In South-East Asia, Rohingya children face a tragic reality of displacement, violence, and persecution. These children have fled their homeland, Myanmar, and are seeking refuge in neighboring countries. Living in a foreign land without the comfort of home and family makes them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. In this article, we explore how safe spaces empower Rohingya children in Indonesia, providing them with a sense of community, protection, and a chance to receive an education. Safe spaces are essential for these vulnerable children to heal, grow, and thrive, and we see how they are making a difference in the lives of these young ones.
Art Therapy, Education and Safe Spaces: IOM’s Support for the Mental Health and Well-being of Rohingya Children
Amidst violence and persecution faced by ethnic Rohingya, displaced children and families in the region continue coping with their situation, resilience and hope. Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) are a critical component of the International Organization for Migration (IOM)’s humanitarian assistance to Rohingya refugees in the region, on top of providing urgent food and other essential items and conducting regular health checks.
In Thailand, IOM regularly organizes art therapy activities at shelters hosting Rohingya children, aimed at improving their mental wellbeing and providing a safe space for expression. “Art therapy empowers the girls to express what’s on their mind, whether it’s about the challenges they faced in the past or their aspirations for the future. Using figurines allows us to cross language barriers,” says Hathaithip Chaivatee, a psychologist at IOM, who facilitated the activity.
In Malaysia, which currently hosts over 100,000 Rohingya individuals, alternative learning centres are becoming spaces for Rohingya children to learn and grow. “Sekolah Islamiyah” was established in 2018 by a group of university student-volunteers with the goal of giving refugee and migrant children the chance at a primary education. With around 50 students enrolled, majority of whom are of Rohingya ethnicity, the centre introduces mainstream subjects such as language, mathematics and science.
For its students, “Sekolah Islamiyah” is more than a school – it has become a community. Reinforcing teachers’ efforts to foster a sense of belonging, IOM supported an initiative to produce an online magazine. Its objective was to empower students to share their stories through various art forms, such as poetry and poster design.
Meanwhile, in Indonesia, education is one of IOM’s key priorities for Rohingya children who have arrived in recent months. In late 2022 and early 2023, Indonesia witnessed a significant uptick of Rohingya arrivals, with roughly 850 Rohingya arrived in the last five months. IOM works with local partners to conduct classes for children hosted in temporary shelters around Aceh Province, in western Indonesia. While not a substitute for formal education, the classes offer a space for children in the shelter to engage in positive recreational activities and improve their wellbeing.
In the coastal town of Pidie, Murmalawati of the Balle Seribu Bintang Foundation is one of the teachers leading these efforts. “I have been a teacher since 2007. I love working with kids. Through my classes, I hope that they gain the inspiration to pursue their dreams.”
Despite the challenges, these safe spaces have provided Rohingya children occasional moments in time where they can relax, unwind and just be children. As the years pass, with ever diminishing prospects for peace and safety, Rohingya boys and girls have not wavered in their determination for a brighter future.
“We have faced many obstacles, but we need to keep the faith and believe in ourselves,” insists Shobika. “If we don’t keep pushing, it will be a waste of all the support we have received so far,” Roshida adds.
While their sentiments exhibit a great sense of maturity, they also reflect challenges and experiences commonly faced by refugee children that push them to grow up too fast.
IOM’s humanitarian assistance to Rohingya in the region is funded by the European Union and the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM). The organization remains committed to supporting the mental health and well-being of Rohingya children and families in the region, and creating safe environments where they can continue to learn, heal and grow.
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