This year we report on vivo activities around the world, for example in the DR Congo, Burundi and Ukraine. In the portrait we introduce vivo member Amani Chibashimba.
Enjoy reading!
D.R. Congo
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This year we report on vivo activities around the world, for example in the DR Congo, Burundi and Ukraine. In the portrait we introduce vivo member Amani Chibashimba.
Enjoy reading!
Strengthening therapeutic competences
In cooperation with Dr Anselm Crombach, Eva Schade, psychotherapist in training, offered a seven-day training programme to strengthen the psychotherapeutic skills of Burundian and Congolese psychologists in Bujumbura, Burundi.
In cooperation with Dr Anselm Crombach, Eva Schade, psychotherapist in training, offered a seven-day training programme to strengthen the psychotherapeutic skills of Burundian and Congolese psychologists in Bujumbura, Burundi.
A promising project start
Building on the first 3-year project targeting victims of gender-based violence in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the second follow-up project led by the vivo members Anselm Crombach and Amani Chibashimba aims at further reinforcing the local capacities to treat trauma-related mental health disorders.
Building on the first 3-year project targeting victims of gender-based violence in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the second follow-up project led by the vivo members Anselm Crombach and Amani Chibashimba aims at further reinforcing the local capacities to treat trauma-related mental health disorders.
vivo in the DR Congo: a new phase begins
“Strengthening capacities in health care facilities and at the community level to improve the use of trauma therapy treatment services for victims of sexual violence” is the title of the project, which is will start in a few weeks.
Based on the experiences of the project “Training of trauma therapists to provide psychotherapeutic support to survivors of sexual violence in the Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of Congo”, which ended in November 2019, the new project will strengthen existing local structures and expand the activities to new zones. Lesen Sie weiter: vivo in the DR Congo: a new phase begins
“Strengthening capacities in health care facilities and at the community level to improve the use of trauma therapy treatment services for victims of sexual violence” is the title of the project, which is will start in a few weeks.
Based on the experiences of the project “Training of trauma therapists to provide psychotherapeutic support to survivors of sexual violence in the Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of Congo”, which ended in November 2019, the new project will strengthen existing local structures and expand the activities to new zones. Continue reading: vivo in the DR Congo: a new phase begins
New developments in DR Congo
In July 2016, the foundation stone was laid for the 2-year project to provide psychotherapeutic support for traumatised women and training for local trauma therapists in the Kivu region. Since then more than 170 local trauma counsellors have been trained, some of them even as supervisors and coordinators. At the end of the first two years, a further financing phase of 12 months was approved.
The almost three-year project duration was a very intensive time, which not only had to deal with the difficulties of a large project, but also with the partly uncertain security situation in the region, which did not always make it possible to visit all intervention zones regularly. In addition, there were the presidential elections at the end of 2018, which repeatedly led to unrest in the region in the run-up to the elections.
Today, the project is on solid footing. Lesen Sie weiter: New developments in DR Congo
In July 2016, the foundation stone was laid for the 2-year project to provide psychotherapeutic support for traumatised women and training for local trauma therapists in the Kivu region. Since then more than 170 local trauma counsellors have been trained, some of them even as supervisors and coordinators. At the end of the first two years, a further financing phase of 12 months was approved.
The almost three-year project duration was a very intensive time, which not only had to deal with the difficulties of a large project, but also with the partly uncertain security situation in the region, which did not always make it possible to visit all intervention zones regularly. In addition, there were the presidential elections at the end of 2018, which repeatedly led to unrest in the region in the run-up to the elections.
Today, the project is on solid footing. Continue reading: New developments in DR Congo
Goma: Successful project completion
In July 2016, the project “Assurer la formation des formateurs sur l’approche NET dans la prise en charge en sante mentale des survivants des VSBG” was launched, a two-year project in the regions of North and South Kivu. It is part of a major project of the Fonds Social de la Republique Democratique de Congo (FSDRC) with the aim of establishing sustainable care structures for victims of sexual violence with NET training and supervision in order to improve the situation of those affected in the long term.
