3925 Vineyard Crescent, Vineland, ON, L0R 2C0, Canada www.healingstreams.org
December 2012
{ HEALING STREAMS } Final Report to Donors
Summary of DRC Project From 2006-2012 Healing Streams invested in the equipping and empowering of Congolese communities by training community leaders in understanding the traumatic impact of war, counselling skills for recovery, and funding for training and education. Through this successful program, five hundred people participated in the training; at either Introductory Level, Level I, or Level II. In addition, a partnership was formed with a team from CME-Nyankunde to fund ongoing Healing Streams programing and two students were supported through a bursary. The program was limited by several factors: funding was difficult to obtain and the program would have benefited from a DRC based coordinator and master trainer.
Background Congo has had a long history of conflict. Since gaining independence from the Belgians in 1960, Congo has been plagued with unrest including the first Congo war from 1996 to 1998, and the second Congo war from 1998-2003. Although the second Congo war officially ended in 2003, conflict and unrest continue in the eastern provinces, which are rich in mineral resources. Seven countries and many militia groups have been involved in the conflict. It is estimated that 5.4 million people died from conflict and related causes. One of the most horrific aspects of the war has been the use of mass rape to terrorize communities, ensuring that they flee and leave the area free for the rebels.
Congolese traditional belief teaches that victims have done something to deserve their fate. Thus rape victims were commonly rejected and chased from the community. Communities were not equipped to assist the masses of women who were assaulted. CSCODI, a Congolese NGO invited Healing Streams to train leaders in how to assist rape survivors in their communities, and to specifically challenge the cultural perception that rape is the fault of the victim.
Regarding my family members who have been raped – not fault them. Our duty to welcome them – will help them recover- we have been given this responsibility. - Participant The Healing Streams trip was postponed several times due to unrest in eastern DRC, but in November 2006 the first Healing Streams team travelled to DRC to provide the requested training. Dawn Penner provided psychological understanding and skills training, Ross Penner provided biblical instruction based on Luke 15, and Michael and Brenda Ben provided logistical support. Seminar participants (80) included Protestant and Catholic heads of church, Village chiefs, Town mayors, teachers, NGO leaders and volunteers. Our interpreter, Pastor Kaserka Tsongo, head chaplain for Centre Medicale Evangelique (CME) provided invaluable support both in his role as interpreter and as pastoral support for participants. Participants in the training started to tell their own stories of trauma and sought out the assistance of our translator, a hospital chaplain, to receive prayer and counselling. As a result, our training expanded to include other trauma related to war, including vicarious trauma, in order to assist participants in their wellbeing. Continued...
We carry the traumatized on our backs. God has given us the way to tackle this problem and the session has helped us. Believers who confide in us are traumatized. The raped come with tears. Thank God for the techniques/ methods to share with our colleagues. We pray for the visitors (Healing Streams) to come again”. – Butembo Pastor There were three clear requests coming from the 2006 training: 1. More training seminars 2. A training manual 3. To establish a Healing Streams office in the new CSCODI hospital
Purpose and Scope of Project Following the 2006 training, Healing Streams initiated an ongoing Congo project. The purpose of the project was to build the capacity of Congolese community leaders and NGO’s to address the needs of communities impacted by war trauma.
Continued...
We agreed to provide additional training and a training manual during a future visit. We did not agree to establish a Healing Streams’ office as we did not want to be tied to buildings and structures.
Healing Streams responded to invitations from Congolese NGO’s and church groups by providing training in the understanding and recovery from war related trauma. Later this was expanded to include training in outreach and prevention of sexual violence. Following the 2006 pilot, a training manual and Congo project was developed. The following chart illustrates the training activity that occurred.
