The impact of war on children and the process of recovery: The youth of Guatemala in the 1980s

There are many children all over the world who are living with their experiences of war. This thesis focuses on how war affects children, and what support can be given to them, with the Guatemalan civil war as the case study. The core of this research was conducted through an extensive literature review as well as interviews with a variety of organizations in Guatemala, the United States, and Canada. It is shown that the most critical determinant for the development of successful coping strategies in children is the maintenance of close relationships with caretakers as well as the reduction of fear by providing a structured, safe environment. While there has been research in some areas of this subject, more longitudinal and gender and cultural specific studies are needed to add to the existing work to provide aid workers with the knowledge necessary to assist children of war.