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SCIENTIFIC ARTICLE
The Tree of Life: a community
approach to empowering and healing
survivors of torture in Zimbabwe
Tony Reeler, LLB, BA, MSc*, Kudakwashe Chitsike, BA, LLB, MA,
Fungisai Maizva, BA, LLB, Beverley Reeler
T O R T U R E Vol um e 1 9 , N um be r 3 , 20 0 9
Abstract
The article explores the effectiveness of the use
of an empowerment workshop, called the Tree of
Life, in the treatment of torture survivors. The approach is based on a survivor-to-survivor model of
assistance.
The Tree of Life is a group-based approach
to the healing and empowerment of survivors of
organized violence and torture. It is facilitated by
survivors themselves who have been trained and
supervised in the methodology. It uses the metaphor of the tree to provide a framework for understanding the trauma experience, and, through a
series of inter-related processes, leads the survivor
into an appreciation of his or her strengths and
the support of the community in surviving.
Research into the effectiveness of the method
is carried out using pre and post measures in a
psychiatric screening instrument measuring depression and anxiety. Participants were also asked
for feedback in a structured self-report upon completion of the workshop. In addition, an exit interview was conducted after follow-up, three months
after the first workshop session.
A total of 73 persons attended the workshops,
and detailed follow up data was only available
for 33. 36% showed significant clinical improvement, and the sample as a whole showed significant changes in their psychological state. More
*) Research and Advocacy Unit (AU)
Harare
Zimbabwe
treeler@rau.co.zw
complete information was available for a smaller
sample (19), which showed 39% having significant
improvement.
On follow-up, 44% were still experiencing difficulties, with most (72%) experiencing economic
difficulties. On the positive side, 56% reported
coping better, only 9% reported health problems,
and most were still connected to the group with
which they participated in the process. All felt that
the process had helped them find new things, and
had changed the way that they felt about their
torture.
The Tree of Life appears to be a useful, costeffective, non-professional method of assisting
torture survivors.
Keywords: torture survivors, group psychotherapy,
para-professional, SRQ-20, Zimbabwe
Introduction and background
Torture in Zimbabwe since 2000
Torture has been documented across the last
three decades of Zimbabwe’s history.1 One
study, of a province that experienced severe
human rights violations in the Liberation
War of the 1970s, showed that one adult in
10 over the age of 30 years reported torture
and was suffering from a clinically significant
psychological disorder as a consequence.2
High rates of torture and consequent psychological disorder were found in a study
of former guerilla soldiers from the same
period.3
Even higher rates of torture and its se-