Offering Hope After Trauma: New Project In Ethiopia
Displaced people at Ella camp for internally displaced people in Tigray wait to receive relief support from the Anglican Diocese of the Horn of Africa. ARDF provided funding for this relief effort in August 2021.
“Trauma pain that is not transformed is transferred. Without intervention, those who have experienced hardships and suffering often experience lasting trauma.” - Frederick Barasa, Sr. Research Analyst
The Diocese of the Horn of Africa - Ethiopia
After two years of war in the Tigray region of Ethiopia ended in November 2022, the population was left traumatized by the brutality of the conflict. More than two million people were forced to flee their homes, and roughly 600,000 lives were lost. Normal patterns of living have been replaced by poverty, uncertainty, and even more violence, while the emotional and spiritual wounds left have created a cycle of trauma, especially among women and children.
Frederick Barasa, Sr. Research Analyst for The Grid, states that “Trauma pain that is not transformed is transferred. Without intervention, those who have experienced hardships and suffering often experience lasting trauma.”
Thankfully, the church recognizes the need to come alongside people in this region and provide them with specialized care. The Diocese of the Horn of Africa through the Ethiopian Anglican Church is partnering with specialists in trauma healing to adapt and implement trauma informed care by first training a cohort of 25 people. These master trainers will then extend the training to church, healthcare, and educational leaders, with a vision to build the capacity to reach up to 525,000 people in 25 districts over 2 years. By demonstrating this scalable and successful trauma informed care program, the Church hopes to motivate the government to adopt its model and support it throughout the region.
ARDF is honored to support this project, inspired by the compassionate and Christ-centered love the Church is showing to those who are hurting. Please pray for the survivors of the conflict, those who are going and will go through the trainings, and for the long term health and stability of the region.
Read More Blogs By ARDF
