Centers
FEATURING niScvt CentersS
AL-BUSS
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTION OF SOCIAL CARE
AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING
“BEIT ATFAL ASSOMOUD”
Background:
Al-Buss camp is located 1.5 km to the South of Tyre city. It was established in 1939 during the French mandate to shelter refugees from Armenia. In 1948 and after Al-Nakba, the Lebanese government replaced the Armenian refugees with the Palestinian refugees.
• The population of the camp is approximately 10,000 persons (UNRWA 2003).
• People in the camp earn their income from various types of work: agriculture, construction and small private businesses.
• Al-Buss camp like other camps has guarded entrances, and the Lebanese government controls the entry of any construction materials to the camp since 1997.
• UNRWA runs four schools; two intermediate and two primary schools., with
an enrollment figure of 2,000 students.
• UNRWA provides health services through a clinic, a laboratory and an X-ray facility, which serves the entire Tyre region.
• 12 NGOs are working within the camp implementing various programs.
Al-Buss Center:
The center in Al Buss centre was launched in October 2007. The center provides mental health services for the entire Tyre area, ranging from psychiatry, to psychotherapy and speech therapy, in addition to social support and follow-up to families in need.
The center runs the following programs:
* Family Happiness Project:
Thought this project, sponsorship is provided for 59 children within 27 families.
* Educational and recreational activities:
Every Friday the centre runs activities for children and teenagers from 6 to 18 years old, numbering 45 children who are divided into three groups. These facilities are in addition to fortnight long intensive program of varied activities during summer time, taking place in the month of July every year.
* The Family Guidance Centre: FGC Al-Buss
The Family Guidance Centre in Al-Buss camp was established in November 2007. It provides mental health therapy and counselling for all inhabitants in the Palestinian camps and population gatherings in Tyre area.
The services range from psychiatry, to psychotherapy and speech therapy, in addition to social support and follow-up to families in need.
All the NGOs, Schools, and Clinics benefit from this project
The team of the Family Guidance Centre (FGC):
- One Psychiatrist.
- Two Psychotherapists.
- One Speech therapist
- One social worker
The target groups are children, adolescents and their parents.
Awareness Raising:
A series of lectures and training workshops have been organized for parents, social workers, teachers and young volunteers. Various organizations were also invited to participate in meetings to discuss mental health issues such as psychiatric disorders, psychological development, communication skills, stress management, relaxation techniques and language and speech difficulties.
Treatment and therapy:
The psychiatrist sees all patients for assessment and referral to the relevant professional and in some cases to more than one professional. The professional in question later decides the type treatment needed and follow-up process.
Every Saturday a regular meeting is held between the professional staff, director of the centre and the social worker, to discuss the cases, share opinions and make needed decisions were appropriate. Administrative issues are also discussed.
Pathologies Encountered
*Learning difficulties *Bed-wetting *Repeated School Failure *Phobia *Depression *Sleeping difficulties *Poor Concentration *Speech and Language difficulties * Sexual abuse* Behavioural problems.