Towards peace of mind

Vision

Founded in 1997, War Trauma Foundation (WTF) is dedicated to the realisation of hope, peace of mind, and the achievement of the full potential of communities, impacted by individual and collective trauma, as a result of war and organised violence. 

The foundation works toward its vision, in cooperation with civil society organisations in low and middle income countries, in order to develop knowledge, and to build capacity and innovation in psychosocial support. This vision is achieved using the following approaches:

1.      Skill development through technical training and supervision
2.      Development and promotion of local and regional networks
3.      Documentation and exchange of knowledge, experience and good practice
4.      Organisational capacity building

The WTF implements programmes, in partnership with national and international non-governmental organizations, academic institutions and local community groups, in the Middle East, Kosovo, Caucasus, Great Lakes Africa and Sri Lanka.

Mission

The War Trauma Foundation works toward its vision by supporting capacity building within psychosocial care initiatives of local organisations through training and supervision, access to information and resources, and strengthening and linking of the local organisations.  The WTF works together with local and international staff and professionals of humanitarian aid organisations, service and educational institutions, and other community members, such as teachers and parents. The aim is to promote wellbeing, peace and stability through building and networking the psychosocial care capacity at local, country, regional and international levels. In this way, psychosocial expertise is embedded in the local community, and integrated into lasting, local structures, ensuring sustainability, cultural relevance and effectiveness.

The design of psychosocial support programmes must take into account the specific social, cultural and political context of each region where the WTF works, and build upon local priorities and creativity. Psychosocial support cannot be a stand-alone intervention in societies impacted by conflict, but are most effective as a part of an overall reconciliation process, which includes rebuilding trust, promoting truth and justice, and developing peaceful means of resolving differences in order to recreate functional, stable societies. The WTF contributes to this process through interventions fostering the healing of individuals and communities exposed to trauma - a critical component of the foundation for recovery, peace and prosperity

Guiding principles

The following principles guide the WTF programmes:

·  Hope and resilience: In spite of the devastating effects of war and violence, individuals and communities have the inherent ability for recovery and positive transformation. By building on the strengths of the local people, trust can be restored and hope renewed.

·  Respect: We work together with people regardless of race, religion, gender or ethnicity, and at all times in the best interests of the people we serve.

·  Participation: We value our partnerships with local organisations, and the sharing and mutual learning that develops from these collaborative relationships. In addition, we recognise and value the participation of individuals and groups who, as a result of conflict, may be disconnected from their families and the wider context in which they live.  We encourage opportunities for inclusion, growth and rebuilding.

·  Multi-disciplinary approaches: There may be multiple causes for war and conflict, and the recovery and healing of affected individuals and communities is complex. We therefore cooperate and work with other organisations and actors in local post-conflict settings with expertise in human rights issues, economic recovery, and the strengthening and rebuilding of infrastructure for health, education and other sectors, whenever possible.

Approaches

The War Trauma Foundation supports diverse psychosocial programmes in different regions of the world. Developed and implemented by local partners, our programmes support children, families, lay and professional counsellors and conflict-affected communities in a variety of settings according to their needs, priorities and resources. The following approaches form the basis of our way of working:

1.      Skill development through technical training and supervision

Staff of humanitarian organisations and community workers provides the bulk of psychosocial care for individuals and communities impacted by conflict and violence. They work in challenging settings, often crossing cultural divides and facing the complex problems of (internally displaced) refugees and other individuals impacted by conflict. They, and their families, may also be impacted by violence while in the midst of serving others. By virtue of their direct experience, and as a member of the communities in which they work, local staff and professionals bring not only their own personal journeys of resilience, but also creativity and cultural and contextual relevance to psychosocial approaches. 

Local organisations, therefore, have considerable expertise to share with the global community in healing and recovery programmes. However, their skills and educational levels may vary, and their access to information, training and knowledge exchange may be limited. For these reasons, the WTF supports knowledge and skill development of local partners through technical training and supervision. Conceived and developed in concert with local organisations, the approaches used can include: narrative theatre; community and individual therapeutic support; improving the climate of schools in supporting war-affected children; and training refugees to work in support of members of their own communities. In all of its approaches, the WTF advocates for community-based initiatives with respect to the agency of impacted persons to recover, and with a focus on resilience and positive growth. 

2.      Development and promotion of local and regional networks

Conflicts in various countries have a ripple effect throughout a region; impacting political, social, health and economic stability. The WTF engages psychosocial care professionals in networks, providing the opportunity for advocacy, and a platform for promoting attention to trauma recovery. Networks have the potential to bridge political and ethnic divides, bringing people together in the common purpose of reconciliation, peace building and regional stability. On an intervention level, networks also provide a forum for the exchange of knowledge, and coordination of programmes caring for the needs of the community and refugee diaspora from various countries. The WTF promotes opportunities for knowledge exchange, training and supervision among local and regional partners, as well as between local partners and the global community.

Where possible, linkages are created between different actors, such as academic institutions, civil society organisations, local governments and international bodies. The WTF firmly believes that approaches integrated within valued societal institutions, such as schools, community forums and public health systems, are more likely to be both sustainable and effective.

3.      Documentation and exchange of knowledge, experience and best practice

There exists a wealth of experience in psychosocial recovery and care programmes around the world from different post conflict settings. Much can be learned from these practices and experiences, and the lessons shared and applied elsewhere. However, many local organisations operate in relative isolation, with limited access to information or opportunities for knowledge exchange.

Therefore, the WTF supports the exchange of knowledge and experience in psychosocial approaches through building the capacity for functional networks, regional programming and the distribution of the Intervention Journal and manuals. Intervention Journal is a peer-reviewed publication, blending academic and field experience in psychosocial programming, evaluation and applied research. It is written to be relevant and accessible to local field practitioners and global professionals alike, and the abstracts are translated into several languages relevant to post conflict countries. It is widely distributed and offered free of charge to many local organisations. Intervention manuals further document and enrich the field by providing descriptions of psychosocial interventions and training models.

Knowledge and information exchange also raises awareness among local programme implementers of emerging, international standards in humanitarian aid and good practices in post conflict mental health and psychosocial support. Continual updating of relevant knowledge and experience is necessary to keep the learning process alive in this ever-evolving field, and to ensure that all of those impacted by conflict or violence have access to the highest standard of ethical care. The WTF also contributes to, and disseminates, guidelines on good practice in the psychosocial field as a member of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support.  

4.      Organisational capacity building

An important precondition for developing and implementing effective and sustainable psychosocial programmes, particularly in unstable environments, is appropriate technical and organisational expertise. Likewise, a supportive organisational milieu and foundation is critical for protecting and sustaining psychosocial staff during their challenging work. Through mutual learning processes, the WTF works with local organisations to strengthen good leadership, management, sustainable resources, staff care and skill development.