Nita’s journey from fear to hope
Children, especially girls like Nita, who were exposed to the recent border conflict experienced anxiety, sorrow and pain for the first time in their lives. Moving to displacement camps, they have found child-friendly spaces a safe space for their mental health and psychosocial support.
Nita, a 13 year-old girl, grade 7 student from Preah Vihear province was among many children affected by the armed clashed between Cambodia and Thailand. Her life was abruptly disrupted when violence broke out near her home.
Living with fear
On the morning of July 24, while attending school, Nita heard the terrifying sound of bombs. Her teacher quickly instructed all students to return home.
“I was terrified and didn’t know what to do,” Nita recalled. “When I got home, my mother told my siblings and me to stay in our trench. We were all crying because we were so scared.”
Later that night, the local health centre was bombed, forcing Nita’s family to flee. By 6 am on July 25, they had arrived at a displacement site. “Along the way, I heard gunfire. I was so scared,” she said. Her grandmother took on the responsibility of caring for Nita and her siblings during this difficult time.
Initially, life at the displacement site was overwhelming. Nita struggled to sleep and felt haunted by the sounds of shelling and explosions. “When I closed my eyes, I could still hear the bombs. I was too scared to sleep,” she shared.
“When I closed my eyes, I could still hear the bombs. I was too scared to sleep.”
Nita
Psychosocial support
Nita remembered seeing the child-friendly space from a distance and feeling curious.
“I walked over and realised it was a place where children could play and talk to adults,” she said.“I made new friends, drew pictures, read books, and talked with the staff. It helped me feel better. Now, I can sleep well”.
“I made new friends, drew pictures, read books, and talked with the staff. It helped me feel better. Now, I can sleep well.”
Nita
Nita visits the space every day and encourages other children to join. Although she feels more at ease and has made new friends, she still deeply misses her home, school, and teacher.
“I want to go back home. I miss my bed, my pet, and my teacher—she’s really kind,” Nita said. “When I grow up, I want to be a teacher so I can help other children learn.”
To support children like Nita, Plan International Cambodia, in partnership with Transcultural Psychosocial Organisation (TPO), has established child-friendly spaces at displacement sites. These spaces offer psychosocial support and help improve the mental well-being of displaced children and their families.
Categories: Emergencies, Protection from violence
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