Training Activity Year
Activity
Location in DRC
Participants
#
2006
Training
Beni
Church leaders, government leaders, NGO workers
80
2007
Training manual developed Level I Training, Training manual distributed Levels I-II
2008
2009 2009 2010
2010
2011
2011
Butembo
Baptist Pastors, NGO workers Beni Church leaders, NGO workers Introductory Training CME Hospital, Bunia Medical Staff Introductory Training CME Hospital, Beni Medical Staff MBMSI Leadership Seminar – Kinshasa Congolese MB 1 session Pastors Mennonite Leadership Semi- Bukavu Congolese Mennonite nar – 1 Session Pastors Community Seminar – Level I CME Hospital, Government workers, Self – Care – Level 1 Nyankunde Military, Police, School Principles, Hospital Staff, Counsellors, Human Rights Activists Level I Training Heritier de la Justice, Human Rights Activist, Bukavu Front line workers Specialized Training in OutCME Hospital, Outreach and Prevention reach and Prevention of Sexual Nyankunde of Sexual Abuse Team Abuse Level II Counselling Skills Heritier de la Justice, Training Bukavu
40 30 25 25 80 50 80
40
12
40
Qualifications Executive Director Dawn Penner was the key trainer and curriculum developer for the project. Building on 20 years of counselling experience, including trauma counselling Dawn consulted with African and North American academics and practitioners to develop the training. The counsellor training was based on international best practice for post-trauma counselling and included principles from Emotion Focused Theory, Cognitive Behavioural Theory, and Narrative Therapy. Where requested, this training was integration with principles of Christian beliefs and practices that would support wellbeing. Project Constraints: 1. Financial – Our Congolese partners had very restricted budgets. When possible, they paid for the conference expenses and Healing Streams paid for our travel and training expenses. If partners were unable to provide meals, Healing Streams covered the cost of participant’s meals. While our supporters were faithful and generous, we were not able to obtain enough supporters to continue the program after 2012.
3. Acquiring Visas – Acquiring visas became increasingly unpredictable. Even with the assistance of our Congolese representative in Canada, we were often unable to get clear answers or direction from the Congolese embassy. Congo has had a long history of conflict.
Partnership with CME In 2011, Healing Streams and CME agreed that it would be good to form an official partnership so that CME could receive funding for ongoing Healing Streams’ projects. This process was completed in 2012 and Healing Streams transferred the first installment of $6,000 for the Outreach for the Prevention of Sexual Violence Project. The money was designated for office space, travel, and supplies.
2. Security – Security was an ongoing issue. Our Congolese partners provided ongoing risk assessments and advised us on travel. Although travel was delayed several times, we never felt we were taking undue risk.
Brenda Ben Bursary Fund Recipient
School
Total Distributed
James Katliko
Ensegnement Superieur et Universitaire – Institut Superieur Protestant du Grand Lac Institute d’Enseignement Medical de Nyankunde
$2,645 USD
Kavira Katsurana
$1,067 USD
Contact Us >> by Phone: 289-567-0383 // by Email: info@healingstreams.org
Continued... The following note is from Bursary Recipient James Kataliko upon news of Healing Streams’ closure: Jambo My Mother, Thank you again to Healing Streams who was healed my life, educationally and spiritually. But I am human. It is very sad to me. You know Healing Streams was my second family. Because of you I have many good Mothers, Fathers, Sisters, Brothers and friends who supported my studies, I hope we will continue to be in contact. I will take time to pray God tomorrow for all you done for me and my country DRC. Greetings to all. God bless you all. Yours James Kataliko
Program Costs Congo Training Program $100,000 Outreach for the Prevention of Sexual Violence (CME) $6,000 Brenda Ben Bursary Fund - $3700 Total Program Costs: $109,700
Evaluation Overall, the training program was a success. Using a trainthe-trainer approach, participants were encouraged to adapt the training to meet cultural needs. The program was adapted as feedback was received. The program was limited because the Healing Streams team was based in Canada. The cost and time required for each training was significant. While Healing Streams tried to minimize the impact of distance by reinforcing the training in key locations, the program would have been strengthened by having a master trainer located in Congo. Healing Streams had hoped to lease office space from Mama Makeka House of Hope north of Kinshasa but had to close before this occurred.
