Author of the book ‘GASP,’ Theresa Tobuyei, has organised a party for traumatised children who are victims of conflicts in Plateau State.

Miss Tobuyei, a legal practitioner, said the funfair, which took place at the Internally Displaced Persons camp in Mangu on Sunday, was to help the children unwind and also to build their resilience against such incidents.

The author said that the children had gone through a lot in their lives, and there was a need to refocus their thoughts as they were growing up.

She said that the gesture, which included the donation of food and clothing, emanated from research that gave birth to her book.

According to her, many children lost it in life as a result of such events that made some of them orphans.

“This is an event to show love to these kids who have experienced and witnessed traumatising events from the recent conflicts in their communities. We want them to build their resilience and tell them that this is not the end of the world. We want them to pursue their goals and aspirations, and not allow the sad events to affect them in any way.

“In GASP, I spoke on the negative impact of violence on the casualties. The book stems from the conflicts that happened in Warri in 1997, and went round some parts of Delta State,” she said.

Miss Tobuyei said that the main characters of the book were three teenagers who witnessed the crisis.

She pointed out that when children, especially the vulnerable, witnessed such traumatising events, something must be in place to help them come out of it.

She emphasised that the children needed emotional, mental, physical, material, and social support to ensure that whatever they witnessed would not have a lasting impact on them.

The author added that her gesture was a way of engaging them, letting them know that there was hope for tomorrow and that what happened was not the end of the world.

“Like in my book, the three characters had experienced this, and they did not really get the support or help that they ought to get.  They needed psychotherapy and medications to come out of the post-traumatic stress disorder that they experienced, which had a devastating impact on them.

“So we want to avoid that, and we are trying to do what we can to help them. I am just an individual and cannot achieve the target as intended, therefore, I am calling on well-meaning individuals and the government to jump in and assist the children,” she pleaded.

Also, Mangu IDP Camp Coordinator, Panang Amuna, appreciated the author’s gesture, which he said was rare considering the current situation of the country.

Mr Amuna said that the kids were very excited and forgot their travails, the trauma, and other things.

He said, “We are in the part of the country where, after crises, you hardly get trauma healing, and psychotherapists, or other specialists that will take care of those that were badly affected. But with this, it has eased most of these things that have happened. As you can see, the place is bubbling, the children are happy and excited and we want other well-meaning individuals to emulate the author.’’

The party featured face painting, dancing, and book reading, among other activities.

(NAN)