The Impact of Trauma on Children
“Trauma in early childhood can lead to serious attachment problems,” explains Hilde Boeykens. “A child who cannot attach safely develops complex trauma. This can manifest itself in distrust of adults, withdrawn behavior or aggressive behavior as a way to protect himself. Recognizing these behavioral characteristics is essential for identifying children with trauma.”

Care for Unaccompanied Minor Refugees
“In response to the refugee crisis in 2015, we also committed to unaccompanied child refugees,” adds Boeykens. “Our mission is to offer children, regardless of their background or situation, a safe and loving environment in which they can grow up and recover from their traumatic experiences.”

The Essence of Safety and Engagement
“For children who have experienced insecurity at home or are fleeing, it is crucial to be exposed to safe and secure relationships,” Boeykens emphasizes. “This means that foster parents and supervisors in facilities must provide this safety and warmth. Everyone around the child, such as teachers and neighbors, can help create a safe environment by leading by example and offering support.”

Trauma-Sensitive Care
“Working with traumatized children requires a special approach,” says Boeykens. “Recognizing trauma behavior and knowing how to respond to it is essential. That is why all our staff at SOS Children’s Villages receive trauma-sensitive training. This process is continuous and requires constant attention and supervision to be effective.”

Recognition of trauma
“Children who have experienced family violence or neglect often struggle with a loyalty conflict, which prevents them from expressing their pain,” notes Boeykens. “Being able to share these experiences is essential for recovery. We therefore called for social recognition of this issue, similar to the recognition of victims of the attack in Zaventem.”

Participatory Street Artwork as a Place of Recognition
“We launched a participatory art project to give a voice to victims of family violence and neglect, as well as children on the run who are victims of violence,” Boeykens said. “Hundreds of pearls, each with its own story, form a monument that creates recognition and awareness. This artwork is being built by the victims themselves, supported by therapists and an artist. The stories behind the pearls are shared to make the subject discussable and create social support.”

Moving together toward a Traumasensitive Society
“Our goal is a society that is more trauma-sensitive,” Boeykens emphasizes. “This means not only working curatively with survivors of trauma, but also preventively. By discussing trauma and providing recognition, we hope to break the cycle of violence and protect future generations. We aim for everyone, from neighbors to school staff, to be alert to signs of insecurity and intervene early.”

At SOS Children’s Villages, we remain committed to a better future for all children. “We give them the care and support they need to process their traumas and build a healthy, safe future. But we can’t do that alone. We do it together with partner organizations, stakeholders and by extension with all of society,” concludes Boeykens.