Explore how THARS is transforming lives through trauma healing, community empowerment, and peacebuilding. These featured podcasts, videos, and publications offer powerful insights into our work and the vision of our founder, Dr. David Niyonzima.

THARS in the Media: Stories of Healing and Hope

Podcast Series: Genocide to Healing

with Dr. David Niyonzima on the Shrink Think Podcast

Dr. Niyonzima shares his story of survival, trauma recovery, and building THARS as a center of healing.

Video Stories: THARS Programs in Action

THARS videos highlight our healing-focused programs and provide a deeper understanding of Burundi and the African Great Lakes Region.

  • Introduction to THARS – Overview of our mission, facilities, and Burundi’s vibrant cultural traditions.

  • Support Groups – The THARS support group program helps traumatized people regain energy and connections. The first part describes how civil war and other problems in Burundi have created a wide-spread need for trauma healing. The second part features the Women in Development group in Kibimba, Burundi and their work, singing and dancing.

  • Microcredit – The microcredit program makes small loans without collateral to a group of women in Bujumbura, Burundi. The video outlines the program and shows a meeting of the microcredit group members.

  • Self-Help Groups – THARS works with Kindernothifle to enable the poorest women in Burundi to form self-help groups. The video explains the program and features scenes from a group meeting, which begins and ends with singing and dance.

  • Peace through Pieces – Traumatized women in Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo rebuild their lives by sewing quilts together. The program was developed by THARS in Burundi and Peace through Pieces at North Seattle Friends Church.

  • Tubirengere Project Ceremony – Footage from the closing of a trauma healing project on September 21, 2010 in Gitega, Burundi.

  • NI ABACU Project – Integrating mental health care into the health system in Burundi presented its results at a workshop organized by THARS together with its implementation partners.