Lesen Sie weiter: Goma: Successful project completion
In July 2016, the project “Assurer la formation des formateurs sur l’approche NET dans la prise en charge en sante mentale des survivants des VSBG” was launched, a two-year project in the regions of North and South Kivu. It is part of a major project of the Fonds Social de la Republique Democratique de Congo (FSDRC) with the aim of establishing sustainable care structures for victims of sexual violence with NET training and supervision in order to improve the situation of those affected in the long term.
Continue reading: Goma: Successful project completion
Exchange workshop in Rwanda
In September 2017 vivo was invited to participate in a one-week exchange workshop in Huye, Rwanda between different organisations working with persons affected by violence in (post-)conflict region of Eastern Africa, specifically in Northern Uganda, Rwanda and Eastern DRCongo.
In September 2017 vivo was invited to participate in a one-week exchange workshop in Huye, Rwanda between different organisations working with persons affected by violence in (post-)conflict region of Eastern Africa, specifically in Northern Uganda, Rwanda and Eastern DRCongo.
vivo board member Heike Riedke reports experiences in DRC
On Wednesday, June 28th 2017, Heike Riedke was invited by the German Central Office for Combating War Crimes and Other Offenses according to the Code of Crimes against International Law to a course on “International Criminal Law” to share her experiences made in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The course, which lasted several days, focused on one day on the topic of “Psychological characteristics for interviewing victims”. Based on the yearlong work experiences that vivo International has in DRC, especially in the treatment of victims of sexual violence in a civilian as well as in the war context, Heike Riedke described her experiences that she had made during her many visits and was therefore well prepared to answer the subsequent questions of the 30 participants.
On Wednesday, June 28th 2017, Heike Riedke was invited by the German Central Office for Combating War Crimes and Other Offenses according to the Code of Crimes against International Law to a course on “International Criminal Law” to share her experiences made in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The course, which lasted several days, focused on one day on the topic of “Psychological characteristics for interviewing victims”. Based on the yearlong work experiences that vivo International has in DRC, especially in the treatment of victims of sexual violence in a civilian as well as in the war context, Heike Riedke described her experiences that she had made during her many visits and was therefore well prepared to answer the subsequent questions of the 30 participants.
NET training course in Bukavu, DRC
In April 2017, 27 participants were trained in Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) in Bukavu in the Eastern DR Congo. This training course is part of the project “Assurer la formation des formateurs sur l’approche NET dans la prise en charge en santé mentale des surviviants des VSBG”.
In April 2017, 27 participants were trained in Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) in Bukavu in the Eastern DR Congo. This training course is part of the project “Assurer la formation des formateurs sur l’approche NET dans la prise en charge en santé mentale des surviviants des VSBG”.
vivo at the Global Mental Health Conference
King’s Health Partners are hosting a 2-day conference on Global Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in London, UK on 5th and 6th June 2017. With new approaches to solving the mental health care challenges of our local communities, this conference will showcase exceptional psychosocial approaches to mental health problems which have been developed across the world at individual, community and global levels.
We are happy to announce that Amani Chibashima Christian and Dr. Katy Robjant will speak for vivo international about using Narrative Exposure Therapy in the treatment of PTSD in victims of SGBV and former child soldiers in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
For more information, please follow this link.
King’s Health Partners are hosting a 2-day conference on Global Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in London, UK on 5th and 6th June 2017. With new approaches to solving the mental health care challenges of our local communities, this conference will showcase exceptional psychosocial approaches to mental health problems which have been developed across the world at individual, community and global levels.
We are happy to announce that Amani Chibashima Christian and Dr. Katy Robjant will speak for vivo international about using Narrative Exposure Therapy in the treatment of PTSD in victims of SGBV and former child soldiers in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
For more information, please follow this link.
A big step: Goma in the DR Congo becomes permanent project location
The project “Assurer la formation des formateurs sur l’approche NET dans la prise en charge en santé mentale des surviviants des VSBG” is a two-year project in the region of North and South Kivu, which is part of a four-year large-scale project. The aim of the intervention is to train psychologists in narrative exposure therapy (NET) and to build a sustainable structure to treat victims of sexual gender based violence and to strengthen the health system of the region. This is vivo’s greatest project so far in this region.
