Letter from the Director, Dr. Richard F. Mollica , January 2018 Dear Reader and Colleague: Greetings to our community, old and new friends. This is our second Newsletter and it features the wonderful and remarkable work of an Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma (HPRT)-Global Mental Health (GMH) alumna, Ms. Gina de la Chesnaye. Currently, the GMH program is in its twelfth year, with 700 alumni working in over 85 countries. When the GMH course first began, we had few participants who were using the contemplative arts in their trauma and recovery work. Over the past 5 years, the presence of contemplative arts experts has grown tremendously, as well as the use of these holistic healing approaches in clinical care and practitioners’ self-care. Certainly so-called “alternative healing” is no longer “alternative,” but is now mainstream. Click to read more

From the Editor, Azita Berenjian, MBA  I am delighted to introduce you to Gina de la Chesnaye. Gina is a key faculty in numerous organizations in the mental health, human rights, and contemplative-based trauma and resiliency fields. Gina has had a long career in spearheading the use of mind-body practices to heal those affected by trauma, whether in refugee camps, in detention centers, or in residential incarceration sites in the US.   When I read Gina’s article and watched her video, I was filled with humility, and a deep sense of awe at her achievements. The first thing that struck me was her compassion and devotion to all those that she has worked with. Her leadership in teaching caregivers the magical healing powers of Mind-Body practices has opened the door for an ever-increasing number of indigenous practitioners. In addition to providing background to the video, Gina’s article is replete with resources for those who want to learn more on the importance and effectiveness of contemplative practices. The video is a testament to the power of Mind-Body practices in bringing peace and calm to those ravaged by cruelty in Africa. The video shows Gina, calm, open, accepting, empathic and full of love and devotion, working to make a better world. Join us. Protect and support vulnerable refugees by donating and sharing this Newsletter with your family, friends and colleagues.

The Body: A Healing Environment  Utilization of Mind Body Practices for Survivors of Natural and Human Made Traumatic Events and Their Caregivers by Gina de la Chesnaye Uganda, still recovering from the trauma of war, the AIDS epidemic and deeply rife with poverty as well as continued violence has shown itself to truly be the pearl of Africa in that it has opened up its land and heart to over a million refugees. Click to read more Good Life Orphanage in Kikambala, Kenya 

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