An epidemic of trauma and PTSD

Hi everyone,

Earlier this month a report came out indicating, “at least 75 percent of children interviewed in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Darfur met the diagnostic criteria for post traumatic stress disorder and 38 percent had depression.”

Unfortunately, considering what they have gone through, and are still enduring, that statistic isn’t surprising.

Suffering from PTSD can be excruciating and incredibly debilitating. While treatable, it frequently doesn’t just “go away” on its own. Especially for children in critical phases of development, there is a question mark about how much can be recovered and made up for even in the most ideal of circumstances. Long-term displacement is of course anything but ideal.

We are not adequately addressing PTSD for refugees. Not by a long shot. Often we are not even addressing it for those that make it into the U.S. We in Living Ubuntu seek to change that.

Starting in 2012, we plan to launch a community-based Trauma Recovery Program for refugees, immigrants and victims of domestic violence in Orange County and San Diego. Our first year budget for this program is a little over $101,000. We need your support in order to launch this much-needed program.

We would like to invite you to attend our first fundraising effort, Bands and Bellies VIII: a concert to benefit Living Ubuntu in honor of World Peace Day. It will be held at Golden West College on Sunday, September 25. Tickets are $10 and available on our website. Unlike so many of our events that deal with painful, difficult topics, this concert will be a fun, lighthearted, life-affirming celebration.  We very much hope you will join us.

Warmly,

Barbara & Anshul
Founders, Living Ubuntu
livingubuntu.org
(949) 891-2005

Bands & Bellies VIII

A concert to benefit Living Ubuntu in honor of World Peace Day

An evening filled with live music, belly dancers, food, drinks, community, camaraderie, contemplation & fun!

The International Peace Day (aka World Peace Day) occurs ever year on September 21.  Come celebrate as we join together here in Orange County to commemorate this important day.  All funds raised will benefit Living Ubuntu’s Trauma Recovery Program for refugees, immigrants and victims of domestic violence.

Sunday, September 25
5p – 7:30p

Student Center, Golden West College
Huntington Beach, CA

Over 20 performers including
Deep Stirrings, an OC folk-rock band
The Chanelling, alternative punk
Shafi Rajput, acoustic soft rock

Belly dance performances by
Sarah Al Nour, Perizad, Lulu Levona, Global Groove and more…

Activities include
face painting, henna body art, booths by local artists and vendors, vegetarian and vegan food

Tickets $10
We are expecting over 200 people at this event.  Please make your (and our) lives easier by buying tickets in advance online.
If you have any financial hardship, please contact us.  No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

For up-to-date information, visit the event website at http://livingubuntu.org/events

Any questions? Please contact us at info@livingubuntuorg or (949) 891-2005.

“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”
– Mother Teresa