Change Makers

The Victorian Foundation for the Survivors of Torture take a holistic approach to the healing of torture survivors, and this approach is very evident in their Arts and social connection project.

Female refugees from Sudan, Liberia and Sierra Leonne established a song and dance programme to assist with both healing and communication. It has been particularly successful for the Sierra Leonne group, who have given six performances and hope to become self-sufficient in future through paid gigs.

The spin off benefit has been the strengthened relationships between mothers and daughters, with daughters participating in the dance and song, strengthening both family and cultural ties, as well as a ripple effect into schools. More groups are planned for the future, and the potential benefit of some form of arts performance for male refugees is being explored also.