1. The most valuable part of the program was:

• It was the first time we have been given the chance to speak out loudly about our experiences of struggle and torture.
• ‘It was new, and I wasn’t sure about how to tell people about my experiences.’
• The program was all about sharing and dealing with experiences in the past.
• Learning about rights was important.
• After coming to the program, I learned to speak out about aspects held in my heart.
• I got to speak loud about torture and what happened to me
• Breaking the silence broke the fear
• ‘The most important part was to break the silence about torture and experience.’
• I received individual healing
• I really liked working as a group and sharing our stories
• Speaking out and narrating our stories for people with similar experiences

2. What I enjoyed the most was:

• ‘Learning how to relieve my stress’
• The visualization exercises (between two people)
• The art program – ‘I have never been an artist’, but I enjoyed doing this art
• I discovered that art allows you to express your feelings
• The art program because it taught me that different feelings can be expressed through colors, like dark colors relate to dark moods

3. What was least valuable?

• ‘I can’t decide whether some aspects were more helpful than others. All contributed to my knowledge and well being’

4. The most important thing I learned was

• New things that I have never known anything about before such stenciling and screen printing. ‘Even if we never print’, it was still important.
• ‘To forgive, but not to forget’
• ‘To communicate with people with whom I would never have spoken before’ (such as white people)
• ‘If you speak out, you will be relieved’
• ‘How to realize and how to express myself through drawing’
• ‘When we are united, everything is possible. As a family group we were not afraid to express ourselves. We need one another for a shoulder to cry on. Together we are a structure.’

5. Did you find this helpful?

• Yes
• Now we have a little bit of experience of screen printing
• I gained new knowledge
• I ended up forgetting about my own trauma through sharing it with others
• I learned how to express things to other people in the community – so they can appreciate my story without them having to say a word. I also learned to recognize the symptoms of stress in someone else and how to deal with that.
• I learned to begin to reflect to society what type of person I am
• I was worried that I’d be getting myself into a situation of digging into the pain of the past, but I felt supported, which made the process helpful

6. How did your experiences affect your everyday life:

• Before I was scared about people asking me to be involved in anything.  I avoided people in case they asked me questions about my experiences.
• I feel more mentally mature because I don’t have the strain when people offend me.
• I feel empowered to have patience with others now
• I am now more likely to straight-talk to people, for example, I am now alright with saying  ‘please excuse me’ to someone.

7. Has the program affected your relationships with others?

• I used to be cruel to my children because it felt as if they were cruel to me. Now I can talk to my children and family nicely.

8. Would you recommend this program?

• YES!
• ‘A lot’
• ‘Because you can learn a lot’

9. Was the content useful?

• Yes
• [they thought this seemed repetitive, so refer to above]

10. Did you tell your family?

• Yes
• Found the program useful in recognizing stress in my wife and I have suggested relaxation exercises to her
• Family members have been really supportive
• My family didn’t say, “you’re not going to waste your time again!” They said, “if you are happy, and it works, then go on”

10. Have you tried the relaxation exercises?

• Yes and no
• Some people said: ‘When I’m cross, I go and stand alone in the sitting room and imagine good things’, ‘I do exercises like taking a long walk. When I feel tired, I sit and do exercises.’
• I didn’t because I don’t believe in closing my eyes.
• I am already doing exercises. I go around the township, doing football, dancing, etc

11. Comments about presenters

• So kind, so good
• ‘They are like sisters and brothers’
• Good manners and approach
• Would be difficult dealing with no manners
• Full of jokes, can read the group well
• Really liked NomaRussia

12. Anything you would improve?

• Bring in more participants
• More resources (like transport)
• Participants should be given a stipend because it is embarrassing to return home after a day ‘at work’ without anything for their kids
• Should be together for longer – it is hard to do the work in short times
• Should have more skills to take back with them to the community
• Need resources until they can be independent, or training to run these
• Need to empower ourselves first
• Committed to seeing the end of the project

Other comments:

• Thought that there would only be ex-combatants from one group, but it worked well to have many different groups
• Disappointed with the outcome of the CDP DVD because there were only still photos and no audio explanation of what they were saying about their pictures. Would like to be able to use this DVD to share the experience with their friends.
• Presentation day would benefit from the opportunity to practice
• Really liked the screen printing, and the potential for this to become a practical skill
• Didn’t have enough time for the projects at CDP – would like to go back to the CDP to learn more

Where to from here?

• Screen printing business
  • Need machines and more training to be sustainable

• Support from Khulumani
  • Resources, materials and support
  • Independence comes from more training
  • Support in how to administer a business

• Would like to start a mediation program for people in the community
  • People affected by trauma and torture
  • Educating and empowering
  • Need Khulumani support and training

• Relationship with Khulumani
  • Leaflet about other Khulumani groups so that they understand what is possible and available
  • Should have open communication with Khulumani so that they can work together more effectively
  • Liaison – need to work together as a group with transparency
  • Need to decide on the roles and duties of different members of the group including the nature of the relationship with Khulumani.