from A.M. is a social worker , through SAPRukarama, Burundi, who after years of GL, rebuilt his life dier. He now trauma as a child sol help other uses his experience to ture victims. victims of war and tor to elect their representatives and strengthened cooperation between parents, school authorities and the children. This was particularly effective in identifying and resolving cases of family conflicts and child abuse and responses to school drop-outs. This example shows that the community itself has the power to solve problems affecting it when collaboration and mutual understanding between its members are strengthened. Savings and loan activities were again an integral part of the approach. Participants used a community managed savings scheme, where each person contributes a specific amount of money, which after a certain period of time is given to a member of the group. Once the last member has received his or her money the cycle begins again. The scheme provided a platform for members to support each other socially, emotionally and financially. Secondary victims were also addressed through social counselling. In many cases it gave participants a chance to address problems that had been buried for many years. In one community in Rwanda it brought a couple back together. The women had been badly beaten and raped during the Genocide and became pregnant as a result. At this time her husband was imprisoned for perpetrating acts of genocide. Ten years later he was released and returned to the community to see his wife and the children who were not his own, something he found extremely difficult to accept. Both joined a social counselling group and by sharing their anger and frustration with the rest of the group, the community could understand both of their perspectives and help them understand each other’s. The family reconciled 26 IRCT Great Lakes Project and now live together, with the man taking on the role of a father to the children. Social counselling groups also acted as the perfect introduction to successful income generating activity groups. The Great Lakes Project supported the creation of over 100 social counselling groups, with more than 1,800 beneficiaries. Communitybased social counselling proved extremely effective in restoring broken communities. It allowed centres to strengthen and expand existing psychosocial services and empowered communities with the tools they needed to deal with past trauma and current challenges. soldier with the “As a child, I was a obilised after rebels, but I was dem ep at night the war. I couldn’t sle ares. I dreamt because of the nightm saw them get about my friends and bad memories killed again. All the e back at of the soldier-life cam of violence night. There was a lot we still have here in Rukarama and rebels never a lot of problems. The sometimes really disappeared and they come and steal. lage four “SAP-GL came to the vil to my years ago and listened hope again and problems. They gave me anymore. They I did not feel alone me find a job. trusted me and helped to help others SAP-GL taught me how ence as me. who had the same experi trained in In August 2013, I was ane au Rwanda Rwanda by Eglise Anglic of Rwanda) in (the Anglican Church counselling. community-based social created a When I came back, we up here in social counselling gro lling opens our Rwanda. Social counse e again to our hearts and brings hop fered so much community. We have suf t have been God from the wars, it mus arama.” that sent SAP-GL to Ruk Rukarama, A.M., Social worker, Burundi “On 5 April 2013, armed men came to my village and took me to the hills. For one week, I was tortured in the most extreme and unbearable conditions. After I was released, I was living the life of an animal without a master. I was physically and mentally broken. When AVVDH came to the village, they took me to a hospital in Uvira. “I thank God for allowing me to participate in social counselling. I feel supported by my comrades in the group, some of whom have had similar experiences. I know that I am not the only one who has suffered. My life has changed and become normal again, little by little, as the social counselling sessions advanced. My mental problems which disturbed me so much have become fewer and fewer. Even the nightmares are disappearing. With the social counselling group, I start to win my life back: I started to earn a little bit of money and can provide for my family again. I am again invited to community meetings and when I make suggestions they are considered.” F.M., 23 years old, Kabimba, South Kivu, the DRC IRCT Great Lakes Project 27