Media Release:
Leading Trauma Expert speaks to members of RAUW

30 August 2009

Leading world expert in psychological trauma, Dr Marion Gibson spoke with members of the Rwanda Association of University Women during her one-week visit to Rwanda. Her talk generated much discussion among the audience with many questions being posed to the visiting scholar.

Dr Gibson emphasised the role of women in providing emotional support after trauma, and focussed on the need to deal with “Compassion Fatigue”. “Emotional support is especially important after trauma”, Dr Gibson said. “Whether it is adults or young people, they all need the emotional support to have a trusting relationship, to promote understanding through the sharing of information, and to help responders to manage their own emotional needs, of stress and preventing burnout.”

Dr Gibson promoted the “CALMER” model of emotional support. This is to Consider, to Acknowledge, to Listen, to Manage, to Empathise and Empower, and to Reassess and Recognise needs”. This Model was designed by a colleague of Dr Gibson, Dr Sarah Davidson, for use by the British Red Cross, and it has proved to be invaluable to all staff and volunteers involved in frontline responses to people exposed to traumatic stress in an international context.

Dr Gibson presented a clock to the Acting President of RAUW, Ms Odette Mukazi Mutanguha, and a Queens University of Belfast shield to Professor Dr Shirley Randell, CIR, RAUW and the Director of the new Centre of Gender, Culture and Development Studies at the Kigali Institute of Education (KIE). It is hoped that links will be developed between the two universities as they have between the two partner university women’s associations.

“We are immensely privileged to have a scholar and practitioner of Dr Gibson’s calibre, also a member of the International Federation of University Women visiting Rwanda, and look forward to a return visit from her next year”, Ms Mutanguha said. Dr Gibson visited 13 orphans sponsored by the Queens University Women’s Graduates Association through RAUW and the Benishyaka Association.

As a member of the Queens association, Dr Gibson led the fundraising campaign to cover the school costs of these children by baking and selling nearly 1000 fruit breads. RAUW is currently sponsoring 18 Benishyaka orphans to continue their secondary schooling, with the support of Queens, the Worcestershire Association of University Women and members of RAUW.

With over 25 years experience, Dr Gibson’s work has included being a Responder to the psychosocial needs created by the Northern Ireland ‘troubles’, Tsunami (Thailand), a fatal fire in Hong Kong, the Terrorist Bombings in London, and the 9/11 attack in the USA. Dr Gibson currently works with the International Christian Maritime Association to support survivors of piracy, and the British Red Cross Psychosocial Support Team.

The lectures to RAUW, the Rotary Club of Kigali Doyen and students at KIE during Dr Gibson’s visit to Rwanda, continue her international work, as she has spoken in countries including the Philippines, Poland, Estonia, Belarus, Australia, India, Singapore, Hong Kong, the USA, South America and South Africa.

For more information regarding Dr Gibson’s work, visit www.drmariongibson.com

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