Lesen Sie weiter: A big step: Goma in the DR Congo becomes permanent project location
The project “Assurer la formation des formateurs sur l’approche NET dans la prise en charge en santé mentale des surviviants des VSBG” is a two-year project in the region of North and South Kivu, which is part of a four-year large-scale project. The aim of the intervention is to train psychologists in narrative exposure therapy (NET) and to build a sustainable structure to treat victims of sexual gender based violence and to strengthen the health system of the region. This is vivo’s greatest project so far in this region.
Continue reading: A big step: Goma in the DR Congo becomes permanent project location
NET in the context of demobilisation
Since 2011 vivo international has been working on behalf of the World Bank Group with the Peace Mission of the United Nations in the eastern DR Congo (MONUSCO). The goal of this collaboration has been to provide psychological support to former combatants in order to support demobilization and reintegration efforts in the region.
Lesen Sie weiter: NET in the context of demobilisation
Since 2011 vivo international has been working on behalf of the World Bank Group with the Peace Mission of the United Nations in the eastern DR Congo (MONUSCO). The goal of this collaboration has been to provide psychological support to former combatants in order to support demobilization and reintegration efforts in the region.
Continue reading: NET in the context of demobilisation
NET with traumatised offenders
Crombach, C., Elbert, T.(2015).
Controlling Offensive Behavior Using Narrative Exposure Therapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Former Street Children.
Clinical Psychological Science, 3(2), 270-282
Hecker, T., Hermenau, K., Crombach, A., & Elbert, T. (2015).
Treating traumatized offenders and veterans by means of narrative exposure therapy.
Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 80.
Hermenau K, Hecker T, Schaal S, Mädl A, Elbert T (2013).
Addressing posttraumatic stress and aggression by means of Narrative Exposure: a randomized controlled trial with Ex-Combatants in the Eastern DRC.
Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 22:8, 916-934.
Köbach, A., Schaal, S., Hecker, T., Elbert, T. (2015).
Psychotherapeutic Intervention in the Demobilization Process: Addressing Combat- related Mental Injuries with Narrative Exposure in a First and Second Dissemination Stage.
Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy.
Crombach, C., Elbert, T.(2015).
Controlling Offensive Behavior Using Narrative Exposure Therapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Former Street Children.
Clinical Psychological Science, 3(2), 270-282
Hecker, T., Hermenau, K., Crombach, A., & Elbert, T. (2015).
Treating traumatized offenders and veterans by means of narrative exposure therapy.
Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 80.
Hermenau K, Hecker T, Schaal S, Mädl A, Elbert T (2013).
Addressing posttraumatic stress and aggression by means of Narrative Exposure: a randomized controlled trial with Ex-Combatants in the Eastern DRC.
Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 22:8, 916-934.
Köbach, A., Schaal, S., Hecker, T., Elbert, T. (2015).
Psychotherapeutic Intervention in the Demobilization Process: Addressing Combat- related Mental Injuries with Narrative Exposure in a First and Second Dissemination Stage.
Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy.
Fighting the war in the minds – Trainings in Narrative Exposure Therapy
vivo international has more than a decade of experience in training local personnel in conflict- and post-conflict areas to deliver trauma-focused therapy (Narrative Exposure Therapy) and similar methods. In October 2013 vivo organized two trainings in trauma therapy in the Kivu regions in Goma and Bukavu. The aim of vivo was to enable local staff in this war-affected region to help traumatized people in need.
Lesen Sie weiter: Fighting the war in the minds – Trainings in Narrative Exposure Therapy
vivo international has more than a decade of experience in training local personnel in conflict- and post-conflict areas to deliver trauma-focused therapy (Narrative Exposure Therapy) and similar methods. In October 2013 vivo organized two trainings in trauma therapy in the Kivu regions in Goma and Bukavu. The aim of vivo was to enable local staff in this war-affected region to help traumatized people in need.
Continue reading: Fighting the war in the minds – Trainings in Narrative Exposure Therapy
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in the Kivu Provinces
To get an insight into what has been learned from the work with ex-combatants in the Democratic Republic of Congo to date, please follow the link to find a report on the work in progress.
To get an insight into what has been learned from the work with ex-combatants in the Democratic Republic of Congo to date, please follow the link to find a report on the work in progress.
