Given people experiencing depression and trauma post-earthquake, HAF highlights the importance of providing psychosocial sessions to help individuals process their pain while empowering them to envision and create new lives. As the program unfolds, HAF emphasizes the transformative potential of the psychosocial empowerment methodology. By contextualizing it within earthquake recovery, the organization aims to guide individuals not just in healing the past but also in creating a vision for their future. The facilitators aim to instill a sense of agency, enabling people to rebuild their lives and move towards a higher level of purpose.
A total of 2,610 women and girls and 1,845 children, both boys and girls, aged between 4 and 11, and 147 men benefitted from these workshops (totalling 4,602 people). Throughout the sessions, a prevalent theme emerged as participants openly shared their experiences of fear, pain, and trauma, particularly those who had lost loved ones due to the earthquake.
The wrenching reality that many faced was the inability to be with their dear ones in their final moments, to bid them farewell, and to express love and respect. In the aftermath of such sudden losses, those left behind grapple with intense emotions, including profound sadness, remorse, and guilt.
These overwhelming feelings can reach a point where individuals find it challenging to navigate their daily lives. The workshops provided a space for these poignant stories to be heard and acknowledged, fostering a supportive environment for participants to begin the process of healing and coping with the complex emotions that have arisen.
HAF’s response to the aftermath of the earthquake in Morocco reflects a holistic and empowering approach to psychosocial support. By addressing immediate needs and fostering long-term resilience, the organization is not only helping individuals heal but also contributing to the creation of a new paradigm of possibility in the affected communities.
