Addressing the Trauma
Women who have arrived from Afghanistan post August 2021 have been through a lot of trouble and trauma; they have left their lives, hopes, and loved ones behind; they have been through trauma and mental stress and feel isolated in the face of many challenges. Tackling trauma was identified as an important but unaddressed need for the newly arrived Afghan women and families. In partnership with Women Mediators across the Commonwealth (WMC) network, WPP has organized trauma-informed sessions for two groups of women from the UK, Europe, US and Afghanistan. One group is comprised of Afghan women leaders and a second group of young girls and women in the UK and Afghanistan. These sessions have run for 8 weeks for both groups. They have also been given tools to help their families and others around them. As next steps WPP will work with both groups on advocacy skills and leadership development, activities that are currently being planned.
WPP continues to work with existing partners and to identify new linkages and networks with individuals and organizations on the ground to promote collaboration and assist the Afghan community in various ways. These include basic necessities such as food, health and utilities, arranging individual and collective trauma/counselling sessions, and assistance with documentation and pr passports/IDs and visa processes to third countries. Also assisting newly Afghan refugees with their stay, supporting families, providing emotional assistance, and organizing early counselling sessions.