HOW IT ALL BEGAN
SRI LANKA FEBRUARY 2019
Our work began in Sri Lanka when Simon was invited to teach a course on suffering at a conference there in February 2019. He was supposed to still be in country on Easter Sunday, but returned earlier for another appointment.
Just days after he returned to Australia, on Easter Sunday morning, a series of bombs exploded in churches and hotels, killing and wounding hundreds of people, including many women and children. These were some of the darkest days for the people in Sri Lanka and one of the most devastating terrorist attacks.
The people of Sri Lanka have endured heartbreaking tragedies, with a twenty year civil war, ending in 2009, two tsunami's, ongoing flooding and a terrorist attack. There is a high degree of compounded trauma across the country.
TRAUMA CARE
SRI LANKA
Following the bombings, Simon and Allison sprung into action, and began working with churches and NGO's in the country to initiate a national trauma care project. They continue to coordinate strategies to help the victims of the bombings, the Civil War, and many other people who have experienced trauma through violence and tragedy. One of the greatest needs for people in crisis, is care and support to cope with the trauma of such events and to have access to training for ongoing hope and courage in the oven of progressive pressure.
Through research and on the ground relationships we are providing opportunities for organizations and churches seeking to understand the impact of trauma in Sri Lanka and in other countries where tragedy or persecution has occurred.
We are also helping school, university and ministry students and churches gain experience in a range of approaches in assessing levels of trauma across a nation. Equipping them with the tools to identify and help traumatized people learn how to build relationships and work toward reconciliation with and between effected people.