Providing Psycho-social services to Survivors in Raja

Activity: Psycho-social Support (Group and Individual Counseling)

Venue: Raja Center Payam, Raja County Western Bahr-El-Gazel, South Sudan

Number of Participants: 72

Date: 5/09/2024

Partner: UNDP

Brief Story Write up

Supported by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Rural Developmet Action Aid Continues to provide humanitarian support to survivors of Conflict related human rights abuses in South Sudan.

This week we are providing psycho-social support to the survivors of human rights abuses in form of group and individual counseling. This particular service is intend to help them recover from the trauma caused due to the experience the went through during the conflict and in their homes in case of gender based violence.

As they heal from the trauma, it will open room for forgiveness and reconciliation and finally the lasting peace that we all yearn for us as a people hence creating a conducive environment for peaceful co-existence and development of the nation.

Objectives of the Activity

To help the survivors to recover from the trauma they are suffering from
To open room for forgiveness and reconciliation
To make it easy for the commission for truth reconciliation and healing to handle the national healing process

Results/Issues discussed and outcome of the Activity

Results.

1. Survivors were willing to share their stories

2. Some survivors showed willingness to forgive their perpetrators

3. The activity has given survivors a chance to chose how they what to handle their trauma

Issues discussed:

What exactly happened?
Are you aware of who committed these atrocities against you?
Do you think you can look them in the eyes and forgive them?

Outcomes:

1. 72 survivors received counseling services

2. Many of the survivors showed an immediate sign of relief and hope to get better

3. The survivors feel that their is hope that they will get justice.

Results/Issues Discussed and Outcome of the Activity

Participants appreciated UNDP for funding RDAA for such great initiatives
State minister of peacebuilding advised RDAA and UNDP to extend such activities to grass root level
Chairperson for Peace Commission such projects to be extended to highly hit areas of conflict such