Because the deepest wounds are the ones we cannot see.
The trauma of war doesn’t end when the bombing stops. For children who have survived violence, displacement, and loss, the emotional scars run deep. Nightmares, anxiety, withdrawal, anger, grief – these are the invisible wounds carried long after the physical ones are treated.
“Trauma Recovery” is one of HopeNest’s most sacred commitments. Through this cause, we create spaces where children can begin to process the unthinkable – and where healing becomes possible.
In Gaza and Cairo, our trauma-informed workshops offer children a safe place to reconnect with themselves, express their pain, and rediscover joy. Run by local psychologists and facilitators, these sessions use art, movement, music, storytelling, and play as tools for expression and emotional regulation.
Each workshop is carefully designed to meet children where they are – in their fear, their confusion, and their longing to feel normal again. Whether in a hospital corridor, a makeshift classroom, or a solidarity housing complex, HopeNest becomes a sanctuary where children are seen, heard, and gently held.
But trauma recovery isn’t a one-time event – it’s a journey.
That’s why we also support long-term mental health care for war-injured children and their families. This includes access to psychological assessments, therapeutic interventions, and emotional support for guardians, many of whom carry immense burdens of their own.
In Egypt, we’ve also introduced equine-assisted therapy for children evacuated from Gaza – a powerful form of healing where children build trust and regulation through gentle, guided interactions with rescued horses. Many of these children, amputees and survivors of unimaginable violence, find peace for the first time in these quiet moments – feeding, brushing, or simply walking beside a horse that has also survived.
We’ve watched children who barely spoke begin to sing. We’ve seen amputees laugh while painting. We’ve witnessed teenagers who once hid from strangers joyfully hand out lollies to younger kids. And we’ve seen a child resting their forehead against a horse’s mane, breathing deeply, as if remembering what safety feels like.
These moments remind us: healing is possible – even here.
When you give to Trauma Recovery, you are not just funding therapy – you are helping rebuild the emotional foundation of a child’s life. You are saying, “Your heart matters as much as your body. Your story is safe with us.”
We do this work because we know that trauma untreated becomes generational – but trauma held with care can become transformation.
