Alind is our Psychologist and Gender-Based Violence Coordinator, who first started working with the Lotus Flower three years ago, while studying for an MA in Psychotherapy and Psycho-traumatology.
He now works at our Essyan, Domiz 2 and Rwanga camp centres, and plays a big part in our violence protection project with UNTF. As Alind says: “We provide psychological therapy sessions for groups and individuals, Positive Masculinity workshops, GBV awareness, case management, livelihoods support and business management training.”
Using carefully tailored techniques such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Narrative Exposure Therapy for PTSD, Alind adds: “Some people think we just come from home and listen to peoples’ problems and give them some advice.
“But the fact is, we professionally diagnose their condition and prepare a plan according to the individual, and use specific techniques to improve their mental health. It takes a lot of time and effort. Sometimes we spend four hours in one therapy session.”
Although it is often challenging work, it can bring huge benefits to people’s lives, and recalling a case where he has personally made a difference, Alind says: “Due to poor financial conditions, one woman gave up her two children because she couldn’t care for them. But with a financial grant from the Lotus Flower and psychotherapy sessions, she now runs her own successful business and has taken her children back. She also feels well mentally.”
Offering vital mental health and wellbeing support is important to everyone at the Lotus Flower, and for Alind, it provides plenty of job satisfaction and personal reward. “I hear a lot of stories of women and girls who have been displaced for more than 10 years, and so many feel hopeless. But when I can be a bridge moving them from a bad place to a good one, it makes me happy.”
In the future, Alind wants to continue his studies and pursue a PhD in psychotherapy – and we are certain he will be highly successful in his next endeavours…