Trauma to Stability: A Quasi-Experimental Inquiry of Peace Education Intervention Among Refugees in India

Amid widespread street crime, domestic violence, ethnic conflict, and civil war refugee youth are among the most vulnerable, frequently exposed to traumatic experiences and violent imagery that heighten their fear, confusion, and insecurity. This study investigates peace education as a strategic intervention to address these complex challenges. It targeted forty refugee youth from the Delhi and Nuh regions, who have fled war, and civil unrest, seeking to assess how peace education might support their emotional and social well-being. The study employs a quasi-experimental, single-group design to evaluate the effectiveness of bi-weekly peace education sessions, each lasting 90 minutes. The sessions included interactive activities such as harmony games, group discussions, role-playing, and skills training, followed by reflective evaluations. These sessions aimed to build resilience, enhance problem-solving abilities, manage trauma, and facilitate the participants' adjustment to new environments. Data were gathered through participant observation, post-session feedback, and pre-and post-intervention assessments. The findings suggest that peace education can play a crucial role in helping refugee youth transition from trauma to emotional stability, equipping them with nonviolent conflict resolution skills and enhancing their ability to cope with the challenges of displacement. Many participants reported a noticeable improvement in emotional regulation, stress management, and overall confidence in navigating their new surroundings. However, some participants expressed skepticism about the relevance of these interventions, citing immediate concerns such as food security, housing, and financial stability as more urgent priorities. Despite these concerns, the study concludes that peace education holds significant potential as part of a broader refugee support strategy, contributing to psychological healing and social integration. For such interventions to be effective in India, they must be culturally sensitive, adapted to the unique needs of the local refugee populations, and integrated into existing refugee support services with collaboration from civil society and local communities.