To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE


SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

Samaritan's Purse Team Creating Safe Spaces for Children in Iraq

News Staff : Sep 20, 2018  Samaritan’s Purse

...Parents are noticing changes in their children's habits. One girl who hadn't taken a shower since arriving in the camp now bathes regularly. Other children who were scared at night now have peace and something to look forward to in the morning.

[SamaritansPurse.org] The children in Iraq's displacement camps on the Nineveh Plains have experienced more trauma in their young lives than many people will go through in their entire lifetime. (Photo credit: Samaritan's Purse)

"Many of them have seen their parents murdered in front of them," said Jessica Langevin, Samaritan's Purse children and family program manager in Iraq.

"They've seen tanks and soldiers and armies walking down the street with guns. They've seen killing after killing. They've heard bombs going over their houses. They've seen their homes destroyed. They've watched their friends—their playmates—die."

On top of all these traumatic experiences, these children have been living in displacement camps for well over a year. ISIS destroyed their homes in Mosul and robbed their families not only of their finances, but also their sense of normalcy.

"Samaritan's Purse is here to create a place for children to be children," Jessica said.

A Place for Children to Play and Learn

Through a child-friendly space (CFS) that offers classes twice a week for two hours at a time, Samaritan's Purse is giving 6-to 11-year-old kids in four displacement camps—roughly 800 total—the opportunity to learn about everything from hygiene and how to be a better friend to Bible stories and the fruit of the Spirit.

"We want them to come here and know that God loves them. We want them to feel joy," Jessica said. "They're learning about patience and peace and kindness when that's not what they're seeing around them, but those are the things we want them to learn here."

Farah, 11, who graduated from the CFS program in April, said that what she loved the most was the opportunity to play—especially with the blocks and on the slide.

"My favorite story was Moses, when Pharaoh tried to kill all the children and his mother hid him," Farah said.

Like Moses, God protected the lives of these young ones, and by His grace, they may also grow to lead their people. Jessica's hope for the Iraqi children she works with is that they will remember what they've learned and come to thank God for it, telling their families about Him.

Ministering to Families Recovering from War

Pouring good into children ultimately serves their parents well too. This Samaritan's Purse program is giving boys and girls a sense of joy and happiness that displaced parents struggle to provide.

"My kids feel really happy when they come," Farah's mother, Sonia, said. "They're joyful when they're here."

Other parents are noticing changes in their children's habits. One girl who hadn't taken a shower since arriving in the camp now bathes regularly. Other children who were scared at night now have peace and something to look forward to in the morning.

In addition, parents of participating children are invited to take part in a class called "Healing Wounds of Trauma." This weeklong course offered in men's and women's groups covers topics ranging from caring for children to forgiveness. Through the course, the lives of parents are being transformed even as their kids are learning new life skills.

Even infants are not left out. Samaritan's Purse nutritional programming screens for malnutrition in children under 5 and provides skilled breastfeeding training for mothers.

"From the little things to big things, the entire family is feeling loved and feeling seen. They feel special. It's a bright light in kind of a gray place," Jessica said.

Through Samaritan's Purse child and family programming in Iraq, the traumas of war are not having the last word. What others intended for evil, God is using for good (see Genesis 50:20). Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here.







SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Other Recent Articles from Breaking Christian News

Franklin Graham's Easter Special Airs April 20 from Southern California, 'Can There Be Hope in the Place of Ashes?'

2,000 Years After History's Greatest Miracle: Jesus Christ's Resurrection, Signs and Wonders Continue at Jerusalem's Garden Tomb

Netflix Version of Mel Gibson's 'Passion of the Christ' Omits the Old Testament Prophecy about Jesus

Jim Caviezel Says Jesus Spoke to Him While Filming Crucifixion Scene for Passion of the Christ

Tulsi Exposes a Terrifying Biden-Era Program That Was Meant To Be Secret

Mom of Woman Brutally Raped and Murdered by Illegal Immigrant Speaks at the White House: 'Why Are We Not Protecting Our Children?'

FSU Shooting Suspect Identified as Stepson of Sheriff's Deputy

First Step Toward Peace between Ukraine and Russia: Initial US-Ukraine 'Minerals Deal' Has Been Signed, Full Agreement to Be Signed Next Week

The Winner: a Good Friday Message from Give Him 15

Go Inside the White House Easter Prayer Dinner as Trump Declares, 'For Our Sake He Gave Up His Life' [Video]

Israeli Soldiers Rescue Dog Kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7

Terror Spreads in Nigeria as Killing Sprees Spike against Christians

President Trump's Master Class in Negotiations

Kilmar Garcia, In 2022, Was Reportedly Released by Biden's FBI After a Traffic Stop Despite Police Suspecting Him of Human Trafficking

What the Court Petition and Police Report Reveal About Illegal Immigrant (and Legacy Media Darling) Kilmar Abrego Garcia

West Virginia Enacts Parents' Bill of Rights into Law

PRAYERS ANSWERED: Kidnapped American Pastor Josh Sullivan Rescued in Deadly Shootout

'The Beacons Are Lit. Who Will Answer?': Colorado Christians Unite to Fight a 'Wicked Political Agenda'

This Oregon Town Defied Trump, Declaring Itself a Sanctuary City for 'Trans' Child Mutilation

Kansas Overrides Governor's Veto on Bill That Prevents Religious Discrimination for Foster and Adoptive Parents



Search the Articles Archives

Keyword:  
Author:  
Words Posted On:  
Day Month Year



BCN Plus

Follow BCN on Twitter
Are You Praying for Our Government Leaders?
BCN Staff

Steve Shultz
Steve Shultz, Managing Editor
Founder and Owner


Aimee Herd
Aimee Herd, Editor


BCN Plus
Are You Praying for President Trump?
 
 

All articles on this site and emails from BCN are copyrighted property of Breaking Christian News. Permission is given to link to, or share a BCN story if proper attribution is given to both the original writer and summarizer of the story. Breaking Christian News 2005-2019. All Rights Reserved.


Breaking Christian News is a division of Elijah List Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved


Disclaimer: Articles and links, as well as the source articles linked to; do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Breaking Christian News.

editor@breakingchristiannews.com