28 March 2011 - Save the Children is providing specialised training for Plunket and Barnardos staff to help children and their families affected by the Christchurch earthquake.

Save the Children is the world’s largest independent organisation for children operating programmes in more than 120 countries including New Zealand. The organisation has been working in Christchurch to assess how best to help children and their families following the 22 February earthquake.

“This as an important time for us to share our international experience and expertise and work together with local organisations Plunket and Barnardos to benefit children and families,” says Liz Gibbs, CEO of Save the Children New Zealand.

“Save the Children is training Plunket and Barnardos staff to deliver the Journey of Hope programmes that provide psychosocial support for children, their parents and caregivers following an emergency, by building their resilience and sense of community,” says Ms Gibbs.

Save the Children developed the Journey of Hope programmes after Hurricane Katrina in the United States in 2005 as a way to help children and their families who were rebuilding their lives.

“Save the Children specialists from the United States have been working with specialists in Christchurch to adapt the Journey of Hope programmes for the New Zealand environment. Its age specific medium term programmes for children and adults to build safety back into their lives,” says Ms Gibbs.

For the next two weeks one of the developers of the Journey of Hope programmes is in Christchurch from New Orleans to train both Plunket and Barnardos staff.

“We have a number of families in Christchurch with children and parents who are suffering the emotional after effects of the earthquake. These programmes will allow Plunket clinical staff to deliver a tried and true, internationally developed programme to help these families get through this tremendously difficult time,” says Plunket CEO Jenny Prince.

“We’re really pleased to be able to support Save the Children to deliver these programmes, which will be of real value to the parents and children we work with in Christchurch,” says Murray Edridge, Chief Executive of Barnardos.

“Save the Children began in New Zealand with its first branch in Christchurch in 1947. Helping the children and families affected by last month’s earthquake in Christchurch is an important way that we are able to give back to New Zealanders who generously support our fundraising efforts for children affected by emergencies around the world,” says Ms Gibbs.

ENDS

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