Nov. 28, 2011 issue
Trauma healing not just for earthquake survivors
Haitians teach each other how to break cycle of violence
By Sheldon C. Good Mennonite Weekly Review“An earthquake is a type of violence, and if a person is a victim of any type of violence, they can find tools to help them,” he said.
The training discusses the cycle of violence, including how victims can become aggressors.
“If you want to be healed from violence, you need to break the cycle of violence,” Thelusmai said. “If you can break that cycle, you can benefit yourself and all of society.”
Trauma is universal, he said, and even those not already affected by trauma may be at some point in the future.
“This program is one of the best things Haiti has received after the earthquake,” Thelusmai said.
Though he praises the organizations that fund Wozo — and his job — he wishes the Haiti government would fund a program like it.
“It is a blessing for us to run this program,” he said. “People are able to face the reality of life because of this program. Our vision is to have a resilient country, a country that can face the issues we have.”
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