Healing from Within: Sustaining the Psychological Health of Our Communities

“There is no healing without healing.” For several years, we have seen a surge in sensitization efforts against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and toxic masculinity. These efforts by institutions, individuals, and organizations have finally started to bear fruit: community members are breaking their silence and speaking up when their rights are violated.

But as these interventions grow, a massive gap has been staring us in the face: The support for the survivors. After the shouting stops and the reports are filed, what comes next? Where do the survivors go with their hurts?

GBV does not occur in a vacuum. It happens within families, neighborhoods, and deep-rooted cultural environments. To truly address these issues, we need more than just policy reforms on paper; we demand grassroots action that empowers communities to recognize, respond, and most importantly heal from within.

In four key communities; Ntambag, Ntarinkon, Mulang, and Nitop II Common Action for Gender Development (COMAGEND) has been striving to end GBV and transform institutions to better access SRHR services. Our first intervention proved that awareness wasn't enough; we needed restorative justice.

The cornerstone of Phase II of the "Adjust For Me" (A4M26) project is simple but revolutionary: allow community members to lead their own healing so they can support their community better. We brought together 20 Advocates representing a blend of multiple institutions. From youth leaders to traditional counsellors, we ensured that "no one is left behind," bringing diverse voices and perspectives into one room.

With an objective, to build a resilient and community centered approaches to heal survivors and empower male advocates, these community Healers had to be trained on basic and important Skills like Active listening, Non judgement as a means of providing “First Aid” comfort before referring the survivors and the appropriate support systems.

During the training, we had a chat with one of our participants, Che Florence from the Mulang community. She put it perfectly: “Healing is a necessary good in Mulang because people see the end of the violence, but they don’t get the support they need to actually heal.”

In a community where harmful norms are not addressed and proper closure isn't reached, change will never be sustainable. Resilience cannot be built on an unhealed foundation.

With the vital support of AmplifyChange, COMAGEND is dismantling these harmful norms across these four communities and their institutions. The Adjust For Me Phase II project is a living demonstration that healing is not just the responsibility of big institutions; it is a communal duty. By equipping local leaders and youth with the skills to provide Psychological First Aid, we aren't just running a project, we are building a foundation for lasting resilience.

 

Source :COMAGEND Cameroon