Child Rescue Centre
Trauma Treatment/Recovery Program
Psychological Trauma in Sierra Leone
United Methodist Volunteers in Mission Trip
January-February 2002
Written by John Ogram, M.D.
who served as psychiatric participant on Mission Team
Personal Experiences with War Trauma
We were personally introduced to the suffering of the people of Sierra Leone the first night we spent in Africa, while we were having dinner with Reverend John and his family in Accra, Ghana. We sat down to Dinner, prepared by Reverend John's wife, M , while their children watched TV in the adjacent living room. Derek, who was to become our Primary Communicator, asked her about her experience in Sierra Leone. Her story flowed freely and, by the time she was finished, we had a good idea what awaited us in that devastated country.
For the complete document, please download:
Some of the pictures done in the art therapy classes at the CRC are shown here. The children who drew these pictures are under the age of 12. They are a result of the direction, "Draw something bad that has happened to you." These are difficult pictures to view. Please do not use or reproduce these drawings in any way without permission from Floris UMC or Dr. John Ogram.
