T H A R S
Trauma Healing and Reconciliation Services
Healing from the Heart of Africa
The seeds of tomorrow's wars grow in the soil of today's unhealed traumas. The seeds of tomorrow’s peace grow in the soil of today’s healing and reconciliation.
What's New
Letters from David is a new feature that gives an on-the-ground view of THARS work in the African Great Lake Region from THARS program director, David Niyonzima. The most recent letter addresses the trauma that resulted from the earthquake in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo - March 2008. See all the letters in the Reading Room.
THARS works with the Peace Through Pieces program which enables sexual assault victims to participate in group quilt-making.
Virginia Foundation and THARS partner to promote healing [learn more...]
Construction is underway for a new trauma healing training center in Gitega. The first building is 12 meters by 10 meters (about 1,200 square feet). Gitega is central to Burundi and the African Great Lakes Region. See photos...
Welcome to THARS! THARS (Trauma Healing and Reconciliation Services) is pioneering a new path to peace by providing resources for trauma healing and reconciliation in Burundi and the African Great Lakes Region.
For the past 40 years, Burundi and the surrounding African Great Lakes Region have
experienced civil war, refugee problems and genocidal episodes.
THARS (Trauma Healing And Reconciliation Services) is a group of
psychosocial practitioners and peacemakers with headquarters in
Bujumbura, Burundi.
THARS
practitioners contribute to healing and
peacemaking in the Great Lakes Region of Africa using a holistic
approach to psychosocial healing
and resolution of differences
for people
in
all walks of life. Our clients'
stories of healing are a
testament to the human spirit.
The THARS approach is a new path to peace, planting seeds of healing and reconciliation. At THARS we serve not only the people we call the “clients”, but the whole country of Burundi in its transition from war to peace. We believe that the positive change, healing, growth and strength of the population that we see today come from the impact of our work on the mental health of our members.
THARS Services
• Training for trainers, non-profit agencies and community leaders
• Counseling for individuals, groups and families
• Peace Clubs organized by community leaders
• Rehabilitation for victims of torture
• Listening Centers for trauma survivors
• Shelters for sexual assault survivors
• Child soldier counselling and reintegration
• Micro-loans for small business start ups
THARS projects have been supported by U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID) for the
Victims Of Torture (VOT) project, a
cooperative effort with other non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which provides the many victims of torture
in Burundi with legal assistance, advocacy, reintegration and
psychosocial support.
Other supporters have included EU, Care International, UNICEF, Swiss Cooperation, Kindernothilfe, The International Committee for the Red Cross, North Seattle Friends Church, Norwegian Church Aid, Quaker Hilfe Germany, Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and private individuals.
THARS is now seeking funding to continue and expand its operations, [learn more...]
THARS is an English language web site, but also provides some documents in French, Kirundi and Swahili.
This website is provided through the generous support of the Charlottesville Friends Meeting, Virginia, USA and is designed by Jim Mustin, webmaster. Updated 7/14/07.