Something as simple as finger puppets may help children in Afghanistan feel safer.

Early next month, a group of East Bay volunteers -- three of them professional therapists -- will travel all over the war-torn country in a humanitarian project designed to bring emotional support to children traumatized by the loss of parents, siblings and homes.

Alamo therapist Casi Kushel, who has worked with refugees and immigrants for nearly 20 years, is going with Walnut Creek therapist Taghi Amjedi of the Jewish Family and Children's Services, and Lafayette family therapist Suzanne Pregerson. All the volunteers are paying their expenses for the three-week trip. They will be working with children in orphanages, camps, clinics and schools in the Kabul region as part of a two year effort.

"This is an unusual collaboration, bringing people and organizations together," Kushel said. "We are hoping to bring attention to the situation of mental health, using child-friendly methods."

"The kids have been through enormous loss and trauma. They have nightmares. They have been physically hurt by landmines. This is an impossible load for a little child."

Kushel has been working on a program involving drawings, music and finger puppets to reassure the children and help them sleep better and focus, so the ones able to attend school can do schoolwork.

The team also will conduct a training program for teachers, clinic workers and parents in Afghanistan, to help empower women who had been kept from schools and jobs under the Taliban regime.

According to the Santa Barbara-based Afghan Academy of Hope, there are 2.6 million children in first through sixth grades in Afghanistan -- far above the 1.8 million students cited by UNICEF.

"There are twice as many children as can be accommodated," Kushel said. "They want desperately to go to school."

While relief organizations are providing food, medicine and other aid to Afghan children and families, the psychological aspects of war and loss have been little addressed, Kushel said.

As the volunteers prepare for the trip, scores of helpers from Mormon churches in western United States are making hundreds of boy and girl felt finger puppets dressed in native costumes. The finger puppets that were on hand were inappropriate -- "white blond hair sticking out," Kushel said.

Kushel said part of the child therapy will be to press finger puppet into each child's hand and close his or her hand over the puppet to keep the puppet safe. The act of providing safety for that puppet, she said, may help soother the child, too. The children also will be making drawings of things that have frightened them, and talking about their feelings.

With the help of local Afghans, Kushel and the others have immersed themselves in Afghan culture, geography, language and customs.

The effort is being co-sponsored by the Afghan Academy of Hope, the Medical, Educational and Peace Organization, Afghan Family Support and other organizations.

Tax-free donations may be sent to Afghan Academy of Hope as follows:

Ambassadors for Children (AFC)
C/O AAOH
5710 Hollister Ave. #155
Goleta, CA 93117


or visit www.aaoh.org