Supporters can be very proud to have impacted 500 people with skills for compassionate understanding and counselling for those traumatized by war. Resources are scarce in Eastern Congo. Your support made a significant different for the wellbeing of many.
Canadian Program Final Report “Your workshop was amazing!! Thank you SO much!” wrote the Manager of Settlement Services from the Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre. In Toronto, new immigrants expressed the significance of Healing Stream’s Empowerment and Healing workshops in their personal lives: “I [realized] I am not alone in this process…” shared one participant. Healing Streams provided tools for self-support and access to supportive resources during the difficult settlement process. Healing Streams’ staff also facilitated opportunities for group sharing, support and mutual healing during the workshops themselves. In 2012, Healing Streams’ Canadian program trained 102 refugees, new immigrants, settlement workers and church sponsors. Nine workshops were held in locations around Niagara, Kitchener-Waterloo and Toronto. Healing Streams worked with local churches and support agencies to identify needs within the refugee and new immigrants communities. By listening to the needs of the newcomer community, Healing Streams was able to participate in some exciting opportunities including providing training support for a Bridge program for newcomers who were already professionals in the mental health field, providing holistic healing for the ‘wounded healers’. A workshop at the Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre built important relationships between 13 support agencies and refugees themselves. Both agency representatives and refugees recognized the importance of these connections and strongly advocated that this type of workshop be continued. Workshop curriculum was developed and tested during the workshops. Recurring themes that were developed in the curriculum material included Migration, Cultural Adjustment, Trauma and Depression, and Healing and Support during the Settlement Process. Two booklets were produced summarizing the workshop material: one for refugees, and one for churches. Healing Streams was honoured to be the recipient of the 2012 MSCU Peace Grant. Financial assistance received from MSCU and the Wilfred Schlegel Memorial Fund made these activities possible. Workshop participants, partner agencies and Healing Streams are grateful to these two organizations for their funding support. Healing Streams believes that through the positive experiences of trained participants and the sharing and use of written material, the Canadian program will continue to provide education and tools for the holistic support of refugees and new immigrants for many months and years to come!
Niagara Nurse raises funds for Nursing Bursary in Congo Kavira Katsurana was introduced in the May 2011 Healing Streams newsletter as the recipient of the Brenda Ben bursary. Kavira is in the process of completing her nurse’s training after years of grieving the loss of her son in the Nyankunde raids of 2002. Meet Wendy Funk, a nurse in the Niagara Health System. When Wendy became a supporter of Healing Streams and learned about the bursary to Kavira she wanted to help raise the money to support the remainder of her nurse’s training among her colleagues in the NHS. Healing Streams: Why are you so passionate about this project of helping Kavira finish her nursing school? Wendy: I am passionate about this project because I am passionate about my career of nursing! In helping others through very personal and difficult events, you find a sense of purpose for yourself as well. I can well understand Kavira’s desire to help others and then sense the healing in her own life. I can do nothing less than encourage another in this pursuit. I knew there were others of my peers at my work place who would feel this way as well. I felt it would bring some joint sense of purpose to our unit to achieve this goal together. HS: What is your connection to Congo? Wendy: My connection to the Congo stems from an opportunity I had when in my 20’s. My husband and I spent four years as volunteers in the Congo during the 80’s. We worked at a mission hospital/nursing school in central Congo. I taught nursing students there and came to appreciate the optimism the people had despite their difficult lives. HS: How did your co-workers respond to this campaign? Wendy: Many asked me about it. The administration of my workplace was very positive and encouraged me to do this. In fact, some of them also gave donations. We were able to raise the amount necessary to provide for Kavira’s classes. A big thank you to Wendy and her colleagues at the Niagara Health System for their generous contributions to Kavira’s nursing education!