In contexts of violence and conflict where children and youth are disproportionately and uniquely affected, their resilience and social emotional well-being are essential to any post-conflict long-term reconstruction, development process or long-standing peace.
"The negative impact of natural disasters, political crises, health epidemics, pervasive violence and armed conflict on the mental as well as physical well-being of children and youth has been well documented (Machel 1996, Summerfield 1991, Apfel and Simon 1996, Bernard van Leer Foundation 2005). Such adversities and the associated detriments they cause impact not only well-being but also learning outcomes (Kostelny and Wessells 2010). Schools are often seen as a means of ensuring children’s safety and well-being (Alexander, Boothby, and Wessells 2012). Education programs that incorporate SEL can play a crucial role in developing protective factors in youth which mitigate the negative developmental and behavioural effects of exposure to conflict. This is achieved through building intrapersonal and interpersonal skills that are necessary for managing emotions and building healthy relationships. SEL strengthens the healing and coping mechanisms needed to deal with adversity, violence and suffering, essential for healthy development (Wessells and Edgerton 2008), and contributes to academic success at school. Supporting both the SEL and academic achievement of children and youth in education systems—in an integrated way—can also contribute to answering the World Bank’s call for halting the repeating cycles of violence and conflict (World Bank 2011)."
The document reviews the components of Social and Emotional Learning, its importance in contexts of violence and conflict, and ways to monitor and assess SEL programmes in post-conflict settings. Drawing on recent case studies and research, the document explores how resilience-generating SEL initiatives can be operationalized in school systems. The document outline policy recommendations in this regard and offers a comprehensive bibliography for further reading.