Bible Society moves to ‘heal the nation’

Namibia is a country traumatised by many things, especially gender-based violence and many women continue to perish at the hands of their male partners. This has led to the Bible Society of Namibia starting a Trauma Healing Network. Bible Society fundraising and communications manager Natasja Pieterse said trauma manifests in people in ways that most of us don’t even recognise as the effects of unresolved experiences. “We have become aware that there are so many causes of trauma in Namibia, as every day more people are traumatised by, amongst others, accidents, abuse and domestic violence, natural disasters like floods and famine, diseases such as HIV/Aids.” Pieterse said work-related stress, rape, robbery, divorce, suicide, murder and the death of loved ones was also among the causes of trauma. “People are struggling with the pain of their heart wounds, because they have difficulties coping with their trauma and to move on in life,” she said. The network is a community-based project and makes use of the Bible’s message of hope and healing, as well as basic mental health principles. Through it, the Bible Society wants to train and mentor a network of volunteer facilitators and caregivers in Namibia, who are active in the field of trauma counselling and treatment. According to Pieterse, many people cannot afford to go and see psychologists and then live with a lifetime of emotional and psychological pain, so with the network they will a have place to get the help they need for free. She said the Bible Society hopes that other stakeholders, especially the relevant ministries and even the private sector and individuals, can grasp the importance of the project and work together to heal the nation. Pieterse said it has become evident that the country is in need of divine intervention, especially after President Hifikepunye Pohamba held a national prayer day last month. “Our mission is to get the network to every major and small town in the country, especially in remote rural areas where our brothers and sisters have nowhere to go for emotional and psychological healing, when faced with different kinds of trauma.” “Just imagine the women in those areas who go through loss of loved ones, who are victims of violence, who live in such poverty that they feel hopeless and helpless every single day. We want to help and heal their heart wounds,” she said. The healing process According to Bible Society programmes manager and head of the Trauma Healing Network, Dr Schalk Botha, there is an SMS line - 081 880 0888 - which people can contact if they are interested in becoming healing facilitators or they can express their interest in an email to [email protected]. After making contact with the Bible Society, people can register to receive training. The timeframe for training a facilitator is usually an intensive four-day period, followed by continuous coaching and mentoring. Currently there are 30 trained facilitators, who work as social workers in different ministries and a further eight facilitators in Windhoek. Their professions include school counsellors, physiological students and of University of Namibia (Unam) lecturers. “If a trauma victim makes contact with us, we immediately put them in contact with already established healing groups or trained facilitators. The process starts immediately once the trauma victim has made contact with the facilitator and starts working through the material and this can go on for as long as it takes, as there is no quick fix for trauma,” said Botha. The training of facilitators usually takes place at the Bible Society. The healing groups take place where the facilitators operate. “When healing a trauma victim, the methods used include making use of art, experiential learning, which means getting the person to do something that demonstrates what he or she is going through.” “We also use group settings, combining all of the above, to help the person express their pain and so start with the healing process.” As part of the healing process, a concept called “healing wheels” is used. This links colours to different themes within the training material, which addresses different aspects of the healing process. Eight facilitators operate in Windhoek, while the other 30 are in Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Otjiwarongo, Outjo, Oshakati and Katima Mulilo. The network is in the process of training facilitators in Rundu, Keetmanshoop, Grootfontein and Omaruru.