Play Therapy Helps Venezuela's Youngest Quake Survivors

When disaster strikes, adults focus on shelter and food. But aid workers in Venezuela are tackling something just as critical: helping children process trauma through play.

After powerful earthquakes destroyed coastal communities last month, organizations like UNICEF and World Vision created Child Friendly Spaces in temporary shelters. The approach might seem simple, but it's rooted in trauma psychology.

"Through play and group dynamics, children can begin to express themselves, begin to release the stress and trauma caused by this catastrophe," Manuel Rodríguez Pumarol, UNICEF's representative in Venezuela, tells CNN. The goal isn't forcing kids to talk about what happened, but giving them safe spaces to start healing naturally.

Eight to ten mobile spaces now operate across Caracas and La Guaira, the hardest-hit areas. Children play board games, create art, and kick soccer balls on improvised fields. For kids who've lost homes and routines, these ordinary activities provide extraordinary comfort.

The spaces serve practical purposes too. Psychologists and social workers observe children during activities, offering counseling when needed. They also support caregivers navigating their own grief while trying to remain strong for kids.

Why This Inspires

About 234,000 children need assistance after the earthquakes, according to UNICEF estimates. That includes kids who lost homes or relatives, plus those affected by disrupted water, medical care, and school services.

Andrea Lasso, World Vision's Emergency Response Manager in Venezuela, says the spaces address something adults often overlook during disasters. "They need some space where they can feel safe again, where they can be protected, where they can play and interact with other children," she explains. "That's critical for their recovery and for them to rebuild their lives."

The approach recognizes a key truth about childhood trauma: there's no single way to cope. Some kids talk immediately, others need time. Play provides a universal language for healing.

Aid groups are working to clear temporary camps from school buildings before the next academic year starts. Venezuela's government reports additional support: the Simon Bolivar Orchestra is teaching music, toys are being distributed, and the Football Federation has set up more soccer fields.

The work continues as children slowly regain their sense of safety, one game at a time.