‘Don’t worry about the beauty of your face’: a boy heals from visible and invisible scars.

He is a different boy today than the one who arrived about a year ago at the SOS Children’s Village in Jorpati, Nepal. Then, Raj had anxiety about his appearance. He was hyperactive, seeking attention in positive and negative ways. Other times he would withdraw from others.

“When he joined the SOS family, he was traumatized,” says Pooza Shrestha, a counselor at SOS Children’s Village Jorpati. “He could be reserved and isolated.”

Raj suffered burns to 80% of his face and body in a house fire that took his mother’s life and left his father severely injured. He spent more than two years in hospitals in Nepal and India where he underwent a number of surgeries.

He came to the SOS Children’s Village in Jorpati as his father was still unable to care for him. It was during counseling sessions where Raj began to share his feelings of hurt and anxiety.

In an SOS Children’s Village, quality care includes supporting the mental well-being of children though psychological care and a safe environment. In his SOS family, Raj lived with his SOS mother and brothers and sisters. He became very close to his SOS mother, holding her hand wherever they went.

“He was assured that he was actively listened to, was being understood and accepted for the way he is,” says Ms Shrestha.

To deal with his trauma, Raj had regular counseling along with play therapy, art therapy, and music therapy. For his appearance anxiety, cognitive therapy helped him express his thoughts and emotions through arts, games, and relaxations. Likewise, his SOS mother and other care staff observed his behavior and the ways he coped with his problems.

Slowly, Raj became stronger emotionally. His anxiety about his appearance diminished over the course of his therapy, as well as with the support and trust he received from his SOS mother, brothers and sisters, and all staff.

The outbreak of COVID-19 did cause some setbacks for Raj as he began to relive some of his fears, says Rabin Nepali, project director of SOS Children’s Village Jorpati.

“Initially, Raj was scared of COVID-19,” he says. “But later, the regular education sessions, support and care that he received from his SOS mother and counselor helped him to cope with his fear.

“Similarly, we are waiting for the day when his father will be strong enough to care for his only child,” Mr Nepali adds.

Now, Raj has a different attitude about himself. People tell him he is good communicator and that shows when he tells others how they should feel about their appearance,

“Don’t worry about the beauty of your face,” he says. “It doesn’t matter how you look. Your mother, brothers, and sisters will always love you. For this, you need to help and be kind to others.”

*Name changed for privacy reasons.

Learn more about the work of SOS Children's Villages Nepal