Collective Circles

Reflecting on a Year of Collective Healing in Response to the Sudan War As we look back on this past year, we are deeply humbled by the journey of Collective Circles and the impact we’ve witnessed in response to the Sudan war. Since November 2023, we’ve had the privilege of working with Sudanese women and the Sudanese diaspora to provide Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS). Across every workshop and interaction, we’ve been inspired by the profound resilience, hope, and strength of the participants, even in the face of unimaginable adversity. Here’s a snapshot of what we’ve accomplished together: - 5 workshops held across 4 countries (Uganda, Egypt, Chad, and the UK for a Training of Trainers). - Over 100 participants across in-person and virtual sessions (primarily in-person). - 6 online workshops delivered to reach wider audiences. - Developed a unique MHPSS program integrating somatics, psychotherapy, psychodrama, and rituals, all while honouring Sudanese indigenous culture. One of the only Arabic MHPSS programs tailored specifically for Sudan. - Partnered with CMI — Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation to support Sudanese women change agents in Uganda, Egypt, and Chad, helping them process war-related traumas, enhance their political agency, and contribute to peacemaking. One of the most moving pieces of feedback we continue to hear is: “We were able to sleep throughout the night.” We extend our deepest gratitude to: 1) The participants, who welcomed us into their lives and allowed us to hold space for their healing. You’ve shown us the true meaning of resilience and renewed hope. 2) Our incredible partner, CMI — Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation and Sylvia Thompson (Rognvik), for your trust and collaboration, which has been instrumental in making this work possible. This year has been a testament to the power of collective healing, and we remain committed to expanding this work to continue supporting Sudanese women and communities. Here’s to a year of hope, healing, and resilience—together. cc: Mawada Adam Rana Bilal Suzan Shedid ElSayed #mhpss #collectivehealing #keepeyesonsudan #mentalhealth

Honouring Indigenous Wisdom in Healing On my last trip to Chad with Collective Circles, I had the humbling experience of working with Sudanese women supporting GBV survivors in refugee camps. These women instinctively practice co-regulation techniques to help others heal, drawing on Indigenous wisdom (الحكمة المحلية) that has been passed down through generations. One of our workshop components is using Somatic Practices to regulate themselves and others. What struck us most was not just their deep compassion but their intuitive understanding of what the body needs to feel safe again. They were already co-regulating survivors—offering grounding, presence, and calm—without formal training. Our role wasn’t to teach them something new but to validate their methods and explain the physiological science behind them. This created a powerful moment of mutual respect and learning. Approaching the participants with humility, we recognised that we are not “bearers of knowledge”. Instead, we are collaborators, learning from their wisdom and resilience. Healing comes not from imposing external systems but from empowering what is already within. By honouring their practices and providing validation, we are reminded of the strength and beauty in the knowledge that instinctively arises from community and culture. How often do we, coming from modernised educational systems, approach these spaces with genuine humility? This experience taught me how essential it is to always actively listen, respect the magic and expertise that comes alive in lived experience, and know that in healing trauma, sometimes ‘Presence’ is what’s most important. As Carl Jung once said, “Know all the theories, master all the techniques, but as you touch a human soul, be just another human soul”. #keepeyesonsudan #collectivehealing #communityhealing #somatics #indigenouswisdom

Honouring Strength and Resilience in the Face of Injustice My latest mission with Collective Circles and CMI — Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation was to N'djamena, Chad alongside Mawada Adam and Rana Bilal. We engaged with women from El Geneina, West Darfur, who are seeking refuge after fleeing unimaginable violence. This journey came at a time of severe atrocities in Sudan, where women of the Masalit ethnic group have been subjected to brutal acts of gender-based and racially motivated violence. Journalist Kaamil Ahmed recently reported in The Guardian: “Fighters from the RSF [Rapid Support Forces] are responsible for widespread sexual violence across Sudan... In Darfur, and particularly against the Masalit ethnic group, victims say there is a clear racial motivation to the violence.” (https://lnkd.in/eXVAThsh) This ongoing crisis is a stark reminder that women continue to be used as weapons in conflict. We cannot afford to ignore these horrors or celebrate “female empowerment” only within select contexts, neglecting the reality for countless women facing systemic and patriarchal violence globally.   In this mission, we added a crucial new element: to ensure the program’s sustainability, we held a capacity-building workshop for selected women, teaching them somatic practices and how to lead community circles back in the refugee camps. This empowers them to bring the model back to their communities and create safe spaces for others organically. All workshops were run in Arabic. When holding such spaces, sometimes all we need to emphasise on is our Presence and Silence. These sessions provided a space where the women could reconnect with their bodies, honour their pain, and somehow find a moment of healing. Our work integrates psychotherapeutic knowledge, somatic practices, and indigenous wisdom. Through storytelling, rituals, songs, and self-expression, we aim to reinforce their cultural roots and provide grounding amid efforts to erase their identity. At Collective Circles, we strive to give these women tools to understand their nervous systems and build resilience — so that they can find moments of strength and self-empowerment even in the face of trauma. Raising awareness of this often-forgotten conflict is essential. Women everywhere deserve the right to safety, dignity, and healing. #SudanCrisis #Darfur #MHPSS #MentalHealth #TraumaHealing #CollectiveHealing

