In communities recovering from displacement of floods, the sounds of children laughing and playing have become rare. But in Kismayo, that is beginning to change. Northern Frontier Youth League (NoFYL), with support from Somalia Humanitarian Fund (SHF), distributed Psychosocial Support (PSS) kits to 330 (195 boys, 135 girls) children in May 2025, and this has brought a spark of joy and normalcy back into their lives. Packed with footballs, crayons, books, skipping ropes, and traditional diracs, the kits are more than just play items – they are helping children reclaim their childhoods and begin to heal from the invisible wounds of crisis.
Twelve-year-old Abdi, 12, clutching his new football, smiled broadly as he said, “I haven’t played with a real football in months. Now I play with my friends every afternoon. I feel like I can dream again!”
For many children like Abdi, these kits offer a vital outlet to express themselves and simply be children again – something often lost in the shadows of crisis.
“I love the books and the crayons,” shared Ayan, 10, her hands stained with blue and red as she drew pictures in the book. “I draw happy things now. It makes me forget the scary things we saw when we left our home.”
For parents, the change in their children has been both visible and deeply emotional.
“My son used to sit quietly all day,” said Hani, a mother of three. “Since he got the PSS kit, he’s outside jumping rope with his friends. He laughs again. As a mother, this is the first time in a long time I’ve seen him act like a child.”
Another parent, Mohamed, whose family was displaced by floods, shared: “The football in the kit brought all the boys together. They made a team and now play every evening. It’s helping them forget their worries, even just for a while.”
While the items in the kits may appear simple, their impact goes much deeper. They promote social interaction, emotional healing, and a sense of security for children who’ve experienced trauma.
“These kits are designed to support children’s mental health and wellbeing,” explained Sundus Hussein, NoFYL caseworker. “When children play, create art, or read, it helps them process difficult emotions and feel safe again.”
In communities like Kismayo, where recovery from crisis is long and complex, something as small as a skipping rope or a crayon can be powerful. For these children, the PSS kits are more than gifts; they’re tools of hope, healing, and happiness.
“I wear my new dirac when I play with my friends,” said 9-year-old Asha. “It makes me feel pretty. I feel like things are getting better.”
And as children draw, jump, read, and play together, their smiles are the clearest sign that sometimes, the road to healing begins with a simple, joyful moment.
