School recovery programme for tsunami affected children: Intervention model from south India

In various national and international guidelines children are considered as one of the vulnerable groups who need immediate attention. Sending the children back to school and starting regular schooling is an essential step in disaster intervention programme. The international documents and guidelines have emphasized this point. With reopening of the school it is equally essential to start the psychosocial process of healing and the school recovery programme that the school community could rebuild their shattered life and work for better future. This article described the international guidelines for school intervention in the event of disaster and the interventions with the children with a specific case description of a school recovery programme conducted in the Kanyakumari district following South Asian Tsunami (2004). Overtly, the paper brings outs all relevant issues that field practitioners should know for facilitating all round recovery among the children in disaster affected areas.