The Misereor Dialogue and Partnership Service (DPS Nigeria) in Abuja officially launched a new publication titled “Stories of Pain and Hope,“ which captures the experiences of women and children due to violent conflict, kidnapping, terrorism, displacement and refugee crises, gender-based violence, childhood trauma, and the impact of natural disasters and systemic challenges.
This publication which was launched in April 2024, is a collaborative effort of dedicated individuals from organisations like De Marillac Centre for Street Children Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, FJDP Makurdi, Hope for the Village Child Foundation, JDPC Bauchi, JDPC Ekiti, JDPC Ibadan, JDPC Jos, JDPC Maiduguri, JDPMC Osogbo, JDPC Pankshin, JDPC Shendam, JDPC Yola and Samuel Ioron Foundation.
The publication introduces the reader to four stories: a 12-year-old girl, Ronke, whom her uncle sexually abused and, after an abortion, sees life on the streets as her only way out; the next story is about Ibrahim, who lost his parents during a Boko Haram attack on his village and was arrested after becoming violent in an IDP camp. A further story is that of Mama Ngozi, a successful businesswoman, who was confronted with jealousy by her community after the death of her husband and was accused of witchcraft. The last story is about Amirah, who was married at the age of 15 and suffers from domestic and gender-based violence.
The stories in the new publication present a few examples of traumatic experiences faced by people especially girls and women in Nigeria daily. Many others are caused by violent conflict, kidnapping, terrorism, displacement and refugee crises, gender-based violence, childhood trauma, the impact of natural disasters and systemic challenges.
This publication takes a community-based approach to provide examples of wounded hearts, how to recognise a wounded heart and how we can heal together.
According to Misereor Dialogue and Partnership Service, Trauma-sensitive work requires a holistic and multidisciplinary approach that addresses the complex interplay of individual, interpersonal, community, and structural factors that contribute to trauma.
“By prioritizing trauma-informed practices and interventions, organisations can better support the recovery, resilience, and well-being of individuals and communities affected by trauma,” the Misereor statement reads.
Misereor is the German Catholic Bishops’ Conference Organisation for Development Cooperation. For more than 60 years, Misereor has been collaborating with civil organisations in Nigeria with their important work in human rights, water & sanitation, peacebuilding, health and agriculture in the country.
The Dialogue and Partnership Service in Abuja is a Misereor liaison post in Nigeria and works under the legal holdership of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria.
Trauma-sensitive work involves implementing practices and interventions that recognise and respond to the trauma experienced by individuals and communities.
For almost ten years, Misereor´s partner organisations have been involved in trauma-sensitive work and psychosocial care; representatives of these organisations have participated in training, applied their knowledge to their projects, collected stories from those affected and offered support and accompaniment in various forms, such as individual and group counselling, training of teachers in schools, working in Internal Displaced People´s camps etc. the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria.
The book can be requested under [email protected] or downloaded here
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