Connecting with refugee children through mental health event
A team from SAT-7 KIDS is visiting schools and refugee camps in Lebanon to promote mental health awareness and online safety, whilst also highlighting the positive content available on the channel and its various platforms.
The latest in a series of public engagement events took place earlier this month at a school for refugee children in the Bekaa Valley run by Heart for Lebanon, an organisation with whom SAT-7 has previously partnered for its My School educational project.
Led by Juliana Sfeir, SAT-7 ARABIC’s Public Engagement Manager, the team took part in a special camp for 110 children aged six to 14 built around the theme “Inside Out”, which explores the mental and emotional burdens that weigh people down and prevent them from moving forward.
“This year, we’re stepping into the heart of the community and engaging directly with children and young people. We hope to communicate one thing clearly: SAT-7 cares. We are present not just on screens, but in society, standing with people where they are, including in refugee settings,” Juliana said.
For the “Inside Out” event, Juliana wrote a drama and a song about unloading “baggage” and opening up to God, performed by the SAT-7 KIDS team, who also led the children in games and activities. But it was the times of prayer that were really special.
“We witnessed something holy: children whispering, murmuring to God, inviting Jesus into their hearts to take away fear, anger and sadness,” Juliana said. “It was a day marked by grace. Stories were shared, tears gently wiped, laughter echoed through the valley, and hearts were stirred by the quiet work of the Holy Spirit.”
“CREATIVITY AND HUMOUR”
The event in the Bekaa Valley is part of a series of public engagements SAT-7 is doing with children and young people in different settings to highlight the work of SAT-7 and SAT-7 KIDS. In May, a team led two dynamic sessions on internet safety at Louaize Evangelical School in Lebanon with over 750 children aged 6 to 12. They used songs, drama and games, that were all specifically tailored for the occasion, to help the children engage with this important subject.
“We believe that God’s love has something to say about every part of a child’s life, including the digital world, and we’re here to share that love in a joyful, and engaging way,” Juliana said. “Our team presented a lively and age-appropriate skit focused on key themes like online protection, cyberbullying, and the importance of leaving a positive digital footprint. Through creativity and
humour, we spoke to young hearts.”
As well as putting on the sessions, there was time to interact with the children, hear their views, and share content from SAT-7 KIDS. New bookmarks, featuring a QR code that links to all the channel’s social media handles, website, and streaming platform SAT-7 PLUS, were given to all the children so they can continue to follow SAT-7 KIDS’ safe and positive content.
In April, the team led a session at the Christian Teaching Institute (CTI) for over 200 children aged 6 to 12, showcasing the channel while also sharing the Easter story and other Bible stories.
“As we connect with different groups of children and young people across Lebanon and the wider region, our goal is to raise awareness about our SAT-7 channels in a meaningful and personal way. Every group offers us a unique perspective, and each encounter teaches us something new as we develop our content for young viewers,” Juliana said.