The deep-seated socio-political conflict that has ravaged the Northwest (NW) and Southwest (SW) regions of Cameroon constitutes a crisis of catastrophic proportions, where the psychological casualties often surpass the physical ones. In the crucible of violence, displacement, and economic collapse, the most profound victims are the children, whose developing minds are tragically exposed to trauma that threatens to redefine their future. The problem statement facing the region is clear, yet terrifying: thousands of children are living in a chronic state of heightened anxiety and distress, having witnessed or experienced unspeakable acts, separated from routines, and stripped of the safety and predictability essential for healthy development. The traditional mechanisms of support, stable families, functional schools, and cohesive communities have been shattered, leaving a gaping void in the mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) safety net. This is not just a need for basic aid, but an urgent imperative to restore the very architecture of childhood, demanding an immediate, specialized, and rights-based intervention focused squarely on child protection.

In response to this harrowing reality, LUKMEF partnered with UNICEF and ECHO for the critical period spanning October 2023 to May 2024, deploying an innovative strategy centered on the Child-Friendly Space (CFS) model as the primary vehicle for psychosocial healing and protection. This approach recognized that healing for children is often delivered not in a sterile clinic, but through the power of structured, therapeutic play. The strategy involved the rapid establishment of safe havens, leading to the creation of 28+ child-friendly spaces across affected communities, 13 of which remain actively functional today, serving as non-negotiable bastions of safety. The success of this time-sensitive, emergency intervention lay in its highly focused and specialized MHPSS delivery. For instance, in the community of Babessi (NW), which recorded the highest reach in this specific framework, 624 children accessed the CFS for play-based therapy, participating in structured sessions specifically designed to reduce trauma and psychological distress by systematically reintroducing elements of routine, fun, and safety. This model was meticulously designed to be inclusive and gender-responsive, a principle evidenced by the 2,522+ children engaged in CFS activities, comprising 1,170 boys and 1,352 girls, demonstrating deliberate efforts to ensure equitable access to healing.

However, the strategy innovatively recognized that the child’s recovery is inextricably linked to the stability of their primary caregivers. Therefore, a parallel effort was launched to empower 773 caregivers through specialized parenting programs. These sessions, delivered in locations like Besongabang (SW), which reached 274 children, and Bonakanda (SW), were crucial for building the skills necessary to foster stable, nurturing home environments amid displacement and chronic adversity. This two-pronged approach (1)healing the child through structured play and (2) stabilizing the family unit through parental psycho-education was the engine of the UNICEF/ECHO-funded work. The total reach of 5,303 beneficiaries achieved under this project was essential in building the critical mass of protection needed in the initial phase of the crisis.

This success, measured by the reduction of trauma and the strengthening of parental capacity, laid the indispensable foundation for LUKMEF’s broader, multi-donor MHPSS initiative, which ultimately reached over 18,722 beneficiaries and set the stage for long-term sustainability efforts, including the future integration of services targeting 3,874+ children in GAC Year 1 activities. The UNICEF/ECHO partnership thus proves that targeted, specialized psychosocial emergency response is the first and most vital step in reclaiming the rights and futures of conflict-affected children.