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Chechnya is a federal subject of Russia, located in the northern part of the Caucasus Mountains. 1994 saw the start of a war between Russian forces and Chechen guerrillas striving for an independent Chechnya. In 2000, the Kremlin chose a new Chechen president, by means of which it secured a pro-Moscow governance. Chechen rebels never accepted this and have kept on their guerrilla warfare ever since.
Over the years, the intensity of the conflict has lessened and safety in the country has improved. However, there’s still no satisfying solution to the conflict.
Children in Chechnya
A whole generation has grown up in surroundings of violence, fear, humiliation and poverty, without any hope for improvement in the future. This has had serious consequences for the psychosocial development of this generation. Though their situation shows some progress and improvement, children and youth still fight an everyday battle to continue their lives and their view of the future holds no perceptible improvement. Their consequential feelings of frustration and depression often lead to alcohol and drug abuse, domestic violence and aggression among youth.
War Child’s activities in Chechnya
War Child supports Serlo, a Chechen partner organization. Serlo’s “Kherch Project” takes place on five different locations in Chechnya. At a number of schools, the Serlo team organizes workshops focusing on psychosocial development of children who have to deal with problems as a result of their situation. If necessary, the children receive individual counselling from a Serlo psychologist.
Furthermore, parents and caregivers can also take part in workshops or receive individual counselling, at the same time learning how to help (their) children. Likewise, Serlo trains and advises school teachers on how to offer adequate psychosocial support to their pupils. To offer both children and parents the possibility to talk anonymously and in private about their issues, or to ask for advice, a special phone line was opened.
 Finally and for a more general audience, the Kherch Project calls for more attention for psychosocial problems and their solutions in Chechnya. This is achieved by organizing events with a social message and media publications like articles and newsletters.
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 Read CRISIS PROFILE at Alertnet-What’s going on in Chechnya?
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