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In March of 2018, insurgent violence broke out in the Mt. Elgon area of Eldoret, Kenya. 300 women and children witnessed and endured atrocities difficult for most of us to imagine. Their husbands and fathers were murdered, some even beheaded in front of them. These women fled to a nearby forest with protection from the local police. While in the forest, they were once again victimized, this time by the police meant to protect them. They returned to their village after several weeks, psychologically strained and facing many challenges.
Lilian Muthui, a psychologist from the Eldoret area, became an advocate for this group of women and children. Below is a quote by Lilian reflecting on the events that transpired and the needs of the survivors.
“These rebels perpetrated outrageous acts of violence against these women and their families. They feel so helpless and have so much pain and anger; they cannot find peace. This anger is causing them to react in painful and even harmful ways toward their children. I believe self-compassion can help them find forgiveness; it can give them a calmness that will help to soothe their pain and their grief. These mothers and their children deserve to be free of suffering. ”
After attending a 5-day Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) intensive course in Nairobi, Lilian began to consider the potential of self-compassion training as a healing intervention. Self-compassion has been shown to support recovery from emotional dysregulation and reduce anxiety, depression, as well as PTSD symptom severity. Higher levels of self-compassion have been shown to predict lower levels of PTSD symptoms in Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans (Hiraoka et al., 2015) and adolescents evacuated from a large forest fire (Zeller et al., 2014).
Lilian Muthui partnered with Lorraine Hobbs, the Director of Youth and Family Programs at the University of California - San Diego’s Center for Mindfulness, to facilitate a free retreat for the women and children of Mt. Elgon. Due to the continued political tensions in the village, a group of 30 women and 20 children/teens will participate in 4-day residential training offsite (in the neighboring county of Bungoma). These women and children will be guided and tended to by a group of mindful self-compassion teachers, trauma experts, and mental health professionals.
All contributors, teachers, and organizers are generously volunteering and donating their time and services to make this retreat possible. I will be assisting the facilitation of the retreat and working primarily with the children's programming. I am so thankful for the opportunity to give my time and energy to this cause. As I am funding my flight and accommodations, I am asking my friends and family to consider supporting me by covering some of these costs. Any amount of donation is appreciated, big or small. Surplus donations accumulated (over $1000) will be donated directly to the project to help fund the housing, transportation, and other accommodations needed for the women and children during the retreat.
ABOUT ME:
Heather S. Helvink, BA, has worked as a Research Assistant at the Center for Gender Equity and Health in the Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health at the UCSD School of Medicine for over a year. Her work has involved assisting with projects that address reproductive rights, gender-based violence, and health outcomes of women and girls locally and globally. She has also worked with the UCSD Center for Mindfulness as both a participant and an intern. Heather has continued to develop her own mindful practice and integrate it into her daily life. In the future, she hopes to pursue an MD/MPH to improve and promote more compassionate health systems around the world.
Lilian Muthui, a psychologist from the Eldoret area, became an advocate for this group of women and children. Below is a quote by Lilian reflecting on the events that transpired and the needs of the survivors.
“These rebels perpetrated outrageous acts of violence against these women and their families. They feel so helpless and have so much pain and anger; they cannot find peace. This anger is causing them to react in painful and even harmful ways toward their children. I believe self-compassion can help them find forgiveness; it can give them a calmness that will help to soothe their pain and their grief. These mothers and their children deserve to be free of suffering. ”
After attending a 5-day Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) intensive course in Nairobi, Lilian began to consider the potential of self-compassion training as a healing intervention. Self-compassion has been shown to support recovery from emotional dysregulation and reduce anxiety, depression, as well as PTSD symptom severity. Higher levels of self-compassion have been shown to predict lower levels of PTSD symptoms in Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans (Hiraoka et al., 2015) and adolescents evacuated from a large forest fire (Zeller et al., 2014).
Lilian Muthui partnered with Lorraine Hobbs, the Director of Youth and Family Programs at the University of California - San Diego’s Center for Mindfulness, to facilitate a free retreat for the women and children of Mt. Elgon. Due to the continued political tensions in the village, a group of 30 women and 20 children/teens will participate in 4-day residential training offsite (in the neighboring county of Bungoma). These women and children will be guided and tended to by a group of mindful self-compassion teachers, trauma experts, and mental health professionals.
All contributors, teachers, and organizers are generously volunteering and donating their time and services to make this retreat possible. I will be assisting the facilitation of the retreat and working primarily with the children's programming. I am so thankful for the opportunity to give my time and energy to this cause. As I am funding my flight and accommodations, I am asking my friends and family to consider supporting me by covering some of these costs. Any amount of donation is appreciated, big or small. Surplus donations accumulated (over $1000) will be donated directly to the project to help fund the housing, transportation, and other accommodations needed for the women and children during the retreat.
ABOUT ME:
Heather S. Helvink, BA, has worked as a Research Assistant at the Center for Gender Equity and Health in the Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health at the UCSD School of Medicine for over a year. Her work has involved assisting with projects that address reproductive rights, gender-based violence, and health outcomes of women and girls locally and globally. She has also worked with the UCSD Center for Mindfulness as both a participant and an intern. Heather has continued to develop her own mindful practice and integrate it into her daily life. In the future, she hopes to pursue an MD/MPH to improve and promote more compassionate health systems around the world.