By Ahmed Ali, Kafanchan
Communities in Kaduna State are to receive support aimed at helping them respond to trauma, strengthen local support systems and reduce economic vulnerabilities among women and youths under a new intervention by the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) Project.
The initiative, implemented by Tetra Tech with funding from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), was launched in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Speaking a the workshop training organised by Carefronting Nigeria in Zaria, the Senior Programme Manager, Mrs Tessy Gusim, said the intervention was designed to improve communities’ understanding of trauma and strengthen their capacity to respond to people affected by distress and other vulnerabilities.
Gusim said communities needed to be equipped with the knowledge and mechanisms to identify trauma and provide support to affected persons rather than relying solely on external interventions.
She said the project would support communities to establish structures and support groups capable of helping traumatised persons, while also addressing some of the economic factors that expose people to negative influences.
According to her, strengthening trauma resilience requires community-based structures where affected people can receive appropriate support and where community members are equipped to recognise and respond to trauma.
“We want to strengthen trauma resilience in communities and create support groups that will help people who are traumatised,” she said.
Gusim also emphasised the importance of working with women and youths to strengthen their livelihoods, noting that economic vulnerability could make individuals susceptible to harmful influences and risky activities.
She cited the prevalence of substance and drug abuse as well as sexual abuse in parts of Zaria as examples of challenges that could be worsened by social and economic vulnerabilities.
The Senior Programme Manager said the project would therefore adopt a community-centred approach, allowing local people to better understand the vulnerabilities affecting them and develop appropriate responses.
She said empowering women and youths with livelihood opportunities would help reduce economic pressures and strengthen their resilience against negative influences.
The training also focused on strengthening existing community structures and equipping representatives of various groups with knowledge and skills that could be applied in their respective communities.
