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ACTION POUR SURVIVANTS DE TORTURE ET TRAUMATISME DE GUERRE
ACTION FOR SURVIVORS OF TORTURE AND WAR TRAUMA
Supporting mental health initiatives for survivors of war-time rape in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
supporing metal health
On October 10, while on a professional visit at the Panzi Foundation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, ASTAWT’s Director of research and education, Dr Buuma Maisha met with the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Dr Denis Mukwege. Dr Maisha was invited to speak at the 2nd Symposium on Mental Health organized by the Panzi Foundation and the Université Evangélique en Afrique. During his visit, as a consultant trauma expert for the sister organizations War Trauma Foundation based in the Netherlands and the Panzi Foundation DRC, Dr Maisha also delivered a five day training to psychologists and psychosocial workers providing mental health services to children survivors of rape during the Congo war.
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OUR WORK IN UGANDA AND THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
Action for Survivors of Torture and War Trauma's Dr. Buuma Maisha travelled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to Uganda in December 2016. At the Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, he met with Dr. Denis Mukwege, the hospital's founder and director and a gynaecological surgeon. The two discussed possible research projects that could take place at the hospital, where survivors of sexual violence receive medical and psychosocial care.
Dr. Maisha also met with Prof. Balegamire from the Université Évangélique en Afrique (UEA), who will be collaborating with Action for Survivors on research projects. At the UEA, Dr. Maisha organized a research seminar on the process of coding and analyzing data using a qualitative methodology. Professors as well as graduate students participated and greatly appreciated the seminar. Dr. Maisha also visited the Centre neuro psychiatrique—SOSAME, a collaborative partner, regarding future work. There is strong support and encouragement for the type of projects the organization is planning to conduct in the region with regard to therapy in the African context.
In Uganda, Dr. Maisha visited the Kyaka II Refugee settlement camp, which is about four hours by car from Kampala, Uganda's capital.
Dr. Mukwege (left) hosts Dr. Maisha at Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Dr. Maisha at Kyaka II Refugee camp in December 2016.
Congo Uganda Dec 2016
COMMUNITY MEETING
Action for Survivors was pleased to announce to its group of dedicated volunteers this December that sponsorship applications for two Syrian refugee families were recently approved. Preparations are being made for their arrival mid-2017
Community meeting Dec 2016
Action for Survivors board members met with Dr. Chantal Beauvais, rector of Saint Paul University, this November. The organization was able to share its progress and successes and to explore plans for the new year. More to come!
MEETING WITH SAINT PAUL UNIVERSITY
Rectrice meeting November 16
WORLD SOCIAL FORUM
World social forum
Dr. Buuma Maisha represented Action for Survivors at the World Social Forum, held in Montreal from August 8 to 13. His presentation, "Culture violence et image de soi. Défis pour la construction et la libération du soi chez les survivantes de viols à l’est de la République Démocratique du Congo (RDC)" was on Friday, August 12 from 9:00-11:30. The conference program is available here.
Congo April 2016
Canada-Africa business convention
SPONSORING A KAREN REFUGEE FAMILY FROM BURMA/MYANMAR
As an extension of Action for Survivors' refugee sponsorship project, Action for Survivors of Torture and War Trauma is sponsoring a third refugee family, this one from Burma/Myanmar.
The Karen family of three has arrived and is settling in. Action for Survivors is looking for household donations, including infant supplies, and volunteer assistance.
Emmanuelle Lambert-Lemoine has taken the lead on this project. If you would like to help, please call 819 456 3265 or email astawt@gmail.com.
APRIL 2016: TRAINING IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
Dr. Maisha, a board member, has returned from his work trip in the DRC. From April 18 to 30th 2016, Dr. Maisha worked intensely with two clinical psychologists and seven trainee-therapists from the Université Évangélique en Afrique to share and enhance clinical knowledge and skills, which are so needed and so rare, to support thousands of individuals and families in Bukavu and its surroundings. He also had the opportunity to meet with and listen to many war trauma and rape survivors. “The need of mental health support for survivors is critically overwhelming to the rare therapists,” he noted. Dr Maisha plans more work trips to the DRC in the near future.
Dr. Maisha was invited by the Centre de Psychologie, Psychotraumatologie et Resilience (CEPSYR) at the Université Evangelique en Afrique in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to provide training, clinical supervision and workshops. This is an organization caring for war time survivors. Check out university's website at www.uea.ac.cd
UPCOMING: CANADA–AFRICA BUSINESS CONVENTION
Dr. Buuma Maisha represented Action for Survivors at the second annual Canada–Africa business convention that was be held in Montreal from June 9 to 10, 2016. He discussed the importance of employee mental health for business success.
ONGOING: SPONSORING TWO SYRIAN REFUGEE FAMILIES
To do its part to help those in need during the current refugee crisis, Action for Survivors is in the process of sponsoring two refugee families from Syria.
Action for Survivors is looking for monetary and household supplies donations as well as volunteer assistance.
Emmanuelle Lambert-Lemoine has taken the lead on this project. If you would like to help, please call 819 456 3265 or email astawt@gmail.com.
Karen family
Syrian Sponsorship older post
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