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“I now believe that if we do not talk about our troubles they will never get resolved.
There were many things that I had never shared with anyone, but I was able to freely talk about them during the foundation’s drama therapy sessions. This was the cure to the pain I had been suffering. The weight of the secrets that I carry has now subsided.”
My name is Rose, I’m a 53-year-old Lebanese woman, born and raised in Tripoli. I studied until the 10th grade. I create and sell up-cycled artisanal handicraft.
I am recently widowed and live with my children.
My husband’s death was the most recent traumatic event that I experienced. On the day of his death, and as the days were passing, I was experiencing many emotions. It is a great loss that happens to many families, but I was struggling within myself because my husband was not always a good man, he was often a bad-tempered person. Therefore, for weeks, I found myself torn with guilt, while also trying to properly process my children’s reactions to his death, especially because several other deaths happened in our family around the same time.
When I first learned about the Intisar Foundation’s drama therapy programmes in 2018, I decided to join because I felt that I needed to get out of myself and to get my mind off the daily stressors that I faced. On one hand, I have always enjoyed volunteering in my local civil societies, taking part in their many seminars and activities. On the other hand, there were things within me which I had hidden from myself, which I could not even admit to myself, and which I ran away from. I felt a need to make sense of all these things. Therefore, I jumped at the opportunity of being able to join a psychological support programme.
Throughout the sessions, I noticed changes with my thinking patterns, my behaviours, my personality. People around me also started to point out positive changes in me. I felt more comfortable with myself, and I was able to see the good and the bad in myself more clearly, learning how to use my personality traits more beneficially. I started to express myself without fear.
With the help of the drama therapy programme, I came out of the shell I had built around myself and started facing everything head on. I have accepted myself. My perception of my problems became clearer, and I am better in tune with my thoughts and emotions. This has allowed me to work on my problems in a better way.
Before the programme, I often felt that those around me treated me like I was weak. Now, I am more positive with myself and others which has changed how people treat me. I see myself as more confident and this has changed how others see me too.
I have started to share my opinion openly, assertively and bravely, standing my ground when I’m right. I have started to encourage those around me to also change. However, I did not need to push anyone because they would ask me, “What has changed?” and they would be encouraged to join the foundation’s drama therapy programme.
I encourage all Arab women to join the drama therapy programme from the Intisar foundation. My personal experience with the facilitator and staff was amazing. They are kind, well-equipped to handle all kinds of problems, they entered my heart and removed the sadness and fixed many things.
I now believe that if we do not talk about our troubles they will never get resolved. There were many things that I had never shared with anyone, but I was able to freely talk about them during the foundation’s drama therapy sessions. This was the cure to the pain I had been suffering. The weight of the secrets that I carry has now subsided.
I pray with all my heart that the Intisar Foundation continues its efforts for all women in the Arab world. I saw with my eyes the changes that happened in the group of women I worked with.
“With the help of the drama therapy programme, I came out of the shell I had built around myself and started facing everything head on. I have accepted myself. My perception of my problems became clearer, and I am better in tune with my thoughts and emotions. This has allowed me to work on my problems in a better way.“
For more than a month, we are witnessing how international humanitarian law fails to protect Palestinian mothers and children.
Day after day, we have been lamenting and denouncing new acts of violence that brought injustice and the bemoaning loss of innocent lives in Gaza.
And yet, Palestinians in Gaza still face new perils with every next hour.
In writing this letter to the world as a demand for action to end this suffering, I join millions of others who have condemned the continued Israeli aggression and call for an immediate ceasefire.
We at Intisar Foundation also invite you to join us in working on preventing this trauma to linger and gnaw through another generation of Palestinians, and Arabs in general.
The mission of Intisar Foundation is to bring Peace to the Arab world through the psychological recovery of Arab women traumatised by war and violence, which can result in the women stopping the continued cycle of violence inflicted on or by them.
In this way, our work helps Arab homes traumatised by violence become more Peaceful again.
The ripple effect of this outcome can be that Peace flowcharts from one Arab home to another, from one Arab community to another, reaching and affecting our whole region.
In its very essence, therefore, Intisar Foundation’s work has always been about breaking the chains of trans-generational trauma.
While I salute people around the world confronting this injustice – from the world’s best universities, influencers, civil society activists and organisations, to ordinary people taking to streets and social media to raise their voices for Peace – I am now certain that we will not resolve the Palestinian crisis only with ceasefires, humanitarian aid, or rebuilding their homes and neighbourhoods.
We need to recover and protect the souls of current and future generations of Palestinians, and all Arabs, from this trauma.
To that end, Intisar Foundation is committed to turning this terrible man-made tragedy into a healing woman-led victory for Palestine, for humanity!
Intisar AlSabah
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