Alderman Fndn Helps Refugees

Overview

One billion people have directly experienced terrorism or mass violence. The victims are often left with lifelong mental disabilities preventing them from leading productive lives. Untreated, traumatic depression extends into the next generation. Hospitals and healthcare facilities themselves become targets of destruction. The solution is to create a sustainable, culturally effective mental healthcare system. The Peter C. Alderman Foundation (PCAF) returns 80% of victims to productive lives, by providing expert professional training to indigenous caregivers.

Mission

To alleviate the suffering of victims of terrorism and mass violence in post-conflict countries by providing physicians and other indigenous caregivers with the tools to treat mental anguish using Western medical therapies combined with local healing traditions.

Programs

The Master Class provides local caregivers in post-conflict countries the tools to treat the emotional wounds of mass violence. The Master Class series has trained 35 professionals from 13 countries. These professionals return to their countries to train more caregivers.

The Cambodia Clinic was established in 2005. In its first year, the Clinic had 4,000 patient visits. The Cambodian government supplies the physical space and drugs. The Buddhist monastery sees patients for spiritual healing. The Clinic is a model for global replication. In partnership with an indigenous NGO, led by a foundation master, PCAF established a mental health clinic in Kigali, Rwanda. Three Clinics will open in Uganda, the first in late 2006, with two additional clinics to open in 2007 and 2008.

The Foundation is building an internationally respected peer group of mental health professionals, currently consisting of 225 members in 13 countries, to influence government policy makers, to exert the political will and apply the economic resources to heal their traumatized populations.