Democracy is more than a word – healing

An online workshop about healing through the values of democracy.

Children, women and men who have fled their homes have often experienced terrible situations that long remain a part of their lives. How can one ever experience healing after traumatic or even life-threatening events whilst still understanding that life must go on? How can a democratic culture help to shape this further life positively and to experience oneself as active and valued? During a 2-hour interactive online workshop prepared and held by Gelly Aroni and Rolf Gollob, participants working in the field of refugee support reflected on and explored practical ways of understanding the difference between accepting or tolerating differences and valuing cultural diversity. Cultural diversity and variability are an asset for democratic societies and cultural affiliations; pluralism of perspectives, views and practices ought to be positively regarded, appreciated and cherished. Those who perceive that their experiences, values and attitudes are not simply tolerated but actually valued gain a sense of integration and equality. This feeling is an important step toward healing from experienced injuries and not being valued, from insecurities and fear. The participants agreed that democracy (at the centre of which lies appreciating differences) helps intensively in such healing processes.