Treating the victims of gender based violence
Sosame is a psychiatric hospital situated in Bukavu, in the South-Kivu province in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The hospital is managed by the “Brothers of Charity“ (“Frères de la Charité“) and treats people with severe mental illnesses from the whole province. The people who are seeking help here have hallucinations, are depressed, drug addicted or traumatised.
Lesen Sie weiter: Treating the victims of gender based violence
Sosame is a psychiatric hospital situated in Bukavu, in the South-Kivu province in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The hospital is managed by the “Brothers of Charity“ (“Frères de la Charité“) and treats people with severe mental illnesses from the whole province. The people who are seeking help here have hallucinations, are depressed, drug addicted or traumatised.
Continue reading: Treating the victims of gender based violence
Training in trauma therapy for local counsellors
Atrocities and brutal crimes, exerted by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) have recently spread from Northern Uganda to the neighbouring countries where they cause large-scale humanitarian suffering. Specifically in the border regions to South Sudan and the Central African Republic children in DRC experience massive brutality and forced abductions. The LRA criminals kidnap minors and force them under life threat to fight their own people, carry heavy loads through the bush or serve as sex slaves – often children and youth have to kill their own families in order not to be killed themselves.
Lesen Sie weiter: Training in trauma therapy for local counsellors
Atrocities and brutal crimes, exerted by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) have recently spread from Northern Uganda to the neighbouring countries where they cause large-scale humanitarian suffering. Specifically in the border regions to South Sudan and the Central African Republic children in DRC experience massive brutality and forced abductions. The LRA criminals kidnap minors and force them under life threat to fight their own people, carry heavy loads through the bush or serve as sex slaves – often children and youth have to kill their own families in order not to be killed themselves.
Continue reading: Training in trauma therapy for local counsellors
From soldier to civilian: Demobilising the mind
For over a year vivo international has been collaborating with a centre for youth and adolescents in Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The centre offers adolescents who are affected by the war social support and a vocational training in order to give them a new perspective on their future. The adolescents receive a one-year training, support from social workers and help with job-seeking. The centre supports many former child soldiers. The former child soldiers were minors when they joined an armed group; today they are adolescents and young adults who are trying to find their way into civil life. However, this journey is a rocky road, many of them have difficulties integrating. Many of them suffer from traumatic experiences and can be irritable and violent. Hence, they can only partially benefit from the reintegration programme and some do not complete it successfully.
Lesen Sie weiter: From soldier to civilian: Demobilising the mind
For over a year vivo international has been collaborating with a centre for youth and adolescents in Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The centre offers adolescents who are affected by the war social support and a vocational training in order to give them a new perspective on their future. The adolescents receive a one-year training, support from social workers and help with job-seeking. The centre supports many former child soldiers. The former child soldiers were minors when they joined an armed group; today they are adolescents and young adults who are trying to find their way into civil life. However, this journey is a rocky road, many of them have difficulties integrating. Many of them suffer from traumatic experiences and can be irritable and violent. Hence, they can only partially benefit from the reintegration programme and some do not complete it successfully.
Continue reading: From soldier to civilian: Demobilising the mind
vivo starts up in Congo
Violence against civilians is rampant in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s War. Women and girls are raped on a daily basis and their life is determined by the fear of being victimized. The women and girls, who have survived rape are often left stigmatized and physically and psychological injured for life.
Violence against civilians is rampant in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s War. Women and girls are raped on a daily basis and their life is determined by the fear of being victimized. The women and girls, who have survived rape are often left stigmatized and physically and psychological injured for life.
Planning workshop for DDR programs in Switzerland
In May 2010 vivo was invited by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Norwegian Defence University College (NODEFIC) to share its expertise to plan a training for gender-sensitive Demobilization, Disarmament and Reintegration Programmes (DDR).
Lesen Sie weiter: Planning workshop for DDR programs in Switzerland
In May 2010 vivo was invited by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Norwegian Defence University College (NODEFIC) to share its expertise to plan a training for gender-sensitive Demobilization, Disarmament and Reintegration Programmes (DDR).
Continue reading: Planning workshop for DDR programs in Switzerland