In a step reflecting the deep need to heal the psychological wounds left by years of conflict, the Abductees’ Mothers Association, in partnership with SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties and with funding from the DT Institute, organized a group psychosocial support session in the Al-Sarari area as part of the ongoing “Al-Sarari Initiative” to strengthen community resilience.
Marked by honesty and openness, the session became a safe space for sharing stories of loss, displacement, and violations, reaffirming that psychological support is just as vital as material relief in conflict-affected communities.
◼️Shared pain… the beginning of healing
The session opened with the psychologist emphasizing that the goal was not to “change the world overnight,” but to offer listening, empathy, and an outlet for suppressed pain carried silently by women behind closed doors.
Women spoke about loved ones they had lost, lands that were seized, forced displacement, and the constant fear their children endured during the war.
One participant recounted being shot at while going out to find food for her children. Another described her anxiety each morning as her children left for school, fearing stray bullets in the neighborhood. These testimonies revealed the depth of psychological trauma that persists even after the fighting has stopped.
◼️Women carrying life on their shoulders
The discussion highlighted the pivotal role of women in post-war recovery. They are the ones managing households, securing livelihoods, and caring for children while many men continue to grapple with the consequences of war—or remain absent because of it.
The psychologist noted that women today “embody the entire community,” capable of sowing peace or nurturing resentment within their families. Hence, participants were encouraged to promote forgiveness and avoid passing down cycles of hatred to future generations.
◼️Struggles over land and the search for justice
Issues related to land and family disputes were also central to the discussion. Many women reported assaults on their property and unimplemented court rulings, heightening their sense of injustice.
The support team pledged to coordinate with local authorities, follow up on unresolved legal cases, and engage community leaders in resolving disputes promptly to prevent renewed tensions.
◼️Toward a community that forgives but does not forget
Facilitators emphasized that reconciliation does not mean forgetting one’s rights but rather restoring the social bonds that once defined Al-Sarari—kinship, solidarity, and mutual support.
They also stressed the importance of joint service projects, particularly in water, health, and road infrastructure, as key to rebuilding a shared sense of belonging and collective destiny.
◼️Women’s voices… steps toward healing
The session provided a rare opportunity to hear from women who have long suffered in silence. Participants left with a sense of reassurance and the realization that their stories mark not an end, but a beginning—and that psychological support is a fundamental human right, as vital as material aid.
Conclusion
This gathering demonstrated that Al-Sarari’s recovery begins not with rebuilding houses, but with healing hearts. True peace, it affirmed, is born from a mother comforting her child and rekindling in her community the spirit of forgiveness and hope.
