More than 600 schools have been closed, and some damaged from the QLD and NSW fires. Up to 45% of children suffer depression after experiencing a natural disaster.
At some stage, the bushfires will subside and with them the appeals for donations will also end. But some children’s worlds will devastatingly change forever. It’s important to remember that even once the immediate crisis has passed, rebuilding takes time and resources.
We have donated to Save the Children’s Child Friendly Spaces campaign. They are setting up Child Friendly Spaces in bushfire-affected regions to help children cope by giving them a place to be kids again. The kids can draw, play and socialise. Most importantly, they can begin to process their experiences in a safe and supported environment. Once the fires have passed, they will continue to work with affected children in the months that follow, helping to reduce their distress and assisting their communities to recover from what they have experienced.
It’s humbling to see the whole world behind this. There are many other charities to donate to and we hope every business and every individual can contribute what they can.
