1 00:00:10,478 --> 00:00:12,028 Good Morning 2 00:00:12,808 --> 00:00:18,098 Worldwide, over 1.5 billion people experience un conflict 3 00:00:19,137 --> 00:00:21,738 In response, people are forced to flee their country. 4 00:00:21,738 --> 00:00:25,078 leaving over 15 million refugees. 5 00:00:25,508 --> 00:00:27,227 children without a doubt are 6 00:00:27,227 --> 00:00:30,227 the most innocent and vulnerable victims 7 00:00:30,330 --> 00:00:33,090 but not just from the obvious physical dangers, 8 00:00:33,158 --> 00:00:37,158 but from, the often, unspoken affects that wars have on their families. 9 00:00:38,088 --> 00:00:41,088 The experiences of war leave children at real high risk 10 00:00:41,098 --> 00:00:44,788 for the development of emotional and behavioural problems. 11 00:00:45,578 --> 00:00:47,508 children as we can only imagine, 12 00:00:47,508 --> 00:00:49,638 will feel worried, threaten and at risk. 13 00:00:50,825 --> 00:00:52,435 but there is good news. 14 00:00:52,435 --> 00:00:54,914 The Quality of care that children recieve 15 00:00:54,914 --> 00:00:58,234 in their families, can have a more significant effects 16 00:00:58,234 --> 00:01:00,254 on their well-being, than from 17 00:01:00,282 --> 00:01:03,822 the actual experiences of war that they have been exposed to. 18 00:01:04,282 --> 00:01:07,092 So actually, children can be protected 19 00:01:07,302 --> 00:01:09,490 by warm, secure parenting. 20 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:11,967 during and after conflict. 21 00:01:13,637 --> 00:01:17,157 In 2011, I was a first year PHD Student 22 00:01:17,157 --> 00:01:19,127 in the University Of Manchester 23 00:01:19,127 --> 00:01:21,271 School Of Physiological Sciences. 24 00:01:21,271 --> 00:01:24,431 Like many of you here, I watched the crisis in Syria 25 00:01:24,462 --> 00:01:26,352 unfold in front of me on the Tv. 26 00:01:26,352 --> 00:01:29,842 My family are originally from Syria, and very early on 27 00:01:29,842 --> 00:01:32,942 I lost several family members in really horrifying ways. 28 00:01:33,092 --> 00:01:36,632 I sit and I gathered with my family to watch the Tv. 29 00:01:37,002 --> 00:01:38,662 So we have all seen those scenes, 30 00:01:38,662 --> 00:01:42,662 barns destroying, buildings, chaos, destruction. 31 00:01:42,852 --> 00:01:45,382 and people screaming and running. 32 00:01:45,662 --> 00:01:47,902 it was always the people screaming and running 33 00:01:47,902 --> 00:01:49,882 that really got me the most. 34 00:01:49,882 --> 00:01:52,492 Specially those terrified looking children. 35 00:01:53,574 --> 00:01:57,234 I was a mother to two young, typically inquisitive children. 36 00:01:57,234 --> 00:01:58,824 They were five and six then. 37 00:01:59,259 --> 00:02:01,849 At an age when they typically ask lots and lots of questions 38 00:02:01,849 --> 00:02:04,509 and expect real convincing answers. 39 00:02:05,578 --> 00:02:08,218 So I began to wonder what it might be like 40 00:02:08,352 --> 00:02:12,352 to parent my children in a war-zone and a refugee camp. 41 00:02:12,448 --> 00:02:14,198 Would my children change? 42 00:02:15,048 --> 00:02:18,228 Would my daughter's bright happy eyes lose their shine? 43 00:02:18,677 --> 00:02:21,157 would my sons' really relax care-free nature 44 00:02:21,807 --> 00:02:23,727 become fearful and withdrawn? 45 00:02:24,799 --> 00:02:26,139 How would I cope? 46 00:02:27,712 --> 00:02:29,442 Would I change? 47 00:02:30,552 --> 00:02:32,822 As psychologists and parent's trainers 48 00:02:32,832 --> 00:02:34,662 we know that arming parents 49 00:02:34,662 --> 00:02:36,732 with skills and caring for their children 50 00:02:36,732 --> 00:02:39,182 can have a huge effect on their well-being. 51 00:02:40,026 --> 00:02:42,436 We call this Parents Training. 52 00:02:42,436 --> 00:02:43,896 So the questions I had 53 00:02:43,896 --> 00:02:47,896 was could Parent Training programs be useful for families 54 00:02:48,083 --> 00:02:50,843 while they're still in war-zones or refugee camps? 55 00:02:51,202 --> 00:02:53,692 Could we reach them with advise or training 56 00:02:53,692 --> 00:02:56,272 that would help them through the struggles? 57 00:02:57,849 --> 00:03:00,039 So, I approached my PHD supervisor, 58 00:03:00,269 --> 00:03:01,789 professor Rachel Calam, 59 00:03:01,789 --> 00:03:04,189 with my idea of using my academic skills 60 00:03:04,189 --> 00:03:06,579 to make some changes in the real world. 61 00:03:06,579 --> 00:03:09,529 I wasn't quite sure, exactly, what I wanted to do. 62 00:03:09,529 --> 00:03:11,599 She listened carefully and patiently, 63 00:03:11,599 --> 00:03:12,769 And to my joy, she said: 64 00:03:12,769 --> 00:03:14,519 "If that is what you want to do, 65 00:03:14,519 --> 00:03:16,909 and it means so much to you, Let's do it. 66 00:03:17,349 --> 00:03:20,489 Let's find ways to see if parent programs can be useful 67 00:03:20,825 --> 00:03:23,455 for families in this contexts." 68 00:03:23,455 --> 00:03:26,475 So for the past five years myself and my colleagues, 69 00:03:26,775 --> 00:03:28,785 professor Calam and Dr. Kim Cartwright 70 00:03:28,905 --> 00:03:31,055 have been working on ways to support families 71 00:03:31,055 --> 00:03:34,545 that have experienced war and displacement. 72 00:03:35,089 --> 00:03:36,589 Now, to know how to help families that have been 73 00:03:37,229 --> 00:03:39,959 through conflict, support their children, 74 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the first step must obviously be 75 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to ask them what are they struggling with. Right? 76 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I mean, it seems obvious, 77 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but often those are the most vulnerable 78 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 that we are trying to support that we actually don't ask. 79 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 How many times have we just assumed 80 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we know exactly the right thing that is gonna help 81 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 someone or something without actually asking 82 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 them first.