Book review: Headwaters Series

By Headwaters

Headwaters has authored several books to help children and families process disaster-related grief and loss and develop coping skills. The books have been translated into over 15 languages and have addressed the earthquake in Haiti, the typhoon in the Philippines, Ebola in West Africa, trafficking and girls’ empowerment in Nepal, earthquakes and hurricanes in Puerto Rico, and refugee children in Greece and Jordan. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the public health crisis was addressed by creating coloring books for children. The coloring books were widely distributed in South America, 9 European countries, and all 50 states in the US. Each book is accompanied by a caregiver guide that provides instruction on using the books to support children.

Books are generally written at a 4th to 6th-grade level. Although all the books developed by Headwaters are written for children, they can also be used with families and communities. By exploring normal reactions to abnormal events, such as earthquakes, individuals of any age can process and explore coping methods. The books are not available for public sale but are donated to the communities after training the community members and caregivers. The goal is that every book will get into the hands of a child in the community who may benefit from it.

Some examples of books developed by the organization are described and illustrated below.

• (1) When Haiti Shakes was the first book created by Headwaters in 2010 to help children understand earthquakes and learn what to do when they occurred. Reprints of the book (2011 & 2012) were completed in consultation with the Ministry of Education and translated into English, Creole, and French.
• (2) When Strong Winds Blow was created with consultation from Filipino volunteers after Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013. It is designed to assist children in coping with their trauma experience and empower them with techniques to cope with future unexpected events. The book features pictures of familiar animals showing their experiences of the event and their emotional expressions. It also has a caregiver guide.
• (3) When the Great Sickness Came was created by youth volunteers, writers, and artists in consultation with individuals from Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia. The book explores the emotions and family losses related to the Ebola outbreak. A teacher/caregiver guide offers techniques to help children understand the virus and cope with loss while also providing suggestions for maintaining their physical and emotional health. Community partners in Sierra Leone have also developed the book into a play. The book has been read over loudspeakers, replacing drumming as a form of communication in the villages.
• (4) The Savage Wind helps children who experienced Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico in 2017 understand their experiences. The coping techniques described can be applied to most traumatic events. A caregiver guide accompanies the book.
• (5) Together Again (Hami Sangai—in Nepali) discusses human trafficking and the harmful social and cultural practices that support it. This book has a preventative focus designed to educate children and their families about trafficking and how to work together to prevent it and support victims. Teachers, caregivers, and the community were trained on how to use the book with children.
• (6) Together We Stand was created in 2022 for children and families affected by war and the ongoing geopolitical disaster. The book and caregiver’s guide are written in Ukrainian and Russian, with translations in Polish and Hungarian. The book provides suggestions for adults on how to monitor their children carefully, risk factors, and some of the possible difficulties of working with displaced children. Volunteers worked with refugees-parents and children- who crossed the border to seek safety from the conflict. Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) personnel were also taught how to use the books with the children.
• (7) The Night Our World Shook was created following the February 2023 earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. The book teaches children what to do when an earthquake happens and how talking to adults and processing feelings can help. A section for adults is designed to teach parents what physical and emotional reactions children may have after a traumatic event. This book was developed during political elections in Turkey, when differences in ideas and ideology due to culture proliferated, making disaster-related work more difficult, e.g., cultural issues centered around whether women should be mandated to wear a head covering in public places.

Headwaters seeks to inspire passion in serving others by forging connections among those being served, the Headwaters team, and the community. Regardless of age, background, skills, or experience, every volunteer feels valued and motivated to serve others. Volunteers learn to recognize, respect, and value differences, and by doing so, they build stronger communities and a better world for everyone.

For more information, reference this issue’s Feature article and/or visit https://headwatersrelief.org.

Reviewers: Priscilla Dass-Brailsford & Rebecca Hage Thomley