For Amy “Ames” Paulson and Brendah Aryatugumya of Healing Together, ending cycles of trauma begins by equipping communities with the tools to heal themselves. Their organization builds local infrastructure for mental health care through peer-to-peer models that blend basic neuroscience with cultural practices such as storytelling, drumming, and dance. By training teachers, caregivers, and community leaders, Healing Together helps them recognize trauma, care for their own nervous systems, and create safe environments where youth can recover and thrive.

Their approach includes:

• Training educators and caregivers in trauma-informed, empathy-based responses to replace punishment with care.
• Offering grounding and peer support programs for youth ages 12 to 18 to help them build agency and resilience.
• Using radio programming to share healing practices and reduce stigma, reaching an estimated five million listeners across Uganda.
• Supporting community leaders and survivors through healing advocacy workshops that connect trauma education with local traditions of collective care.

The results are visible in schools and communities. Teachers report “they used to come to the classroom with canes to beat the children, and now they come with compassion.” Youth are setting personal boundaries, showing greater focus in school, and engaging in acts of kindness toward others. Communities that once lacked access to any mental health services are now developing shared language and skills for emotional support.

Paulson and Aryatugumya emphasize that open dialogue about trauma helps communities break silence and reduce shame. Their next step is expanding healing trainings to prisons and other high-trauma environments. Challenges remain—skepticism, stigma, and limited resources—but the response has been powerful. As Paulson notes, “When we heal, we are equipping ourselves not just to end the cycle of violence, but to be empowered to be able to have a future.”