From seeking safety to daring to dream again
UNICEF is helping refugee children heal and shape a new beginning
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Every day, the child-friendly space at Oure Cassoni refugee camp comes alive as children gather for games, drawing sessions and awareness activities. Beyond the laughter and recreational activities, these daily gatherings serve a deeper purpose: they allow child protection workers to identify children who may need urgent support.
Among the children taking part in the activities is seven-year-old Samira Ibrahim*, wearing a bright pink headscarf.
Like many of the children around her, Samira and her family arrived in eastern Chad with little more than the few belongings they could carry.
Originally from Zamzam in Sudan's North Darfur region, she fled the conflict in June 2025 after violence claimed the lives of both of her parents.
Together with her six siblings, she reached Chad accompanied by their grandmother, whose own injuries bear witness to the violence they fled. After being struck by a bullet, an untreated wound became infected, leading to the amputation of her arm.
Since conflict erupted in neighboring Sudan in April 2023, Chad has welcomed more than 938,000 Sudanese refugees, most of them are women and children seeking safety.
For months, every day was shaped by the trauma of conflict and the relentless struggle for the family to meet its most basic needs. A turning point came when Samira started attending the child-friendly space. It was here that Ronel*, a psychosocial worker with UNICEF's partner, the Association for the Promotion of Fundamental Freedoms in Chad (APLFT), identified her as a child in need of support. Today, Samira enrolled in Grade 1 at a nearby school and rarely misses the activities at the child-friendly space in the afternoons.
Since then, regular psychosocial support has helped Samira express her emotions, rebuild her confidence, and better cope with the lasting impact of the conflict. Beyond psychosocial support, Samira and her family members have also received essential assistance, including sleeping mats, blankets, clothing, mosquito nets, soap, food supplies and more household items, helping them meet their immediate needs.
We are often the first point of support for vulnerable children and their families. Through the child-friendly space, we identify children at risk, assess their needs, raise awareness on child protection issues such as violence, exploitation and child labor, and refer them to appropriate services whenever necessary. Our role is to ensure that no child is left without the care and protection they need.
Supported by 15 trained community child protection volunteers, Ronel oversees activities for an average of 200 children at the child-friendly space, which serves as a vital entry point for identifying vulnerable children and linking them to protection services.
Few people know Samira better than Kadidia*, one of the community child protection volunteers.
Samira can be quite shy at first. But once she feels safe and trusts the people around her, her personality shines through. She loves to let loose and often tells the funniest stories.
I really want to become a doctor so I can help sick people.
With a contribution of close to USD 1million from the Government of Japan, UNICEF and its partners are helping refugee children and families cope with the trauma of conflict and displacement. Through integrated child protection services, children receive psychosocial support, participate in structured recreational activities, and are referred to specialized services whenever needed.
Samira's story is far from unique. Across the community, many children continue to face serious protection risks despite ongoing humanitarian support.
Protection workers are currently managing 37 high-risk child protection cases. 9 incidents of gender-based violence have been documented, although community child protection volunteers believe the true number is much higher, as many survivors remain afraid to report abuse for fear of stigma or retaliation.
Before leaving the child-friendly space, Samira turns to wave at Ronel. Tomorrow, she says, she'll be back to playing with her friends. For a child who once spent her days withdrawn by fear, that simple promise says more than words ever could.
* Not their real name.