At Collective Circles, we view violence as a state of consciousness shaped by the accumulation of experiences and the impacts of prolonged periods of human conflict. We take into account the experience of each individual and group, tracing the roots that led to the emergence of violence on each side. Our understanding of conflicts and wars is based on this principle, as we strive to comprehend the suffering of all conflicting parties. This approach allows us to gain a broader and deeper perspective, enabling us to work toward finding lasting and sustainable solutions to conflicts. Collective Circles نحن في ننظر إلى العنف على أنه حالة وعي تتشكل من تراكمات التجارب والآثار الناتجة عن فترات طويلة من الصراع الإنساني. نأخذ في الاعتبار تجربة كل فرد وكل مجموعة، ونتتبع الجذور التي تؤدي إلى نشوء العنف لدى كل طرف فهمنا للنزاعات والحروب يرتكز على هذا المبدأ، حيث نسعى لفهم معاناة جميع الأطراف المتنازعة. هذا المنهج يتيح لنا رؤية أشمل وأعمق، ويمكّننا من السعي نحو إيجاد حلول دائمة ومستدامة للصراعات #healing #peacebuilding #conflictresolution

Masters Events, Oxford University, 2024 Last week, I had the absolute pleasure of speaking at the Masters Events at Oxford University alongside Dr. Omar Reda Michael Niconchuk Dr Rola Hallam sam kiley and Alexandra Chen, where we explored trauma from both scientific and deeply human perspectives. This panel stood out to me not just for the expertise shared, but for the diversity of voices we brought to the table—ensuring stories of trauma, resilience, and healing are heard and not forgotten. We delved into trauma’s impact at both macro and individual levels, with a particular focus on conflict and war. For those of us fortunate enough to live in safe spaces, this pain can feel distant, but it’s critical we don’t view it as “someone else’s problem.” The ripple effects of trauma, especially in conflict zones, touch our collective consciousness in ways we may not always see but must recognize. A key theme that resonated throughout the discussion was the power of “returning to basics” in the healing process. Whether through community, embodied practices, storytelling, or tailoring modern psychology to local cultures, these timeless approaches are crucial. At Collective Circles, we’ve integrated these principles into our Mental Health & Psychosocial Support programs, drawing on the ancestral wisdom embedded in folktales and embodied practices that have helped people cope for generations. True healing, I believe, happens at the intersection of mind, body, and soul. A special thank you to Araminta Jonsson for recognizing our work and inviting me to join this panel. And of course, I’m incredibly grateful to work alongside Mawada Adam and Rana Bilal. Together, we’re striving to make a difference, and I’m excited about our upcoming work in the coming months. I’ll close with an excerpt from my opening remarks, and I hope this resonates with you in some way: “I stand before you as a vessel for the women we serve. These women are not voiceless—they have voices that too often go unheard. The conflict in Sudan is often referred to as the forgotten war, yet it is one of the worst humanitarian crises of our time. Women, as in any conflict, bear the brunt of this tragedy. The women we work with have lost everything, and their stories of loss, violence, and survival are unimaginable… ……I want to reflect on the vicious cycle of trauma. Although it is an oversimplification to say this, the violence currently ravaging Sudan is, in part, the result of long-standing, unhealed trauma experienced by the men inciting this violence. If this trauma remains unhealed, history will tragically repeat itself, as we’ve seen in many parts of the world. This trauma seeps into society and domestic spaces, where the normalization of violence leads to women and children facing domestic abuse.” #mentalhealth #trauma #psychotherapy #healing #mastersevents ##sudan #keepeyesonsudan

We are so proud of Suzan Shedid ElSayed who today is in panel discussion at the Masters Event in Oxford University: “Exploring the complex historical, social, and political context of social repair and trauma healing work in communities affected”. At Collective Circles we hold the grieving unheard voices, recognising the beauty, pain and humanity of the Sudanese people. Suzan Shedid ElSayed we are extremely grateful you are in this journey with us.

A great opportunity in Nairobi for the Sudanese diaspora. Spread the word. #jobs #sudan

Nothing will change if we don't let our voices be heard. I'm excited to be speaking at Masters Events at Oxford University this 11-14 September 2024, alongside esteemed experts like Gabor Maté, Bessel van der Kolk, Richard Schwartz, Janina Fisher, and more! This isn't another opportunity to showcase the work we have been doing at Collective Circles, but this is an opportunity to ensure that populations that are unheard of in "everyday psychology" are given the stage to showcase the impact of trauma and conflicts on them, their children, and possibly generations to come. We cannot be discussing the impact of trauma, without including populations in conflict and war, who face 'Continuous Traumatic Stress' #CTS The topic of the panel discussion I'm participating in is "Exploring the complex historical, social, and political context of social repair and trauma healing work in communities affected by conflict" It is an exciting conference offering an unparalleled opportunity to engage with cutting-edge research and insights virtually, from the comfort of your own space.    🎟️ If you would like to join virtually, you can get a 20% discount on virtual conference tickets by using the code [SPEAKER2024] at checkout at https://lnkd.in/eSTsz_jR         #MastersEventsOxford #TraumaAndMentalHealth #WellbeingConference #CommunityHealing #Mentalhealth 

AL-TAGA. Your Opening to Connection and Growth is a beautiful initiative and continuously supports the Sudanese people after the war. Check out their upcoming Resilience Program!

Our co-founder Rana Bilal attended the 'Sacred Activism' Training from 18th to 27th June at Tamera Peace Research Center, Portugal. Gathering support for #Sudan from front-line activists, community organizers and systems change makers from around the world. Learning together how the success of our ambitions for societal transformation relies not only on more efficient mobilization and strategy but on qualitative shifts and leaps of consciousness within ourselves and among one another. Stay tuned for our future programs and training to reimagine activism during these difficult times for a healed future for ourselves and the next generations. In solidarity, Collective Circles #sacredactivism #keepeyesonsudan #communityhealing #peace