Working in Bam, British Red Cross delegate Catherine Lengyel saw what a difference the programme is making to people’s lives. She recalls:
“Large cracks still scarred the walls of the auditorium in the Bam headquarters of the Iranian Red Crescent – a silent reminder of the earthquake that devastated this town on 26 December 2003. But the bright eyes of the 50 or so children assembled here were firmly fixed on the stage in gleeful anticipation.
“A scratchy recording of a catchy popular tune filled the hall and the children were clapping enthusiastically in time to the music.
“This was the time to party, and we were here to celebrate the photos they had taken. Some weeks earlier, each child had been given a disposable camera and invited to take pictures of Bam. A number of these had been selected for publication in a special commemorative book.
“As I handed out a copy of the book to each participant, I recognized a boy who had taken a picture of his infant cousin, asleep on the floor of their tented shelter – his only living relative. He shuffled on stage rather shyly, but no sooner had he sat down again than he was excitedly rifling through the pages of the book, proudly pointing to his own contribution.
“Later, when asked by one of the psychologists what had been the best part of the project, this same boy looked up, eyes aglow, and said: ‘The party!’ It was a fitting response. The children had become children once again.”
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