Support Trauma Training for Refugee Communities

My name is Amber Kelly, and I am a professor of Social Work and trauma therapist and educator at Quinnipiac University. Mansuk Milton is a South Sudanese refugee who, alongside his wife, founded Yenet, a women and youth-focused initiative in Uganda’s Pagirinya Refugee Settlement. I first met Mansuk during his time as a Fellow with the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding, sponsored by the U.S. State Department’s Community Solutions Program. Since his time with RCPC, Mansuk has brought what he learned during his Fellowship training in conflict mediation, restorative justice, and trauma-informed practices home to his community, creating impactful programming within this settlement of over 170,000 South Sudanese refugees.

It was somewhat of a chance meeting we had in 2022, while Mansuk was working with RPCP and I was on sabbatical. Despite our vastly different backgrounds, we recognized many overlaps in our work and have maintained contact since. About a year ago, Mansuk asked if I would come to Uganda and lead a multi-day training on the neurophysiology and psychology of trauma for local teachers, ministers, healthcare providers, and others supporting the refugee community, many who are like Mansuk, doing this work with their own experience of war and coming to Uganda as refugees. I quickly said YES, and together we began planning the logistics and securing resources.

The influx of refugees from South Sudan has created a significant humanitarian challenge, with Uganda hosting the highest number of refugees in Africa. Pagirinya alone houses approximately 170,000 South Sudanese refugees. Through my position at Quinnipiac University, with support from a travel grant for potential international partnerships, we’ve been able to organize this trip and gather materials for the training. Our hope is that this initiative will grow into an ongoing collaboration between Yenet and Quinnipiac programs focused on healthcare, public health, conflict resolution, and restorative justice.

Joining me on this trip will be Ray Boyd, Founder and President of Next Level Empowerment, an organization dedicated to supporting individuals reentering Connecticut communities after incarceration. As a formerly incarcerated man himself, Ray has committed himself to building supportive trauma-informed conflict resolution strategies and community-building initiatives since his release. Since his release, he has actually returned to prison, working with young men in services of sharing the guidance and support he lacked during his own youth, encouraging them to choose new paths. This collaboration with Mansuk creates an opportunity for mutual learning, as they address shared challenges—young men drawn to violence through tribal divisions and gangs—in trauma-responsive ways, both at home and abroad.

The training will bring together at least 40 community leaders—teachers, nurses, clergy, and others—who will explore the neurological and psychological impacts of trauma, integrating these insights into their existing expertise. This effort aims to strengthen the network of trauma-responsive support within the refugee settlement.

However, one critical need remains: funding for meals during the three-day training. Providing meals for participants and trainers will cost $1,500. Any additional funds raised will go toward purchasing essential supplies for the refugee community in Pagirinya, including feminine hygiene products, medical supplies, clothing, school materials, and cooking utensils. These items will be transported with us to Uganda.

We invite you to support this effort, which marks the beginning of what we hope will be a long and meaningful partnership between Yenet, Quinnipiac University, and Next Level Empowerment.