The Resilience of Nupimacha
In the midst of ethnic violence and her own battle with cancer, Nupimacha faced a double blow when her home in Manipur's Kangpokpi district was destroyed by a blaze. Wondering if she would live to see her family return to their native village of Dairy, she found solace at a relief camp in Imphal. Though the yearning to return home remained strong, she learned to embrace the uncertainty and focus on her present in the face of an uncertain future.
The Smiles of the Displaced
Amidst the turmoil, around 10,000 children and adolescents found themselves displaced and scattered across 350 relief camps. Among these camps, 37 offered support to approximately 1,100 minors through a unique "stress-busting" program, specifically designed to help children cope with trauma and bridge the gap in their education. Spearheaded by STAR (System Transformation and Rejuvenation) Education, a collaboration between Manipur's Education Department and NewGlobe, this initiative drew from the organization's experience in conflict zones like Nigeria, Liberia, and Rwanda.
Creating Joyful Spaces
The architects of the "stress-busting" program acknowledged that psychology was not their primary expertise. Nevertheless, they made it their mission to foster a playful and enjoyable environment within the relief camps. Through activities like quizzes and painting contests, they applied classroom management techniques to uplift the spirits of the children, providing them with a much-needed respite from the trauma they had endured.
Healing Hearts Through Expression
Two months into the program's launch, Sucheta Khumukcham, the zonal education officer of Imphal West district, reflected on the two primary objectives of the initiative. Firstly, it aimed to offer a platform for the children to showcase their hidden talents, which had been overshadowed by their traumatic experiences. Secondly, it sought to facilitate emotional and psychological healing by encouraging the children to express themselves freely. As a result, positive changes were already becoming evident, with the children opening up and engaging with others.
NewGlobe's Impact on Manipur's Education Landscape
Originally invited by the Manipur government in 2019 to be a part of the School Fagathansi Mission, NewGlobe-South Asia took on the responsibility of transforming not only the physical infrastructure of government schools but also the social infrastructure. With Manipur being its first major project in India, the organization was grateful that its technology-driven approach was successfully overcoming challenges to positively impact the lives of the affected children.
Rekindling Hope in Churachandpur Town
Nipamacha, a teenager from Churachandpur town, was one of the many who witnessed devastation during the violent upheaval, losing his home, his father's jewellery, and their family's hotel business. Despite the loss, Nipamacha found hope in the form of supportive hands reaching out to rebuild their lives, inspiring resilience and perseverance even amidst the darkest of times.
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