‘A Dark Stone in My Stomach’: Interventions for Survivors of Mass Violence and Building Sustainable Peace

Abstract

The nature and form of interventions received by survivors of mass violence in conflict situations both directly and indirectly impact on the survivors’ ability to support building sustainable peace and development. This article examines the role of sensitivity to the trauma experienced by the survivors in the interventions provided after mass violence. By examining the experiences and perceptions of South Sudanese refugees in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Northwestern Kenya, this article explores the complex interplay of violence, trauma, interventions, peacebuilding and development. Interventions that take into consideration the multifaceted ways in which the survivors experience and respond to traumatic events, encourage capacities for resilience in the survivors, engage the creative arts, and emphasise the centrality of community and relationships, may assist the survivors in recovery from trauma and facilitate sustainable peacebuilding and development, as well as avert the possibility of recurring violence.

Keywords:

• interventions
• violence
• trauma
• peacebuilding
• development

Notes

1 Not her real name. All the names of the South Sudanese refugees interviewed for this study are replaced with pseudonyms.

2 ‘Wife inheritance’ is a traditional practice amongst South Sudanese, and a number of other African communities, in which a widow is supposed to automatically marry the brother of her deceased husband.

3 The term ‘co-wife’ is used in polygamous contexts, in this case referring to the other woman with whom Sara shares a husband. In Sara’s case, she had three co-wives, two of whom lived back in South Sudan.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Lydia Wanja Gitau

LYDIA WANJA GITAU is a researcher at the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Sydney, Australia. She has practised as a counselling psychologist in Kenya for 17 years. Her research interest is the link between trauma intervention for survivors of mass violence and peacebuilding in post-conflict societies.

Paul Rhodes

PAUL RHODES is an academic at the Clinical Psychology Unit, University of Sydney and Co-Convenor of the Sydney Narrative Inquiry Research Group. His research areas include anorexia nervosa, the recovery movement, developmental disabilities, family therapy and refugee experiences.