A Message from Martina Knee (2014)

Hi everyone,

In requesting you to consider making a 2014 year-end donation, I am delighted to report that the funds we asked you for last year were spent exactly as intended—in support of 2014’s Phase 3: Trauma Recovery for East African Refugees in San Diego. And, the results of Phase 3 to date are better than our most optimistic expectations! Please help us continue.

As you may recall, the Project is a collaboration among Living Ubuntu and its partners, including refugee support organizations, university faculty and licensed psychotherapists trained in somatic recovery, to research and identify models for effective treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress in large populations that transcend cultural differences.

To date, Phase 3 has consisted of:

–    A pilot project of weekly sessions for two months, plus once a month for three months with 19 Somali and Sudanese female refugees in the Treatment group and a Control group of 22 female refugees not yet receiving treatment;
–    Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE) led by trained somatic-trauma-recovery practitioners included in each session; and
–    Monitoring and evaluation of each refugee’s progress.

After Week 8 of Phase 3, Barbara English, LMFT, Founder and Executive Director of Living Ubuntu, reported that:

“[We were] witnessing the miraculous – groups still full, women showing up on time, enjoying being together, expressing tremendous gratitude for what we are doing.

“In the Treatment group they have ALL been doing the exercises at home, even more often than we asked them to, keeping records for us and reporting amazing benefits. Women who could never sleep much are consistently getting deep sleep. Joints too stiff to move much are now out pleasure walking, up and down hills, enjoying the recently gained flexibility. Significant muscular back pains are subsiding. And the terror that gripped some of the women when alone at night, fearing that attack will come yet one more time – has gone away. Some told stories of how they learned to not breathe – always ready to fight if they had to — now – they are breathing.”
Research Update – Phase 3: Trauma Recovery for East African Refugees in San Diego

The women even insisted they continue, so the treatment and control groups were continued for another three months, meeting monthly rather than weekly.

The current plan for 2015 is:

–    Treatment for the Control group;
–    A Treatment and Control group of male refugees in the San Diego area; and
–    Certification training in TRE for refugee leaders to continue trauma recovery independently and make it available to larger numbers in their own communities.

I am honored to serve as a director of Living Ubuntu, am so proud of Barbara and the volunteers, and am humbled by the Project’s refugees’ progress during 2014. I am optimistic and excited about continued and enhanced benefits in 2015.

We cannot realize these goals without you. Barbara, our volunteers, and the refugee community in San Diego are deeply grateful for your past generosity.  Please consider supporting their well-being as a step to a more peaceful world. In the words of Dr. David Berceli, Founder of TRE, “External conflict comes to an end with the dawn of internal peace.”

You can make a one-time donation of any amount or designate a monthly donation here.

We would love to see you at Living Ubuntu’s 10th Birthday Celebration on January 17-18, 2015.

Martina Knee
Director, Living Ubuntu
livingubuntu.org
(949) 891-2005

[Ubuntu] n. a person is a person through other persons

::: UPCOMING LIVING UBUNTU MEETINGS :::

Living Ubuntu planning meeting
Tuesday, December 2, 2014, 6:30p – 8p

Orange County for Climate Action (OCCA) planning meeting (a Living Ubuntu and UNA-OC partnership)
Wednesday, December 3, 2014, 6:30p – 8p

DETAILS FOR BOTH MEETINGS:
Patty’s office: 2424 SE Bristol Street, Suite 300, Newport Beach, CA 92660
If you arrive late, the door will be locked. To be let in, call Patty’s cell: 949.246.2969
Call in option: (951) 262-4343 | Participant access code: 377504

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LIVING UBUNTU
GOLDEN WEST COLLEGE PEACE STUDIES PROGRAM
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE FOR BIOENERGETIC ANALYSIS

Celebrate Living Ubuntu’s 10th Birthday!

Toward a More Peaceful World

Dr. David Berceli and Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE)

A 2-day workshop and evening birthday celebration

Saturday January 17 – Sunday January 18, 2015

Golden West College
15744 Goldenwest St
Huntington Beach, California, 92647

Net proceeds will benefit Living Ubuntu’s Trauma Recovery for East African Refugees in San Diego.

Click here for more info or to register.

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