Externalising problems, drawing problems and documenting solutions
One of the key principles of narrative practice is that ‘the person is not the problem, the problem is the problem, and the solution is not only personal’. In this chapter, practitioners from Rwanda, Ethiopia and South Africa share the creative ways in which they are externalising problems and documenting and sharing local solutions.
Narrative Responses to Physical Pains: An Interview with Sister Seraphine Kaitesirwa
Sister Seraphine Kaitesirwa is a narrative practitioner in Kigali, Rwanda, where she works at a clinic for children and young people, some of whom experience concerns that show up as physical pains in their bodies. Sometimes, these pains have become named somatoform disorder. The pains can have serious effects for the lives of the children and young people, and their families, causing significant distress. Drawing on narrative principles, and with her appreciation for embodied experience, Sr Seraphine has developed a series of externalising questions and practices that invite the children and young people into a new sort of relationship with the pain, with remarkable effects.
Narrative Responses To Physical Pains: An Interview With Sister Seraphine Kaitesirwa
Honouring Rwandan healing ways – the work of Chaste Uwihoreye
Chaste Uwihoreye has developed forms of practice that honour Rwandan healing ways, language and proverbs. During the pandemic this work also took place through radio, television and social media in most sparkling ways. His sparkling work is documented here in Kinyarwandan, in English and in artworks.
Combining a range of narrative practices with communication technology, social media, radio and television to reach people both individually and collectively, Chaste has managed to overcome physical barriers to establish contexts of mutual and community support and connectedness.
Inkuru y’amajwi mu Kinyarwanda (audio in Kinyarwanda)
I Will Keep Your Secret: Ijoro Ribara Uwariraye Kandi Ntamvura Idahita – From Psychological Suffering To Recovery In Rwanda — Chaste Urihoweye
This resource has been created to assist Rwandans to deal with hardships and pain that may not be visible to the eye but that is real, and often experienced physically, especially by those who survived the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda. It includes a series of narrative exercises and stories of face-to-face conversations and text exchanges in the hope that it will be helpful to the general public in Rwanda as well as to counsellors and therapists.
Inkuru y’amashusho mu Kinyarwanda (video in Kinyarwanda)
Nzakubikira Ibanga by Chaste Uwihoreye
Nzakubikira Ibanga (“I’ll Keep Your Secret”) second version
Nzakubikira Ibanga (“I’ll Keep Your Secret”) second version explores the need for mental health professionals, social workers, caregivers, and others who support people in distress to prioritize their own mental health. The book provides practical exercises and self-care strategies to help caregivers manage both primary and secondary trauma, fostering emotional resilience and self-awareness.
It also introduces Kinyarwanda terminology for mental health conditions using culturally relevant tools like poems and songs, making mental health concepts more accessible. The book offers guidance for professionals and everyday individuals to navigate emotional challenges and build healthier relationships.
My album, by Chaste Uwihoreye, Jean Marie Zivugukuri and Emmanuel Kigundu
My Album is a poignant collection of artworks by children and adolescents engaged in “Mobile Arts for Peace” clubs across multiple schools in Rwanda. The artworks vividly portray painful pasts, current challenges, and aspirations for the future. The vibrant tapestry of colours, symbols, and metaphors encapsulates the resilience and courage of these young people.
Narrative documentation
To close this chapter, we have included presentations from Ethiopia and Rwanda about creative forms of documentation and song.
Narrative therapists use letters and certificates in creative ways. Instead of formal pathologising ‘case notes’ or ‘case files’, narrative therapists instead write letters and create certificates and documents that honour clients’ skills, knowledges and efforts. Sometimes letters are even written to problems. Collective documents are sometimes created and shared between groups and communities so that they can share their insider knowledge with others who are going through similar hardships.
In this presentation Hamelmal Yohannes from Ethiopia shares some of the ways in which she is documenting and sharing knowledge.
የአማርኛ ትርጉም በድምፅ ብቻ (audio in Ahmaric)
ስለዚህ ቪዲዮ/ድምጽ አስተያየትለመስጠት፣ እዚህ ይጫኑ.
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John Kagaju in Rwanda used re-membering conversations, outsider witness practice and letter writing to assist a young person grieving the death of his treasured uncle. Creatively, he asked the young person’s friends to write letters to the deceased uncle.
Songs of survival
Narrative practitioners sometimes create songs from the words of those they are meeting with. Drawing out skills and abilities and stories of how they have endured hardship, these become lyrics. Then a melody is found.
Here are two songs, in Kinyarwanda, from Rwandan practitioners who are also skilled singers and song-writers.
A song by Elizabeth Niyongana
Created during a narrative practice workshop in relation to how the participants get through hard times. It’s a song that honours mothers/parents.
Inkuru y’amajwi mu Kinyarwanda (audio in Kinyarwanda).
A song by Colette Kayisengerwa
Written to honour the story of one of the women with whom she was working.
Inkuru y’amajwi mu Kinyarwanda (audio in Kinyarwanda).
