Most of the survivors of the 1994 genocide in Ruanda in its aftermath still suffer from severe post traumatic stress. Because the country has only some very few psychiatrists and a limited number of psychologists, traumatized persons are treated and looked after by social workers, priests and otherwise qualified non-professionals. The aim of the Trauma Aid project in Ruanda is to convey skills in trauma therapy to those professionals, who already work with traumatized people, so that they can in turn teach other professionals later on in special training sessions. What is intended here is a training for trainers ("formation des formateurs"). At a later stage EMDR trainings will be planned, too. Furthermore teachers and priests, who are confronted with the consequences of traumatization of pupils and parishioners every day shall get instructions on how to manage traumatic crises. The project is sponsored by Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst from Germany in cooperation with Protestant Council of Ruanda (Conseil Protestant du Rwanda, CPR), which also organizes the subsequent training courses.
