Using music as therapy at the SOS Children's Village Gulu

Two music therapists - Bethan Lee, from England and Jantina Bijpost, from Holland - have come to SOS Gulu to offer music therapy sessions for children and training for staff. They have been offering clinical sessions to four small groups of children each week. These sessions offer the children a chance to have individual attention in a small group setting and to control what happens in their group. Music is used as a form of expression, exploring themes such as emotions and communication. Through musical games, the children learn to co-operate, compromise and form creative ideas in a safe, non-judgmental environment. The children are very enthusiastic about their sessions, and have begun to form small group identities, learning to respect each other and their individual offerings. They also enjoy the movement and dance that takes place in the sessions, which incorporates their local culture.

The current groups have been running for seven weeks and will rotate after ten weeks. During the next groups’ sessions, some mothers and aunties will be trained to continue the therapeutic work once the music therapists return home at the end of December.

Thanks go to Bethan and Jantina for their contribution to the SOS children. Thanks also go to Nicky Haire, from Scotland, who helped to set up the work in July but has now returned home.