Victims Support Fund (VSF)

Restoring Hope, Healing Trauma, and Rebuilding Lives

The Victims Support Fund (VSF) Psychosocial Support Project was implemented by Elohim Development Foundation (EDF) to strengthen the mental health, psychosocial wellbeing, and resilience of internally displaced persons (IDPs) living at the Ortese Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Benue State.

Recognizing the profound emotional and psychological impact of displacement, conflict, and violence, the project provided safe spaces where children, women, and young people could begin the journey toward healing. Through psychosocial support, trauma-informed interventions, recreational activities, and menstrual health education, the project helped restore hope, strengthen resilience, and promote dignity among one of the state's most vulnerable populations.

Our Approach

EDF adopted a holistic, trauma-informed approach that combined psychosocial support, recreational therapy, life skills education, and menstrual health awareness to improve the emotional wellbeing and quality of life of displaced persons.

Trauma Healing and Psychosocial Support

At the heart of the project were structured trauma-healing sessions designed to help participants process the emotional effects of conflict and displacement. Children were provided with safe, supportive environments where they could openly express their fears, experiences, and emotions through guided activities facilitated by trained psychosocial practitioners.

These sessions encouraged emotional expression, built resilience, and helped participants begin the process of healing from traumatic experiences.

Child-Friendly Recreational Therapy

Recognizing the therapeutic value of play, EDF organized a range of child-centred recreational and expressive activities that promoted healing while restoring a sense of normalcy.

Activities included:

• Art Therapy

• Story Therapy

• Alpha Numeracy Sessions

• Structured Play Activities

These interventions encouraged creativity, improved emotional wellbeing, strengthened social interaction, and supported children's cognitive development within the displacement setting.

Community Recreation and Social Cohesion

The project also promoted community wellbeing through recreational activities designed to reduce stress, strengthen social bonds, and encourage positive interactions among camp residents.

Activities included:

• Football competitions for young people

• Dancing competitions for women

• Group recreational activities

• Community engagement sessions

These events fostered joy, strengthened community relationships, and provided opportunities for healthy recreation despite the challenges of displacement.

Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH)

The project recognized Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) as a critical component of women's health, dignity, and psychosocial wellbeing.

EDF conducted knowledge-building sessions for women, adolescent girls, boys, and men to improve understanding of menstruation, challenge harmful myths, and encourage supportive attitudes towards menstrual health.

The sessions emphasized:

• Menstrual hygiene management

• Personal hygiene practices

• Menstrual dignity

• Breaking stigma and misconceptions

• The role of boys and men in supporting menstrual health

• The importance of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in menstrual health management

By engaging both females and males, the project helped create a more supportive environment where menstruation could be discussed openly and managed with dignity, free from shame and discrimination.

Project Location

The project was implemented at the Ortese Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Guma Local Government Area, Benue State, supporting displaced children, women, young people, and families affected by conflict.

Key Achievements

The VSF Psychosocial Support Project successfully:

• Delivered trauma-healing sessions for displaced children.

• Created safe spaces for emotional expression and psychosocial recovery.

• Used art therapy and storytelling as tools for trauma healing.

• Conducted alpha numeracy sessions that combined learning with psychosocial support.

• Organized football competitions and recreational activities for young people.

• Facilitated dancing and wellness activities for women.

• Delivered comprehensive Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) education for women, girls, boys, and men.

• Promoted supportive community attitudes toward menstrual health and dignity.

• Strengthened psychosocial wellbeing and resilience among internally displaced persons.

Lasting Impact

Although the project has been completed, its impact continues through the improved emotional wellbeing, strengthened resilience, and renewed sense of hope experienced by participants. By integrating trauma healing, psychosocial support, recreational therapy, and menstrual health education, the project demonstrated that humanitarian response extends beyond meeting physical needs—it also requires restoring dignity, rebuilding confidence, and creating opportunities for healing.

The VSF Psychosocial Support Project reflects EDF's commitment to delivering people-centred humanitarian interventions that place mental health, dignity, and resilience at the heart of recovery for conflict-affected communities.