In the Gaza Strip children under the 16 years of age comprise more than 50 percent of the total population. During the Intifada, they were subjected to arrests, physical and psychological torture, and to many other traumatic experiences. The Gazan children have also been affected by the harsh socio-economic conditions prevalent in the Gaza Strip.

If the mental health problems of these children are not dealt with early in their development, they are at risk later for more serious problems as teens and anti-social behaviors as adults. Children in Gaza have a right to grow up as happy and responsible citizens. This model citizen is born in the home, the classroom, or in summer camps. The idea of the course has been created to equip childcare providers (School and Kindergarten teachers) with basic communications skills and child developmental enabling them to carry out their work effectively. The course is run jointly with the GCMHP children Committee.

The Main objectives

• To introduce the participants to the basic ideas of interpersonal communication and to help them examine the ways in which they communicate with children
  
• Raise the participants awareness of the education concept and those with special educational needs
  
• Teach participants about assertiveness and how to become more assertive in their communications with children and their families.
  
• Introduce the participants to the main child mental health problems that they encounter.
  
• Make the participants aware of the child's rights

  The outcomes

• Develop understanding of the child educational concept and various influences upon its development
  
• Understand common child ill-health problems and develop the skills of early identification of mental ill-health among children
  
• Understand and use good listing, verbal and non verbal communication skills that children mainly use
  
• Understand their role in promoting child's rights and creativity.
  
• Interpret the healthy child developmental stages
  
• Analyze the consequences of torture and human rights violations on children and their families