Bindlestick Learning

for the Liminal Space

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 3 states

"Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person."

But...how do you explain that to the displaced children and families whose homes have been destroyed by Boko Haram. How do you come to terms with the fact that you have had to run to escape conflict, without ever really knowing why the conflict happened in the first place, or if your life will ever be the same again? What if you don’t feel safe in the place that you have arrived? So many questions and sadly, not many answers.  

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For children whose world has been turned upside down by a crisis, possibly grieving or alone. Reassurance of self and control over their environment is vital for their survival. The Liminal Space can be fraught with uncertainty as it is often described as an intangible threshold that people must pass through to gain knowledge of the unknown. That space where we go from “not knowing” to “knowing”. This space can leave children feeling lost, confused and out of control. Combine that with the unstable state of confusion that refugees are living amongst, and you get an understanding of how fragile these children must be feeling.

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Bindlestick Learning will address this transitional period by supporting the needs of the child and planning activities that can assist in facing the challenges that life in camp can bring. Even learning about the liminal space and learning how to “be” in this space, is something Vygotski would say "is a skill that can then be used in what might be learnt next” (Warner, pg 176 2006)

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My hope is that by supporting these children through their Liminal Space with the activities found in the Bindlestick Learning program assists children to find new ways of coping and surviving. Then through learning it is possible to give hope for a better life offering both liberty and security. 

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