It is an overused expression, but it really feels like “time is flying” – yes, it has been already 10 years that vivo international trained their first local lay personnel in Northern Uganda to provide NET treatment for traumatised survivors of violence and torture.

So this year we are celebrating the 10-year-anniversary of 7 senior counsellors working for vivo international in Northern Uganda.

Our counsellors have a tremendous amount of experience working with clients who suffer from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and treating them successfully with Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET). After being affected themselves by the war in Northern Uganda, they have learned to deal with their own past and use it now to help fellow Ugandans.

We commemorated the special day with a staff meeting, a big cake, looking at photos from the beginning of our work, lots of memories and laughter. A special highlight was having the vivo board member Heike Riedke as a guest who was visiting vivo in Northern Uganda.

Our anniversary counsellors are: Ajok Harriet Atimango, Julius-Peter Oketayot, Benard Ebong, Doris Adong, Joyce Laloyo, Laura Achan, and Stephen Abola – a big thank you to them for all their hard work and high commitment to humanitarian work. It made and makes a big difference for vivo and for the war-affected people in Northern Uganda to have that kind of dedication to their work!