survived perilous journeys to reach southern Europe, come to this safe space, set up by the Spanish Red Cross, to draw, play and let off steam. Today, they are learning about hygiene. A volunteer teaches the basics at a whiteboard as children perch on stools. Their drawings are strung across the tent’s ceiling. Related: Experts sound alarm over mental health toll borne by migrants and refugees Continue reading...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.theguardian.com