Kids read, play to heal

Twelve children refugees of supertyphoon Yolanda being sheltered in the Guadalupe Sports Complex had undergone “reading and play therapy” to help them cope with their traumatic experience.

Books in Bags, a private organization led by Ma. Lorna Eguia lead the session. Eguia’s group advocating storytelling, reading, and libraries, helped the children recover from traumatic experiences.

Eguia told Cebu Daily News that she usually conducts those activities with streetchildren.

“I have been doing this for more than ten years, and this is the first time that I conducted a session with calamity survivors,” she added.

Eguia was supported by student volunteers from the University of San Carlos (USC).

Books, puppets, writing pads, coloring books, arts and crafts and other materials were brought by Eguia inside the sports complex to be used for the children’s therapy.

Aside from Guadalupe evacuation center, she also conducted the same activities in other evacuation sites.

“I want them to be healed. They need to forget what happened to them as long as they are kids then I will conduct this therapy for them,” she said.

Children had fun and were energetic in answering the questions of the volunteers.

They also had an origami activity.

“Through origami and other arts and crafts activities, they can also express themselves what they want in life and what they want to do,” she added.

The children kept their artwork as remembrance.

“The challenge here is the interaction of the children because we all know that they suffered trauma,” she added.

After the therapy, children were given snacks.

Eguia encouraged people to donate books, arts and crafts, and other materials for the children-survivors.