Psychosocial support
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The devastating explosion of Beirut Port on the 4th of August 2020 that has severely damaged entire neighborhoods and left many dead, injured and homeless people also caused major traumas across all social groups. This was even more present in Karantina area where the explosion also uncovered old traumas, reviving stories of mass deaths from the 1975-1990 civil war area, reminding its inhabitants of a massacre that happened in that same place. Thus, and in addition to the physical support people of Karantina need to be accompanied in order to heal from the wounds of the blast, UNDP is supporting in healing the wounds of the blast and fostering social cohesion among the different groups, through different theatre techniques, documentation and work on memorialization.
UNDP in partnership with LABAN are working on creating a safe and inclusive platform for people of Karantina to heal the wounds of the blast and foster social cohesion among Karantina’s different groups.
This is being done through:
- Art-based workshops targeting children. The workshops would be a safe space for children to express their feelings and emotions in an artistic manner.
- Expressive theater workshops targeting young women and men. A free platform for youth to express themselves creatively and strengthen their ability to deal and overcome the trauma and life challenges.
- Playback performances targeting local stakeholders from the area, Lebanese, refugees, migrant workers. The aim of the performances is to provide the most vulnerable and silenced voices an interactive space to express vulnerability, grief, anger, and other emotions in order to connect them one to another. Also, this would be an opportunity to people who lived the civil war and suffered from traumatic events to deal with the past and to reflect on their experiences, which would lead to re-building community relationships in a peaceful environment.
- Document the stories collected during the performances of the people of Karantina in a book
- Support local actors in identifying a commemoration site or symbol, contributing to keeping the memory alive as a tool for collective healing.
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