Healing Invisible Wounds: How LIPPA’s MHPSS Project in Lebanon is Restoring Childhood

War steals more than homes. It takes away laughter, sleep, and the sense of safety that every child deserves. In Lebanon, where conflict has forced thousands into shelters, many children carry invisible wounds—memories of explosions, the loss of loved ones, and the fear that danger will find them again. Their bodies may be safe, but their minds remain trapped in fear.

That’s why, in October 2024, LIPPA, in partnership with CCN and DCI Lebanon, launched the “MHPSS Project Lebanon.” This initiative provides Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) to 70 displaced children aged 6-14 who have seen and lost too much and need more than food and shelter to survive.

Rebuilding Childhood in the Midst of War

Imagine being six years old and waking up in a shelter, miles from home, unsure if you will ever return. Imagine watching your parents cry in silence, trying to be strong for you, while the world outside feels like it’s crumbling. This is the reality for so many children in Mount Lebanon’s shelters.

LIPPA’s response is not just about treating trauma—it’s about giving these children a reason to hope again. Through CCN’s established operational centers in Baalchmay, Shwaifat, Ain Anoub, Sawfar, and Bchamoun, children are welcomed into safe spaces where trained specialists help them express their pain, process their experiences, and slowly, step by step, reclaim their childhood.

With Locals, we provide : 

 Safe Spaces: Shelters alone are not enough. These children need places where they can play, talk, and just be kids again—without fear.

Trauma-Informed Care: Trained professionals work with the most vulnerable children, helping them navigate loss, fear, and anxiety through structured psychosocial activities.

Family & Community Involvement: Healing doesn’t happen in isolation. Families and shelter managers play a key role in identifying children in crisis and ensuring they receive the support they need.

Hope Amidst the Rubble

War teaches children how to survive—but who teaches them how to live again? At LIPPA, we believe that healing is just as urgent as food or shelter. A child’s mind should not be another battlefield, and with the proper care, words, and support, they can begin to feel safe again. This project is more than an initiative—it’s a commitment to resilience, to recovery, and to the belief that no child should be forgotten in the aftermath of war.

Because every child deserves more than survival, they deserve to dream again.