Abuja, Nigeria: A group of Catholic religious women gathered recently at the Lux Terra Foundation in Abuja for a specialised formation programme on Trauma-Informed Care, equipping them with tools to better support survivors of human trafficking and vulnerable individuals. The initiative was organised under the umbrella of the Nigerian Conference of Women Religious Against Human Trafficking and led by Fr. George Ehusani, founder of Lux Terra, alongside Fr. Richard Ehusani, director of the Psycho-Spiritual Institute, and their team of facilitators.
The training opened with a sobering reflection on Nigeria’s harsh realities rising insecurity, terrorism, violence, and widespread poverty. Facilitators stressed how these challenges leave deep psychological scars, often unnoticed. Many Nigerians live with unacknowledged trauma, while others who recognise their wounds lack the skills or resources to begin healing.
Over the course of the programme, the sisters explored ways of identifying trauma, understanding its effects, and responding with compassion. They were invited to process their own personal experiences of trauma as a foundation for serving others. Sessions covered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), resilience-building, and practical interventions such as psychological first aid, active listening, empathy, and effective communication.
A notable component was art therapy, where participants expressed emotions through drawing, painting, and design an approach that helps survivors communicate experiences that words often cannot capture. The sisters also reflected on gratitude, compassion, and the integration of body, mind, and spirit in achieving healing.
At the close of the training, participants affirmed that they not only gained professional tools but also a renewed sense of their spiritual mission. They recognised that survivors need safe environments where healing and dignity can be restored, and that trauma care must engage not only psychology but also faith and cultural contexts.
The sisters carried forward a powerful reminder from Lux Terra’s guiding principle: “Healed people, heal people.” Recommitting themselves to their mission, they pledged to continue advocacy for post-trauma programmes, counselling initiatives, and holistic care for survivors of human trafficking.