Arts Based Therapy for Survivors of Trauma and Abuse in Government and NGO-Run Children’s Homes for Girls in Delhi

Children in institutions have often been through grave life experiences – loss, abandonment, death of loved ones, violence, betrayal and neglect. While policymakers, civil society, and practitioners working within institutions recognize the seriousness of the traumas many of these children have experienced, the importance of guaranteeing positive mental health conditions for them, as children and as future adult citizens, is yet to be clearly stated.

Children growing up without a family and in the very particular environment of institutions face psychological challenges that need to be addressed in a systemic way. Besides taking care of specific traumatic instances, there needs to be a holistic approach to mental health, considering every child as a unique individual, with his/her own needs, fears, background, abilities, interests, and problems.

In this context, Save the Children initiated the Creative Arts based therapy as a child-friendly psycho-social alternative intervention for child survivors of trauma and abuse living in childcare institutions for girls. This report documents the impact of Creative Arts Based Therapy on children in institutions undertaken as part of Save the Children’s intervention in India.