When Winston Churchill stood waiting for a train, he tried to make sure there was a pillar between him and the platform edge. He also hated being at the rail of a ship or on a balcony. Yet, he wasn’t afraid of heights: he suffered from bouts of crippling depression, and was terrified of the […]
Surviving To Thriving: My Friend Abdoul
When I think of Abdoul, I think of peace. He speaks softly, in English and in Kinyarwanda, and listens loudly, eyes wide, leaning forward to hear you better. He feels like the friend you can sit in silence with for hours doing nothing. But Abdoul is far from a man who does nothing. 34 years […]
“What’s The Point Of Family”?
Many years ago, an elderly British politician was interviewed about his life and achievements. He had been both successful and influential, so it surprised the audience when the interview went as follows: Reporter: Looking back on what most people would think has been a remarkable life, do you have any regrets? Politician: Yes. I’m sorry […]
The Silent Uncles
Most families have them: the beloved relative who returned from military service, more or less in one physical piece, but nevertheless a changed person. One hundred and two years ago, my great uncles, Sam and Leo were teenage brothers, fighting side by side, in the trenches of northern France. A bombardment buried them alive. Miraculously, […]
You Have Been With Us All Along
Everyone who has ever lost someone dear to them knows how awful anniversaries can be. Each survivor of the 1994 Rwandan genocide is handling the pain and loss in their own way; some attend public events commemorating the 25th anniversary, while others grieve privately. Paying tribute to family members can be especially hard when the […]
A light at the end of the tunnel
Our partner, the Survivors Fund (SURF) has made this short film about the challenges facing the Rwandan genocide survivors we are helping. Overcoming Trauma in Rwanda Since 2017, our project has provided mental health support for young genocide survivors affected by post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety. Some have dropped out of school, or have […]
Ready for Anything: Trauma Counselling The Network for Africa Way
“Just make sure you remember the peanut butter and the tea bags,” said Dr. Barbara Bauer as we discussed preparations for our next trip to Africa. Otherwise, the psychotherapist, who lives in Missouri, is prepared for anything that Africa might throw at her. Training Community Leaders in Post-Conflict Communities Over the years of volunteering with […]
In A Place Where Your Only Protection Is Your Voice
Network for Africa’s psychotherapist duo, Dr Barbara Bauer and Shelly Evans, have been working with front-line staff in South Sudan, one of the world’s most challenging places. Barbara and Shelly, who give their time to Network for Africa on a pro bono basis, spent 10 days in Juba, the capital, giving trauma counselling training to […]
A Success Story of Survival and Resilience
One of the aspects of surviving a conflict or a natural disaster is the enduring legacy of trauma. Beyond the loss and shock, there is a sense of bracing yourself for the next unpleasant surprise. This is why counselling and sharing is so important. Network for Africa recently completed a six-month pilot project offering psychotherapy […]
A New Project for a New Year: Network for Africa in Sierra Leone
A new adventure, by invitation Sierra Leone has been in the news, and not in a good way. Following years of civil war, fuelled by the illegal diamond trade, the small West African nation was hit by Ebola. And, as if that weren’t enough, the capital, Freetown, recently suffered devastating mudslides. Network for […]
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