How?
We provide train-the-trainer seminars for grassroots organizations and communities impacted by trauma.  We develop long-term relationships with grassroots organizations to provide training, support and educational materials. We work exclusively on an invitation basis, building the capacity of existing organizations based on their identified needs.

Who does the training?
Training is conducted by experienced practitioners. Material is vetted by psychotherapists, counselors, or peace-builders with specialized training and knowledge cross-cultural issues and sensitivities. 

Women are raped in every country. What’s different about Congo?
In Canada and many countries around the world supports are in place to support the victim of trauma and rape.  In Congo, what little infrastructure there was has been destroyed by 10 years of  war and is just now starting to be rebuilt.  In many places there is no medical facility, no psycho-social support, no legal support, and no police protection within reach.

When a militia group wants to take control over a new area, the task is made easier by terrorizing the people living there.  This is easily accomplished through the mass rape of women. Universally rape engenders shames, fear, and humiliation in rape victims.  As a result, rape is both under-reported and serves to isolate the victim. In countries like Congo where blaming the victim is culturally acceptable, the rape victim also loses support from both family members and community.  One of the biggest factors in recovery from trauma is social support.  The women in Congo cannot count on the support of family, church or community. In fact, in most cases they can count on being rejected.

As militia move through a community, the people flee.  Not only does this leave the militia in control of the region, it also deconstructs the community. As people flee, their normal social supports are dismantled and they simply run for their lives.  It’s hard to rebuild when everything you know has been destroyed.

How do you know what you’re doing is effective?
We measure effectiveness in culturally appropriate ways and constantly work at improving our programs.  For example, in Congo participants actively engage in role-plays and asking clarifying questions.  As a result we have a good picture of how well participants are grasping the material.   

That still leaves us with the question, how do we know that what we are teaching is culturally relevant and appropriate.  We begin by asking participants.  Congo has a strong hospitality culture, which includes not offending guests. In order to receive feedback we begin by telling the participants that while the trainers are experts on psychological recovery from trauma, the participants are experts on their culture.  We ask them to share their expertise with us as we share ours with them.  In this way we build on participants’ value of hospitality by asking them to give us something we need as opposed to asking them to criticize our training.

Measures also include requests for additional training, personal stories from graduates, consistent attendance, and third party surveys, third party surveys also guard against the cultural bent toward politeness.  

*New York Times on-line edition, May 12, 2011

Congo News Links

BBC - Democratic Republic of Congo
New York Times- Democratic Republic of Congo