New research: posttraumatic distress and growth

The results of a scientific study that Nemam was working on shortly before she died have now been published in the Journal of Mental Health vol 33, no. 4.

The article, titled Mental Health in Genocide: Balancing between posttraumatic distress and growth among displaced Yazidi mothers, reflects many of Nemam’s deepest preoccupations: the psychological impact of war; the complex relationships between mothers and their children; the need to pay attention not only to the suffering of genocide survivors but also to their strength and to the many sources of resilience—familial, personal, cultural—on which they draw to build new lives in the aftermath of tragedy.

The paper describes the results of a study of 238 Yezidi mothers with infant children living in IDP camps in Iraqi Kurdistan, The authors conclude that “rehabilitation of survivors of genocide must involve both healing of mental health problems and encouraging positive resources, especially cultural, historical, and religious belief-systems and empowerment scripts.”

Fundraising Concert in Sigtuna

On the 31st August we hosted our first public event, an afternoon of music in celebration of Nemam’s life and work.

The concert took place in the picturesque setting of St Olof’s, a medieval ruined church in Sigtuna, just outside Stockholm. We were treated to musical performances by Mizgin Özdermir, Elin Mossberg, and Stämgaffeln.

A huge thank you to everybody who came to listen and gave generously to support the Fund! We would also like to thank all our kind volunteers who helped out with refreshments, merchandise and decorations. We were glad to spend a joyous day with you and we hope to make this the start of an annual tradition.

Mizgin Ödemir  and Anders Jacob Honoré