Working for PEACE: with a limited number of mental health professionals in the country, especially outside Windhoek, many people in need of counselling go without, left on their own with few coping mechanisms in place. PEACE (People's Education, Assistance & Counselling for Empowerment) is working to change this.

First called Programme for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation Trust, the organisation was started in 1996 by former SWAPO detainee, Emma Kambangula, to provide services for people struggling to overcome the physical and psychological abuses of detention and war. It later expanded its focus and became PEACE, a centre committed to helping all people affected by violence and other traumatic events.

While handling some cases themselves, PEACE staff refers the majority of its clients to a psychiatrist or psychologist in its volunteer network, a group of mental health professionals who donate one hour per week to PEACE. According to Sheila Butkus, Assistant Projects Coordinator, the number of people seeking counselling has grown over the years. "People have started to realise the value of psychological counselling. In the beginning we used to see only women and children, but now we see more men coming in to say 'I have this problem and I think it is contributing to a problem in my home.'" Sheila also credits radio and TV with sparking interest in counselling, noting that PEACE staff will often appear on talk shows to discuss relevant topics in mental health, such as suicide and domestic violence. These programmes have been especially powerful in reaching teenagers dealing with problems ranging from relationship issues to teen pregnancy and abortion.

In its new programme called Broxos ('bridge' in Damara), PEACE works with children who have experienced trauma such as sexual abuse, abandonment, HIV and Aids, or loss of one or both parents. Another new project, the Orphans and Vulnerable Children Caregivers' Support Group, supports grandparents and eldest siblings who have taken on the responsibility of raising children orphaned by Aids. In weekly meetings, group members learn how to cope with their own grief and learn strategies for recognising and handling the grief of the children. They also share and learn from each other. Each programme will last six months, and its members will hopefully take what they've learned and start support groups in their own communities.

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Another component of the organisation's work is research. It has just completed a report for UNICEF on the effectiveness of the Woman and Child Protection Units throughout Namibia, and has recently embarked on a study on ex-combatants and violence. In counselling survivors of domestic violence, PEACE found that the majority of incidents were committed by former soldiers, police officers, or someone who had some military experience. This, combined with the history of the organisation, prompted the research.

PEACE also runs a mobile unit that travels throughout the country to provide psycho-social services to communities that have few qualified mental health professionals. Working in partnership with local organisations, they often take on severe cases that the local organisations do not have the capacity to handle.

PEACE also trains staff of other organisations, including the Ministry of Health and LifeLine/Childline, to work with survivors of trauma. In the future, PEACE hopes to start a programme for girls who have dropped out of school, and to continue to provide the psycho-social services that are so desperately needed all over Namibia. To learn more about PEACE visit www.peace.org.na or call 061-371 550.