Recovery of Individuals and Communities

The Sport and Physical Activities as Psycho-Social Interventions (SPAPSI) project is developing a handbook for development workers that will be distributed to agencies worldwide, a free web resource, translation of materials into different languages, and the formulation of training workshops for development workers, in order to prepare and guide the workers in psycho-social recovery programmes for implementation in trauma stricken communities through the use of sport, games, and physical activities.

Psychological trauma as a result of catastrophe, such as natural disaster or war, is unfortunately a widespread phenomenon all over the world and has profound effects on the individuals and communities that experience them. Last year´s tsunami in Japan and earthquake in New Zealand are two examples of events that caused major destruction to communities and a range of trauma responses in individuals. The horror of such major occurrences are often beyond the coping abilities of individuals and a number of post-catastrophe effects such as terror, fear, helplessness and agitation can ensue. While numerous organisations or military support are often quick to offer infrastructure rebuilding and nutritional aid, the psycho-social consequences of such events are largely forgotten. However, in recent years humanitarian organisations are beginning to address the emotional and social needs of individuals and communities following such catastrophes to address the effects of psychological trauma.