Childhood from the color of ash to the colors of the country's hope.

By Ahmed Jaadi Our country is witnessing a grave calamity and passing through difficult days due to the fires that consumed everything in their path across several states, turning green spaces into black and ash. This tragedy has left behind losses in lives and property, as the flames advanced to destroy the vegetation cover and the freshness of proud mountains that once attracted many lovers of beauty and discerning observers. A grave calamity befell the people, prompting the masses from all walks of life to rise as one man to offer support and solace, setting the finest examples of solidarity, which demonstrated the strong bond that fulfills the saying of our noble Messenger – may peace and blessings be upon him –:
”The parable of the believers in their affection, mercy, and compassion for each other is that of a single body: when one limb aches, the rest of the body responds to it with sleeplessness and fever.”

Children at the heart of the crisis

Amidst the hustle of this fast-paced movement, mixed with striving, anxiety, and sorrow, we must take children into consideration, because they are among us, observing, feeling, and being affected. Every impact on them is either positive or negative depending on how we accompany them in the height of the crisis. They are the promising hope, and preparing them to accept the situation, manage crises, and strive for initiative is at the core of preparing an authentic generation that rejects every discouraging, foreign ideology.

Children do not live in isolation from reality

Children do not live in isolation from reality; they absorb the news through screens, images of smoke plumes, the grief of adults, and the mourning of the homeland.

And there is no doubt that the natural disaster strikes at the child's basic sense of security as they see with their own eyes the home, nature, relatives, and neighbors, and hear the screaming, crying, and other sights.

Psychological accompaniment is a safety valve

As we look ahead to these realistic murals, we realize the importance of accompanying children during crises, as they serve as a “safety valve” for psychological security and a center for building the citizens of tomorrow.

Protecting children from shocking scenes

To protect children from those bruises that will remain engraved in the depths of their souls, primary psychological support for them within the family is essential. This is done by blocking those terrifying and repeated scenes as much as possible, and preventing them from seeing charred images, animal carcasses, or the screams of victims. These images are imprinted in the memory and cause post-traumatic stress disorder.“

Honesty with children in a way that suits their age

In return, we must be honest with them when answering their questions—an honesty that suits their age and features smart answers, by directing their attention and telling them the truth that there is a fire, and that civil protection forces and the army, with the help of citizens, are currently bringing it under control.

Body language and its role in restoring safety

It is also worth noting that body language plays a major role in influencing children. They observe their parents' reactions, such as panic and anxiety, which the child perceives as an existential threat. Here, we emphasize that calmness is an investment, which involves gradually restoring a sense of security to the child by not neglecting normal routines and working to maintain them with flexibility—despite the change in location from the previous one and the sudden transition to temporary shelters—while keeping sleep, eating, and play schedules, in order to signal to the brain that life goes on.

Turning ashes into hope

A positive family also instills in the hearts of the youth, trains them in crisis management, engages in dialogue with them, and directs their attention to the fact that turning ashes into hope will neither vanish nor disappear, that bringing life back to barren lands is very possible, and that the lives of those who have departed are nurtured with prayer and loyalty.

Stories of heroism in the face of the disaster's aftermath

Parents may resort to highlighting stories of the heroic deeds of firefighters, volunteers, and doctors, shifting the focus from the fire that destroyed to the person who rescued and was a reason for restoring life. Amidst this, flexibility is necessary so that the child realizes crises are a part of life, and that strength lies in the ability to rise again. Among the methods that expel silent repressed feelings is encouraging children to release their fears through drawing or writing, followed by discussing with them and prompting them to express the scenes they have drawn.

Citizenship begins with participation

And we must not forget that transforming that worry and panic within them requires nurturing their national and religious upbringing, along with activating citizenship on the ground by integrating them into field interaction and contribution under the supervision of adults. This aims to equip them with cognitive and motor skills and abilities that will benefit them in the future. Examples of this include observing solidarity unfolding before their eyes and contributing to sorting aid for affected families—such as organizing clothes, selecting toys, and sending them to affected children. This action shifts children from the role of spectators to the role of active helpers.

Protecting nature is a national responsibility

Another important matter is to utilize the fire incidents to prompt them to notice the difference by asking questions: How was it, how has it become, and what shall we do to restore the greenery?

Through meaningful dialogue, the child learns and understands the value of the tree and the forest, and how protecting nature is protecting the homeland, while directing their attention to security and protection personnel and realizing the importance of the responsibility to respect preventive instructions to protect the self, property, and the homeland from dangers.

Psychological support campaigns for children

In conclusion, it is necessary to emphasize the need to unite the efforts of all actors in the field by launching psychological support campaigns for children in affected areas. If fires have devoured the trees, through awareness and proper psychological accompaniment, we will not let them devour hope in the hearts of our children.

Our children are the true wealth of the homeland.

The tragedy is immense, and with every calamity, we must realize that our children, who are pieces of our hearts, are the true wealth with which we re-forest and rebuild the homeland.

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