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Preparing a survivor to reunite with her family and social network
SAID ALOUD
Preparing a survivor to reunite with her family and social network
PART II: THE TRAINING
Aim. To consider the assistance that may be required to prepare for the return of a survivor to her family and social network, including engaging helpers and resource persons in the community.
Trainer. I will continue.
When they visited the village, the helpers found out first whether resource people in the community could support a survivor. They were referred to the village chief and the priest. The helpers explained trauma and trauma-reactions and said that a raped woman is not to blame for what happened to her. The chief and the priest understood the women were suffering and that they were not to blame. They agreed to protect the raped women in their community and wanted to assist the helpers to talk to the women’ s families.
When they talked to the Butterfly Woman’ s family, the helpers explained that she had been traumatised and had suffered and had recovered. They told the family that she had learned new skills, like sewing, that could help the family survive. The chief said that raped women were wounded in a way that could be compared with the wounds of soldiers in the war. He said that the community would support the Butterfly Woman and help her not to feel ashamed.
While the Butterfly Woman was staying at the Center, the helpers had made several visits to her family and community. It had been difficult. The children had frequently asked for their mother, but her husband had not allowed the children to mention her name, let alone see her. After some time, however, he changed his mind and said that he wanted to see his wife again. In this, he was supported by the rest of the family.
The Butterfly Woman too had reached a point where she was ready to meet her husband. And she had longed to see her children for many weeks.