Impact of trauma on children in conflict settings, especially with regards to their education.

“I have forgotten things I had learned at schools”

Chi Precious, an 8-year-old girl, is born in Sone, Tiko in the Southwest Region. Life had been normal, tough but joyful, until the crisis broke out in Sone, forcing Precious and her family to migrate to Small Ekange, a densely populated village in Tiko, Southwest Region? Tiko is surrounded by a vast landscape of rubber plantation, and characterized by a high rate of farming activities, with little access to water, electricity, and education. Presently living in a family setting with her parents, brother, and aunt, Precious’ daily activities include house chores, going to school but not every day, eating and playing with infant neighbors.

It all began when on a fateful day “I heard noise. Some men were hitting people’s doors. They came and opened our door, took my father and cut his finger. That is why we ran away from Sone”, Precious recounts. “I am angry because they cut my father’s finger. I don’t go to school everyday anymore because my father does not have money to pay my fees. In school, they drive me for school fees. My father works and is not paid, so he does not have money to pay my fees. Since I am not going to school again, I have forgotten somethings that I had learned”, Precious adds.

Sone had been a stable community, but when the crisis broke out in the area, families including Precious’, were forced to flee to areas more stable. “I used to hear gunshots”, says Precious. Precious’ father recounts that they had been living peacefully in Sone, not until when the crisis broke out there. He also makes mention of the fact that inhabitants in the community were frequently harassed, him being a victim of the harassment where his right thumb was chopped off. That was the trigger that made him run away with his family.

Before moving to Small Ekange, “I used to enjoy Sone. I miss Sone. I want to go back to Sone. I want to go and see my big brother”, says Precious.

Now residing in a more stable community, Precious hopes for things to get better and be fully enrolled back into school.

Conflicts are inherent phenomena of human existence. Over the past eight years, the Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon have rapidly morphed into a conflict zone. Lives have been lost, property have been destroyed. Since the beginning of the crisis in 2016, the education sector has been highly affected, facing a fluctuation in stability. One of the effects has been trauma on children especially with regards to their education.

“Some children are frightened and cry when they hear a sound like a gunshot; they hide under the benches or run to the toilets, and it is difficult to continue the lesson until they are reassured,” a teacher said.

Complementing Government’s efforts in crisis affected areas, UNICEF and humanitarian partners are providing a comprehensive approach to risk mitigation and psychosocial support for school personnel and a better understanding of the risks faced by children. In 2023, UNICEF has trained 829 teachers, including 436 women, at the various school levels (nursery, primary and secondary) to provide a protective learning environment for about 105,083 pupils (63 per cent of whom are girls). This has a positive impact on their mental health and improves children’s social and emotional learning skills and positive learning experience.

— — — By Rosaline Nganda, Intern-UNICEF Cameroon