Walking together: Healing and hope for Colombian refugees

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w a l k i n g
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significant stress to the family. When inviting the refugee family to tell their story to a larger group it could be
a good idea to offer alternatives such as another time or a different setting. That way the family will have a
comfortable “out” if they are not ready to share their story in the setting you propose. When they are ready
to share their story, make sure you give them enough time - 15 minutes probably won’t be enough.
While the telling of their story holds many benefits for the listener, including elements of awareness
raising and advocacy, remember that the main reason, at least at first, is that of healing for the refugee
family. Always let the family know that their comfort and their sense of well-being is what is most
important to you.
When opportunities arise to talk with the refugee family about their past and the traumatic experiences
they survived, it may be helpful to remind yourself of some of the following pointers: 22
Before the Conversation: To prepare yourself for conversations with the refugee family about difficult
experiences from their past, it will be useful for you to learn as much as you can about their country and
culture. The more you are aware of the history and context of their country as well as important elements
of their culture and even the process of acculturation during resettlement, the more you will be able to
understand the refugee’s experiences. Use different sources to learn as much as you can - a good place
to begin could be this resource material and the websites listed in the resource sections, but don’t forget
the best resource - the refugee family itself. Conversations about the good things from home - culture,
traditions, the importance of family, faith, community - will be welcomed and are an important balance
to conversations about the difficulties they endured.
“We had a meeting with the church, we sat
in a circle. They made us remember our past,
why we left Colombia. For me it was very
difficult to speak about it. I am so happy here,
I want to forget everything. It was really hard
for me. When I got home afterwards I felt like
my head exploded I had such a bad headache.
But it is good to talk. It was very good because
the church wanted to get to know us more,
know more about our story. The people who
listened to my story are really supportive to us
and are very affectionate to my children.”
- Adriana
Before entering into conversations about trauma,
be sure that you spend time learning about
who the refugees were before their problems
began. Learning about their lives, their roles
in their communities, their occupations, what
they loved to do and what was important to
them is valuable for several reasons: this allows
the refugees to reflect and reconnect with their
past, recognizing and valuing where they have
come from and who they are, as well as letting
you know more about them as people - not
just refugees. These kinds of conversations help
build trust and forge lasting relationships, and
they lay the groundwork for later conversations
about traumatic experiences.
22. Adapted from New Neighbours Hidden Scars, chapter 3 Healing the Hurt, by Evelyn C. Lennon, MSA, MA. (2005) Minneapolis,
MN: The Centre for Victims of Torture, www.ctv.org,