THE PROBLEM
Across the globe, 1 in 3 women will experience physical or sexual abuse in their lifetime. It is estimated that more than 60% of of these victims have never told anyone about their experience. The mental and emotional consequences of sexual and gender-based violence are devastating not only to the survivors, but to their families and communities as well.
THE SOLUTION
Common Threads Project provides a path for lasting psychological recovery from sexual violence, war, and displacement. We provide women & girls with opportunities for innovative & effective healing.
OUR APPROACH
We developed a unique methodology for our program. Our work is inspired by the ancient tradition of making story cloths that is found in so may different cultures around the world.
The concept of story cloths comes from a long history of women gathering to sew together. Across various cultures, at various times, women have used the safety of that gathering to express their trauma stories through the cloths they sew. The video shown here shares a small sliver of that history, and the inspiration for Common Threads Project.
THE FABRIC OF HEALING:
STORY CLOTHS BY SURVIVORS OF TRAUMA, WAR AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
Have you seen our virtual exhibition? It brings together 22 story cloths made by women from Bosnia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador and Nepal as part of a recovery program designed for survivors of sexual violence, trauma, and displacement in conflict-affected areas. The exhibit invites us to bear witness; to be a part of the healing process of the survivors by hearing their stories, acknowledging their pain, and affirming their hopes.
OUR IMPACT
Since our pilot project in Ecuador in 2012, Common Threads Project has reached 460 women to date, and is projected to reach several hundred additional survivors of SGBV in future projects within the next two years.
We Are Helping Survivors
