Helping Assourita* to heal and smile again.

Written by Fatou Diagne

In the dynamic city of Timbuktu, often referred to as the city with 333 saints” or “"the pearl of the desert,"  Assourita, just five years old, was tending to her injuries following a tragic accident. After enduring a prolonged period of distress, finally the healing process began to start, thanks to the dedication of Mamadou*, a social worker from the NGO Terre des Hommes, a UNICEF partner.

Assourita's story unfolds one morning in her family’s courtyard, where she was playing quietly until her peace was shattered: "She was playing in the yard when suddenly an explosive device fell into the house," recounts her mother, Mariam*, her gaze fixed on her daughter. "At first, we didn’t notice anything, but after a few minutes, we saw that she was bleeding profusely. We then rushed her to the hospital." 

Assourita's laughter often turned into silence following that incident, creating a void not only in her heart but also in her once joyful spirit. After a few days of treatment, she was finally discharged from the hospital. This marked the beginning of a lengthy journey of psychosocial care, essential not only for helping Assourita regain her smile and zest for life but also for her parents, who needed to demonstrate remarkable resilience to support her through a challenge that no child of her age should ever have to face.

Informed by social services, the UNICEF Child Protection Administrator promptly reached out to Assourita's parents and introduced them to partner organization, Terre des Hommes. Following a thorough assessment, social worker Mamadou was assigned to oversee the child's case. He visited the family regularly and made 2 to 3 follow-up calls each week.

"When I visited, I would kneel beside Assourita, offering her a notebook and a pencil, encouraging her to express what made her happy," Mamadou shares during a session with Assourita. "Initially, her drawings were quite chaotic, likely reflecting her emotional state. Gradually, her creativity began to emerge, and her smile returned." 

In Mali, the availability of specialized psychologists is quite limited. These training programmes equip community members with the skills necessary to provide invaluable support in response to an increasing demand, particularly in areas affected by the humanitarian crisis.

Abdoulaye Maiga

UNICEF supports the project " Investing in potential: fulfilling the reintegration needs of adolescents," with funding from the Czech Republic, and in collaboration with the consortium of the Malian Organization of Psychologists and the Malian Association of Social Workers. This project has equipped 242 local community actors and non-specialized care providers, such as Mamadou, with new skills in mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS). It aims to restore hope to those affected by the crisis in the country. Capacity-building sessions were conducted in the regions of Timbuktu, Sikasso, Gao, Ménaka, Mopti, and Douentza, focusing on modules such as psychological first aid, child development stages, psychosocial care, helping relationship skills, positive parenting, and peer support.

“In Mali, the availability of specialized psychologists is quite limited. These training programmes equip community members with the skills necessary to provide invaluable support in response to an increasing demand, particularly in areas affected by the humanitarian crisis”, according to Abdoulaye Maiga, a psychologist and member of the Association of Psychologists of Mali. "Currently, all are actively engaged in the field, and we continue to monitor their progress through monthly sessions where they present cases, allowing everyone to exchange advice to enhance their services."

Following these training sessions, actors like Moussa have provided gender-sensitive protection services to over 8,000 children, including Assourita, as well as their parents or guardians. This support has enabled them to navigate various traumatic situations, surpassing the initial goal of reaching 4,000 children set by the project. According to Moussa, "The children have learned to express their emotions through art, music, and storytelling, gradually rediscovering their voices. Each session was akin to planting seeds of resilience, nurtured with attentive care."

Abdoulaye, a psychologist and one of the trainers, emphasized that "these training programs should be expanded to include other stakeholders and should incorporate new elements, particularly those related to actors who care for children displaced by floods or natural disasters." 

Comfortably resting in her mother's arms, Assourita is gradually recovering and healing from her injuries, under the watchful care of her parents. Her mother, Mariam, shares the positive impact of the intervention provided to her daughter by Mamadou. "If my daughter had not received proper medical follow-up and weekly sessions with Moussa, she would likely have developed complications that could have affected her life. I am confident that she will grow up peacefully."

Mali is currently facing a multidimensional crisis, particularly marked by attacks on civilians in the northern and central regions. According to the June 3, 2024, report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations regarding children and armed conflict globally, there have been 1,232 reported grave violations against children in Mali (the report covers period from January 1st to December 2023). Furthermore, the number of violent incidents recorded in Mali by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) has been on the rise, increasing from 1,267 in 2020 to 2,228 in 2023, which represents a 76% increase over a four-year period. 

*Names changed to protect beneficiaries and actors' identities.