VR Headsets Take War-Scarred Children To World Away From Gaza

Children in war-torn Gaza are undergoing therapy using virtual reality headsets, which will improve their psychological well-being.

Transcript

00:00In Al-Zawaydah in central Gaza, children affected by the war are taking part in a new kind of

00:12therapy. Using virtual reality headsets, they are transported into peaceful worlds far from

00:19the destruction around them. Inside a small white tent, the children look around with

00:25excitement. Through the goggles, they see green gardens, calm beaches and safe cities.

00:45Some reach out their hands, trying to touch the animals and trees in front of them. For

00:50a few moments, they can explore a world filled with colors, birds and open spaces.

00:57Today, we are able to describe the way of the people who are playing games with a healing

01:02goal. The children can manage their life in a better way. It has a great success. It has

01:16success over a few years. We are working on this technology with a lot of children who are

01:25affected by the war, who are affected by the war, who are affected by the war.

01:30Therapists explain that the goal is not only to escape reality, but also to help children

01:36heal. The VR programs are specially designed to support those who have experienced trauma,

01:43injury and fear.

01:46They are not only to think about food and fruit, they are thinking about how to

01:51think about this world. We can be able to, with the simple possibilities of these small

01:58things, with all the difficult situations, from war and destruction and all these things

02:03that we are able to do today, we can provide this simple work to the children who have

02:07developed the same problems. They help children rebuild trust, cope with stress and regain confidence.

02:22Workers say the results have been very positive. Children respond quickly to the VR sessions,

02:28often improving faster than they would in traditional therapy.

02:32We have been using them through the VR sessions. We have been using them through these

02:37techniques. We have been able to do very well and have a great success. Let me

02:45say that the speed of the treatment and the recovery and the arrival of the VR sessions

02:50was higher than the normal classes. Let me say that in the middle of the normal classes,

02:55in the middle of the normal classes, without VR, we can work from 5 to 7 sessions.

03:04What usually takes 10 to 12 sessions can now happen in just 5 to 7.