Overcoming trauma and strengthening resilience
We use psychosocial support to help traumatised young people come to terms with their experiences, develop resilience and gain hope – for a self-determined and better life.
We have been focusing on psychosocial approaches at terre des hommes schweiz since the mid-1990s. Our projects are based on a holistic approach – we take into account both the individual challenges of young people and their social environment. This in-depth knowledge and our many years of experience make us one of the leading players in this field.
Young people who have experienced violence, poverty or family conflict are often under enormous psychological strain. By providing holistic support, we give young people the tools they need to deal with their trauma, strengthen their self-confidence and regain their ability to act.
Our partner organisations offer traumatised young people psychological counselling and individual support. The aim is to empower those affected so that they no longer see themselves solely as victims. They discover their own strengths, develop new dreams and begin to come to terms with their experiences.
Group work is a central part of our approach. In these groups, young people can share their stories in a safe space, build trust and support one another. Shared activities promote cooperation and help to strengthen their social skills.
Our partner organisations work not only with the young people themselves, but also with their families, communities and external experts. Through information events and awareness-raising campaigns, we raise awareness of the challenges faced by young people and create a supportive environment that helps to sustain them.
In South Africa, gender-based violence (GBV) often goes unreported, especially in townships and rural areas, where affected women and girls often receive too little support. With our local partner organisation LifeLine, we support survivors of sexual abuse and offer medical, psychological and legal help.
Young people with a refugee background, especially those with unsecured residence status, often live in difficult conditions and have to deal with traumatic experiences. They also have limited options for action due to their residence status. The MePower project at terre des hommes schweiz is a response to the lack of psychosocial support on offer. Young migrants engage with their stories and strengths in a creative way, experience respect and appreciation, and learn to focus on their abilities.
Catherine Brunold
Psychosocial Support Department PSS
terre des hommes schweiz
Kasernenhof 8
4058 Basel