The first time I met Theresa was in March this year. I was visiting Network for Africa’s trauma counselling project in Rwanda, preparing for a more in-depth trip in June. I wanted to see how Network for Africa and its local partners were reaching survivors who remain deeply affected by the 1994 genocide. Back in […]

“The saddest people always try their hardest to make people happy because they know what it is like to feel absolutely worthless, and they don’t want anyone else to feel like that.” Robin Williams. Thankfully, in the five years since the comedian Robin Williams took his own life, there has been more attention paid to mental […]

The answer is epilepsy. Other famous people with the condition include Alexander the Great, Handel, Byron and Gershwin. But that wasn’t much comfort to Peter. Until our community counsellors heard about him, he spent most of his days tied up with rope and locked in his parents’ house in rural Uganda. Peter’s mother has 11 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

“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 […]