New story book released by IASC to help children cope with COVID-19
Across the world, COVID-19 hits hard infecting almost 2 million people and over 100,000 people have died fighting it. Health workers in the frontline of the pandemic are getting infected and medical centres around the world are running low on medical supplies. Children are also amongst those fighting the coronavirus, they also feel the pain and of course they’ve been asking questions.
In a bid to help educate children about the virus, Inter-Agency Standing Committee Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings (IASC MHPSS RG) a subsidiary of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs launched a story book titled “My Hero is You, How kids can fight COVID-19!”. The book features a fantasy creature named Ario, who gives explanations on how children can protect themselves and their families from the coronavirus and how to cope with the difficult emotions “when confronted with a new and rapidly changing reality”.
According to the IASC, the book is directed at children aged 6-11 years old, the book has been widely translated into six languages in order to reach as many children as possible. Thirty more languages are also been worked on. The project was also supported by “global, regional and country based experts from Member Agencies of the IASC MHPSS RG, in addition to parents, caregivers, teachers and children in 104 countries”.
“During the early stages of the project, more than 1700 children, parents, caregivers and teachers from around the world shared how they were coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. The input was invaluable to script writer and illustrator Helen Patuck and the project team in making sure that the story and its messages resonated with children from different backgrounds and continents,” the IASC said in a statement.
The book was produced in collaboration with more than 50 organisations all working in the humanitarian sector which includes, the World Health Organisation, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and Save the Children.
