Training Ugandans in Trauma Informed Care

Our team in Uganda continues to build sustainable systems of community care by training teachers, parents, and youth in trauma-informed mental health support.

We invited a local training graduate to share her story during our monthly radio show, reaching over 5 million listeners across Uganda:

“It was 2022, when I got the opportunity of being part of this program, which has overwhelmingly changed my storyline… it healed me socially, physically, mentally.”

This workshop found me pregnant, stressed, and worn-out… Through this program of Healing Together Uganda, I have learned I am not alone. I can still be someone purposeful… I've learned that it's my life first, so everyday I get time for self care.

It has also taught me that besides feeding my children and my husband, I can do something else, like guiding and counseling my children, playing with them, listening to them.

To my neighbors, I am a resource… I've taught them about taking three deep breaths in case of any anger. I've maintained confidentiality, compassion, and being non judgmental. These skills have made me the most loved teacher by my pupils at Katete Primary School.”

This year, Healing Together Uganda has trained over 2,400 community members to serve as trauma-informed Healing Advocates, reaching 22,000 survivors of violence in rural Uganda.

 For more stories of alumni healing their communities - including the story of the “Resilient Women” healing circle for women living with HIV, who now meet monthly and started a local micro-savings program - follow our HT Uganda Facebook Page.

Research conducted by our team in Uganda revealed that, out of 50 children who start school in rural villages, fewer than 50% will finish primary school, and only 18-28% will finish secondary school—a dismal outcome by any measure.

Most students drop out because of the impacts of trauma, whether from child sexual violence, child marriage, domestic violence at home, neglect, or corporal punishment at school.  

Following these findings, our team developed a school program for primary and secondary youth to build self esteem, promote emotional and social skills, and cultivate connection and peer support with the goal of supporting youth to start healing from trauma and, in turn, to stay in school.

During one of the workshops, a  student led a grounding  practice that he learned from his teacher, a recent graduate of our Healing Advocate training for community leaders.

The teacher shared with our team how the healing workshop changed her life, inspiring her to regain her sense of self worth and refocus on her wellbeing, for her own safety and that of her children.

This ripple effect is what our work is all about.

When a teacher begins to heal, the classroom becomes a space for healing too. And for these students, that shift can mean the difference between dropping out and building a future for themselves and generations to come.