A graduate of the , as well as the center鈥檚 program, is playing a key role in a project that hopes to introduce trauma-healing principles to more than 100,000 people in Somalia.
In April, 2012, Doreen Ruto, MA 鈥�06, trained eight Somali 鈥渕aster trainers鈥� in STAR principles, using curriculum purchased by USAID and adapted for Somali audiences. Since then, Ruto has served as a mentor for this core group of trainers, checking in with each regularly for updates and debriefing them from her home in Nairobi, Kenya.
After that session, those trained by Ruto led a round of STAR trainings in Mogadishu, Somalia, for 32 people from each of the country鈥檚 districts. These people have since begun using the STAR curriculum to teach trauma awareness and healing principles to hundreds more volunteers tasked with leading yet another round of training sessions throughout Somalia.
According to a USAID news release, project leaders estimate they鈥檒l eventually introduce 115,000 Somalis to the STAR curriculum. The project is supported by .
Ruto, who took her first STAR training at 91短视频 in 2001 and has since led numerous trainings elsewhere in Africa, including Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan and Kenya, said the program鈥檚 principles have been met with great enthusiasm in Somalia and elsewhere.
鈥淚t talks about the reality of what everyone goes through. That鈥檚 the thing I really like about STAR,鈥� Ruto said. 鈥淚t combines a broad spectrum of disciplines that resonates with everyone, from different cultures, different religions, and different academic backgrounds.鈥�
Ruto spends most of her time working in Nairobi, Kenya, with her non-profit organization, .
She added that the impact of the STAR trainings and curriculum spreads far beyond the scope of whatever project they鈥檙e associated with, because trauma resilience, , , , and other STAR principles have such wide relevance.
鈥淭hey are applicable in people鈥檚 personal lives, in their households,鈥� said Ruto.
A USAID news release quoted a participant in the ongoing STAR project in Somalia named Ahmed, who reconciled with his estranged brother after the training:
鈥淸Trauma] affects the mind, soul and the human brain 鈥� I think it is what kept us apart for the last three years,鈥� Ahmed said. 鈥淭his training is changing my life and has given me happiness. I am really grateful to be lucky enough to participate in this training.鈥�
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