Palorinya, Obongi, Uganda/Geneva
07.01.2021.
The LWF in Uganda organises retreats for young refugees
The LWF is running a pilot project focused on the mental health of adolescent refugees in Uganda, offering them a way to process trauma and prepare for the future.
Mabior * shows a drawing of a boy playing football and a man with a bottle. “I drew a picture of myself playing football, because I love it so much. My father drinks a lot of alcohol and disturbs us at home. He fights with us and makes us run away,” explained the 14-year-old. Mabior is from South Sudan and has lived for years in a refugee settlement in northern Uganda. The drawing was made at a mental health retreat for adolescents organised by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) country programme in Uganda.
Ten groups of adolescents in the Palorinya, Adjumani, Lamwo and Kyangwali refugee settlements took part in a mental health retreat programme that combined recreational activities, therapeutic exercises and life skills. Over the course of four days, the young refugees played emotional-literacy games, took part in conflict-resolution training and relaxation exercises, as well as various sports and art activities. The retreats were part of an LWF pilot programme supported by the US government through its Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM).
Regaining hope and a future
Adolescents in refugee settlements in northern Uganda have lived through the second civil war in South Sudan, but they have paid a high price for it. While still very young, they experienced violence and witnessed atrocities. They lost people, sometimes even parents or close family members. All have lost their homes and often valuable possessions.
Their hardships continue — in the refugee settlement, resources, opportunities are limited, and there is a risk of exploitation. Many drop out of school or marry early to resolve their family’s financial difficulties. Psychosocial workers have observed high rates of depression and even suicide attempts among young refugees. Emotions and trauma that go unaddressed also lead to conflicts in the camps and settlements. Alcohol and drug use is common, as in Mabior’s family.
The additional problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the usual avenues of cooperation and networking and often aggravated the existing problems and difficulties faced by children and adolescents.
“The aim of the retreats was to help adolescents who have come out of war regain hope for the future of their lives,” said Psychosocial Officer Patrick Kyeyune Kafuuma, who works in the LWF Uganda programme and was responsible for the retreats in four refugee settlements.
“Supporting children and young people affected by conflict and trauma, helping them to reflect on their life experiences, is an important step on the path towards healing, emotional wellbeing and the building of resilient, peaceful and productive individuals and communities,” Kafuuma continues. “By promoting such initiatives, the LWF aims to strengthen children’s mental health and improve their future prospects.”
Remember the past, turn to the future
However, LWF staff had to approach the young people very carefully. Before the retreats, LWF staff underwent training; a team of counsellors provided participants with individual support. Games and artistic activities gave the young people a safe opportunity to express their feelings. The most popular activity was drawing the “tree of life”, which helped adolescents connect memories of the past and positive experiences with their current situation and their intentions for the future.
“I always feel unhappy that there is no peace in my country, but I believe that one day there will be peace in South Sudan. My family and I will leave the Nyumanzi settlement and return to our country,” hopes Akora, a young girl from South Sudan.
Akora has learned to talk about the things that worry her, to express her emotions and to support others. “I was shy, I couldn’t talk to many people, but now I have the courage to talk about what hurts me and what makes me happy. I am also learning to show love to others,” she says.
This lays the foundation for the next step. Psychosocial support worker Kafuuma designs the retreats so that the young people can offer support to others. “The aim of the project is for the refugees themselves to provide mental health retreats in their own community,” he says.
Mabior has already resolved to talk to his friends about the harm of alcohol. The retreats also allowed him to find his bearings and think about his future and his goals in life. “The tree of life has encouraged me to become a professional footballer, so that I can help and support my family,” he says with all the optimism of a 14-year-old boy.
* participants’ names have been changed
LWF/C. Kästner
The refugee mental health retreats are part of the PRM-funded ReLiVE project (Restoring Life, Vision and Empowerment). In 2021, the project will continue in four refugee settlements to reach even more young people, survivors of gender-based violence, as well as peer educators in child-friendly spaces and women and girls in safe spaces.
Source: The Lutheran World Federation
Photo: LWF/H. Lehto