Children and War

Kenya

Nairobi Public School based Trauma Healing, Peace building and Reconciliation

Adolescents Trauma Screening

In partnership with The Children and War Foundation, Oasis Africa is undertaking a baseline psychological research survey.  This is the first of its kind in Kenya aimed at informing service provision, promoting trauma healing, peace building and reconciliation in public schools in Nairobi Province, and is lead by Gladys Mwiti, Phd.

The survey is being undertaken among all the 57 high school students in Nairobi Province, with the approval of the Ministry of Education. The survey team is comprised of Oasis Africa Counselors and Psychologists led by Dr. Gladys Mwiti, PhD Clinical Psychologist and CEO Oasis Africa.

Due to unavailability of documented data on level of trauma among the youths in Kenya, this research is expected to set pace in the psychology industry as it will provide the much needed information in this area.

This questionnaire includes Demographic information, Trauma Exposure, Ethnic Identity Depression, Likelihood of Violence, Delinquency, Anxiety, Coping and impact on School Performance.

According to Clinical Psychologist and Oasis Africa Training Director Edith Kaumbuthu, the survey will not only help the young people on coping styles after trauma but also aid in assessing the level of coping with academic expectations among the youths aged between 12-19 years in high schools targeted in by this survey.

Due to unavailability of documented data on level of trauma among the youths in Kenya, this research is expected to set pace in the psychology industry as it will provide the much needed information in this area.

As an evidence-based practice organization, Oasis Africa is hoping that the survey will help and inform the professional team on the way forward as they continue to provided treatment and curative methods among the youths.

In this survey, Oasis Africa is collaborating with the Children and War Foundation and the Ministry of Education. Findings will be disseminated to the same. The report awaited for by Kenya’s Ministry of Education will go along way in helping in the planning the provision of Guidance and Counseling needs in schools.

This research comes on the heel of the recent 2008 post election violence in Kenya which affected mostly the youths and which Psychologists say played a part in the recent school riots which brought over 300 schools to a standstill in the country. This study is critical as it will help the government to understand the impact of political post election violence on educational institutions and the youth in the country.