Youth and the Syrian Conflict: A Case Study of HNGOs and Psychosocial Support for Youths

In humanitarian emergency response contexts, youth-empowerment programmes are important for helping youth adapt to adversity and for driving them forward toward the road to development. If empowered, youth, as a group, can be a key resource for development and durable stability in the Arab states (UNDP 2016: 7). This research is concerned with the wellbeing of youths affected by the Syrian civil conflict hosted by neighbouring countries. In particular, it seeks to examine the impact of humanitarian response as well as to explore the existence of psychosocial support and trauma-focused programmes adapted to target youths in post-conflict settings. The relationship between trauma, depression and daily stressors, on the one hand, and empowerment programmes for this vulnerable category of young people, on the other hand, were studied. A literature review was conducted by regarding existing data, evidence and practices of HNGOs, in the area of psychosocial support related to youths aged 15-24; moreover, a review of the Regional Refugee Resilience Plan (3RP) monthly reports and interviews with HNGO practitioners from Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Greece and Jordan involved in humanitarian responses were conducted. Geographically, the research focuses on youths from Syria and other countries affected by the Syrian conflict: Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Turkey, Egypt, and Greece. The research finds that no standardized psychosocial support and trauma-focused model is used by HNGOs, and that interventions targeted at youths focus on education and VET programmes. Programmes in humanitarian response are created ad hoc, and only partially address youths’ socialemotional needs. Even if there is not enough evidence of or a validated set of tools for measuring the impact of the interventions, some positive impacts were observed by practitioners involved in VET and PSS activities with youths. Implications for further academic research, programme development, and policies related to the protection and mental health of the youth as a distinct group of civilians in conflict settings are also considered.