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Barrier Free Living (BFL www.bflnyc.org) brought an intense three-day ‘Healing of Memories’ workshop to participants of its Transitional Housing and Secret Garden programs this May.
The Transitional Housing program provides safe shelter and case management services to people with disabilities who are homeless. Secret Garden specializes in working with people with disabilities who are also victims of abuse.
The workshop is an ongoing partnership between BFL’s President/CEO Paul Feuerstein and Fr. Michael Lapsley who heads the Institute for Healing of Memories (http://www.healingofmemories.co.za/) in Cape Town, South Africa. It offers a model for healing through creative group activities which explore emotion, reconciliation and forgiveness.
“This experience helped me begin to release the negative low self esteem I have carried with me all of my life,” said Alejandrina Cruz, a client at Secret Garden. “I have grown mentally and spiritually.”
Fr. Michael developed the Healing of Memories workshops while heading the Chaplaincy Project of the Trauma Centre for Victims of Violence and Torture. The workshop evolved from his experience of living in exile, losing both hands in a parcel bomb explosion, and listening to the stories of the survivors whom he counseled at the Trauma Centre.
BFL customized a Healing of Memories workshop curriculum for both staff and residents at its programs. Agency staff from BFL’s Transitional Housing, Freedom House and Secret Garden programs serve as facilitators, guiding the three-day event.
Activities include sharing poetry about disability; drawing 'life stories’, and creating a symbol of peace,' which is shared during a final celebration.
“This is my first time as a workshop facilitator and the experience was exhilarating,” said Cynthia Amodeo, Coordinator of Generations of Freedom at Freedom House. “To see participants begin their path toward real healing through creative expression was awesome.”
For more information about Healing of Memories visit http://www.healingofmemories.co.za/ For information about Barrier Free Living visit http://www.bflnyc.org/
The Transitional Housing program provides safe shelter and case management services to people with disabilities who are homeless. Secret Garden specializes in working with people with disabilities who are also victims of abuse.
The workshop is an ongoing partnership between BFL’s President/CEO Paul Feuerstein and Fr. Michael Lapsley who heads the Institute for Healing of Memories (http://www.healingofmemories.co.za/) in Cape Town, South Africa. It offers a model for healing through creative group activities which explore emotion, reconciliation and forgiveness.
“This experience helped me begin to release the negative low self esteem I have carried with me all of my life,” said Alejandrina Cruz, a client at Secret Garden. “I have grown mentally and spiritually.”
Fr. Michael developed the Healing of Memories workshops while heading the Chaplaincy Project of the Trauma Centre for Victims of Violence and Torture. The workshop evolved from his experience of living in exile, losing both hands in a parcel bomb explosion, and listening to the stories of the survivors whom he counseled at the Trauma Centre.
BFL customized a Healing of Memories workshop curriculum for both staff and residents at its programs. Agency staff from BFL’s Transitional Housing, Freedom House and Secret Garden programs serve as facilitators, guiding the three-day event.
Activities include sharing poetry about disability; drawing 'life stories’, and creating a symbol of peace,' which is shared during a final celebration.
“This is my first time as a workshop facilitator and the experience was exhilarating,” said Cynthia Amodeo, Coordinator of Generations of Freedom at Freedom House. “To see participants begin their path toward real healing through creative expression was awesome.”
For more information about Healing of Memories visit http://www.healingofmemories.co.za/ For information about Barrier Free Living visit http://www.bflnyc.org/