Hope Rekindled: Refugee Women Find Healing Through Group Therapy
Grief can be a paralyzing sensation for those who have experienced unimaginable loss and the horrors of war. This was the reality for Ella, a 28-year-old refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and countless other refugee women in Nairobi's Kasarani community. Sexual assault and the loss of her family members during the war left Ella deeply traumatized, and upon arriving in Kenya, she began to self-isolate, consumed by overwhelming emotions.
"When I came to Nairobi," Ella confided, "I used to stay in the house and dwell on what happened to me, crying alone. I was very suicidal and couldn't see the point of living."
Many refugee women who are survivors of war like Ella face similar struggles. They have witnessed unimaginable violence, lost loved ones, fled their homes, and are now carrying the invisible scars of their experiences. RefuSHE’s mental health team saw this common thread in the community and knew that there was a need for targeted intervention.
The team launched a mental health program specifically designed for these refugee women. Partnering with our established Womens Ambassador Groups, where refugee women meet monthly to save and borrow money to support their businesses, the mental health team conducted mental awareness and screening sessions for the groups. Through the screening sessions, eighteen women were identified to embark on a 10-week group therapy program led by RefuSHE’s experienced psychosocial counselors.
“The group therapy sessions gave me hope...I now avoid isolation and instead talk to others and share my feelings.”
These sessions became a lifeline. Each week, the women began by sharing their emotional burdens which created a space of understanding and vulnerability. Through group discussions and therapy techniques, they began to explore their war trauma, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and most importantly, rebuild a sense of community.
Ella's story exemplifies the program's transformative impact. For the first time, she found a safe space to confront the trauma of sexual assault. "The group therapy sessions gave me hope," she shared. "I learned breathing exercises to manage my anxiety and discovered the power of sharing my feelings with others. I now avoid isolation and instead talk to others and share my feelings."
Pamela, 58 and another survivor, mirrored Ella's journey. The program offered her a safe space to confront the debilitating grief of losing her two children during the war. Pamela expressed her gratitude, stating, "I would have loved for the sessions to continue because they have helped me heal my pain so much. Talking to someone has helped me ease that pain. I am now able to handle the stresses of life better."
“This group therapy has helped me learn how to manage my grief, allowing me to move forward with life. The sessions have also shown me that I am not alone in facing these challenges.”
Edna, 25, another survivor, shared how the program helped her foster self-love and healthy coping mechanisms. "The group therapy sessions have taught me the importance of self-love and believing in myself," Edna explained. "I learned that when I feel sad, I should do something I love. For me, when I feel overwhelmed, I just start singing and it really makes me feel better." Edna also expressed her desire to pass down the coping techniques she learned to her friends in the community.
Michelle, 26, shares that she found strength and connection within the group. The program helped her navigate the pain of losing her mother and younger sibling during the war, and the overwhelming feeling of isolation that comes with displacement. Michelle explained, "I lost my mother and younger sibling during the war. When I came here, their absence was constantly felt. Sometimes, I would go through something and think to myself, 'If she was here, she would tell me what to do.' I was constantly crying, my head used to feel heavy, and I always wanted to be alone. This group therapy has helped me learn how to manage my grief, allowing me to move forward with life. The sessions have also shown me that I am not alone in facing these challenges. Some people are even going through bigger challenges than me."
Carol, burdened by intrusive memories of the war's violence, found relief through the program. The sessions provided a safe space to process her trauma and learn to manage intrusive thoughts. Carol shared, "Sometimes I would be going to the shop and just lose my direction as I was constantly thinking. I would even forget where I kept things in the house." She also shared that the images of her family who were massacred during the war kept appearing in her mind until she began group therapy. "These sessions have given me a space to speak about these things and I have made a community of close friends. I don't think as much as before."
The resilience of Nairobi’s refugee community continues to inspire and motivate RefuSHE’s staff and program design. The impact of group therapy is undeniable as these women are no longer defined by their past. They are survivors who are learning to heal, rebuild their lives, and find hope for the future.