CMC-Nepal implemented Psychosocial Well-being for Children and Adolescents with Disabilities project (PCADP) under Joint Recovery Action Plan with financial support from UNICEF and in cooperation with local government from July 2024 to January 2025. The project was implemented in earthquake-affected communities of Barekot rural municipality, Bheri municipality, Kuse rural municipality, and Nalagad municipality of Jajarkot, as well as in Aathbiskot municipality, Chaurjahari municipality, and Sanibheri rural municipality of Rukum West.
The project was developed following the Jajarkot earthquake that caused significant loss of life in Jajarkot and Rukum West. There was also substantial damage to property. The tragedy deeply traumatized children and adolescents in the affected areas. They continued to experience nightmares, flashbacks of the traumatic event, and sleep disturbances for a long time. Initial studies showed that, children and adolescents with disabilities faced challenges returning to education and community routines after the earthquake. During this period, psychosocial counselors and frontline service providers in the community were also found to be experiencing stress and burnout. The PCAD project aim was to improve the psychosocial well-being of children and adolescents with disabilities, their families, and frontline service providers through psychosocial support interventions.
Objective
Identify the psychosocial needs of earthquake-affected children and adolescents with disabilities and their families, and respond through coordinated inclusive psychosocial services, including referrals for specialized services.
Expected Outcomes
- Enhanced psychological well-being of children and adolescents with disabilities and their families through inclusive psychosocial services and linkage with emergency assistance.
- Improved coping behavior demonstrated by frontline service providers through trauma-informed care and stress management sessions.
- Enhanced accessibility of mental health and psychosocial support in the post-earthquake period (Primary focus: Bheri and Athbis Municipalities).
Key Intervention Areas
- Intervention 1: Promote Psychosocial Well-being
- Intervention 2: Stress Management Sessions for Frontline Service Providers
- Intervention 3: Promote Accessibility, Inclusiveness, and Effectiveness of MHPSS Services
Achievement
In the project period, the project reached 1,108 family members of children and adolescents with disabilities including 265 children and adolescents with disabilities and 283 children and adolescents without disabilities. Most of these families were left out from initial responses and were in a vicious cycle of poverty and disability. Also, the project sensitized 1,862 community members on mental health and psychosocial needs of children and adolescents with disabilities particularly post-earthquake. In the follow up carried out after initial interventions, the family environment was found to be more supportive toward the psychosocial need of children and adolescents with disabilities.
The project had supported nine children and adolescents with disabilities to access specialized psychiatric treatment support. Following the intervention, they are gradually experiencing improvement in mental health conditions; a step further to experience psychosocial wellbeing. The project also supports linking and accessing medical assistance to address critical health conditions. Through one such support a girl got her vision back after 12 years of blindness and other got treatment for kidney malfunctions.
The project provided emergency assistance to 85 children and adolescents with disabilities, with its own budget and liaison with partners like the Nepal Red Cross Society and Sudar Dhoka Sathi Sewa, distributing items like wheelchairs, educational materials, and food. As an example, a child with a disability who was previously unable to attend school, received educational materials and a wheelchair. The small support enabled him to resume school and pursue education alongside his peers.