Community integration for psychosocial well-being: building sustainable peace and strengthening identity through story- telling in the South Sudan
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Date
2015
Authors
Kamwaria, Alex N.
Katola, Michael T.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
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Abstract
In a war-ravaged country, a great need exists for community integration in order to heal the
psychosocial wounds and to enable the process of development and reconstruction for peace.
Even after settling in their villages and home, many communities South Sudan have stories
that elicit their traumatized self-images and identities. When these people pass trauma stories
to their children, this has long term effects on the community identity. Trauma stories can be
catalysts for selective memories of trauma that create potential atmosphere for future
conflicts. This paper shows how community integration can be used to bring together
individuals, families, and villages in south Sudan that have been divided by war by
strengthening the common threads that bind all members. By providing forums in which
individuals, families, and villages can come together, trauma stories can be narrated for
constructive dialogue and integration. The stories of family members, friends, colleagues,
villagers, and members of other ethnic groups can help to build trust, common identity and
overcome anxieties and misconceptions about others
Description
Research paper
Keywords
Psychosocial, Trauma, Story-telling, Peace, Conflict, South Sudan
Citation
Journal of Educational Policy and Entrepreneurial Research (JEPER) ISSN: 2408-770X (Print), ISSN: 2408-6231 (Online) Vol.2, N0.3, March 2015. Pp 81-90