A call for support to sustain work on healing of trauma in SA

ON THE back of the national dialogues on reconciliation and social cohesion, the Institute for Healing of Memories (IHOM) has cautioned that unresolved trauma remains one of the most urgent yet under-resourced challenges in our democracy.

- STAFF REPORTER

The organisation has cautioned that unless trauma is addressed, its impact will continue to shape individuals, communities, policies, and the country’s future. Fr Michael Lapsley, founder of IHOM says, “unresolved trauma does not disappear. It silently shapes our families, communities, politics, and economies. If we do not address it, the pain of the past is carried forward. South Africa, with its past and recurring issues, has much need for healing as a nation.”

Founded in 1998 to run in parallel to South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), IHOM has worked for over 25 years to create safe spaces for individuals and communities to share their stories, confront trauma, and begin the process of healing and reconciliation.

IHOM’s work is still relevant, recognising that the work of trauma healing extends across borders and transcends generations, communities, and economies. IHOM continues to respond to the realities of trauma, acknowledging that unresolved experiences can profoundly impact individuals, communities, and society as a whole, both now and for generations to come.