Global Trauma Relief, Locally Led
GIST-T is a global initiative dedicated to strengthening trauma care in communities affected by conflict and disaster. We train local professionals to lead culturally responsive, sustainable mental health responses, equipping communities to heal from within.
“Empowering communities with sustainable trauma care solutions“
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See Our Work.
Discover What’s Possible With GIST-T.
700+
Building Skills
Over 700 trained para-professionals across multiple countries.
Long-Term
Professional Development
12-month embedded trauma care projects with governments and NGOs.
100%
Community Support
Demonstrated reduction in trauma symptoms and increase in service accessibility.
Past Engagements
In the period before GIST-T’s formal constitution as a legal entity, and since then, it has been involved with several significant international NGOs in efforts to initiate projects that would promote capacity building and scaling up of trauma relief action, especially in LMICs. Thus, GIST-T engaged with the following organizations
Free Yezidi Foundation (FYF)
The design and start-up of its trauma care project for women and girls in Northern Iraq and helped to secure funding from UN Women and the Oak Foundation. The project successfully treated hundreds of women and girls who had been victims of ISIS’ genocidal action beginning in 2014. Some of them were subsequently employed in an all-female Yezidi brigade (Harikaras) to provide PFA in the IDP camps in Dohuk and to promote reluctant women (and men) to seek professional help. Follow-up funding has been obtained from USAID. Read the full write-up here
World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM)
An organization with over 40 million young members serving communities worldwide, considered to get involved in PFA and the use of more advanced psychosocial methods of trauma care, and GIST-T offered several proposals. Preoccupation with other humanitarian interventions relegated the GIST-T proposals to a lower priority. Read the full write-up here
Caring for the Carers
A GIST-T initiative aimed at providing a rapid response to Grenfell Tower Disaster Support Organizations in the form of a series of workshops in 2017. Lack of adequate coordination resulted in the offer not being taken up. Read the full write-up here
Action Contre la Faim (ACF)
The design of a research project comparing the relative cost-effectiveness of CBT- and EMDR-based group interventions using its field staff in Central African Republic and Iraq as lay counsellors. The positive research findings will shortly be published. Read the full write-up here
World Bank
Suggested GIST-T field a needs assessment mission to Marawi, Mindanao, Philippines to gauge the psychological damage inflicted on the local population by ISIS-affiliated groups in 2017, and to propose a whole-systems approach to deal with the trauma in that city and province. Together with other local actors (Philippines Psychiatric Association, Nonviolence Peaceforce and EMDR Philippines) a project was designed and costed (see GIST-T final report). Unfortunately, the World Bank was unable to set aside or secure follow-up funding.
Paraprofessional training in Sri Lanka
A GIST-T response to a request from several Tamil individuals in the diaspora to offer a workable formula to scale up trauma relief services to their war-traumatized compatriots in the North, but our proposals remained unfunded. Read the full write-up here
The first two projects have been successful and are ongoing: one a small NGO, the other a very big one. For the other projects it was mostly the lack of funding for project proposals, however promising and favourable their benefit/cost ratios, leading to them being abandoned. For GIST-T as a start-up itself, this was a steep learning curve, and even to this day, sustainable funding or income generation remains its biggest challenge, followed by ‘staff’, people available and willing to help manage or run projects, often on a pro bono basis.
Sample Project Composition
30x
Trainees
5x
Local Trainers Certified
50/50
On-site and Virtual Supervision
200k
Fully Budgeted Proposal
View a sample project breakdown..
Transforming Trauma Care Together
★★★★★
Average Rating: 4.9/5 from 150 Reviews
A Beacon of Hope
Thanks to GIST-T, we now have the tools and knowledge to address trauma in our community, making a lasting difference in the lives of those affected.
★★★★★
Michael Brown
Revolutionizing Trauma Response
GIST-T’s training has empowered us to provide culturally relevant care, ensuring that our community’s unique needs are met during times of crisis.
★★★★★
Dr. Emily Carter
Empowering Communities Through Care
GIST-T has profoundly impacted our community by providing essential training in trauma care. Their approach not only equips us with skills but also fosters a sense of ownership in our healing processes.
★★★★★
John Smith
A Lifeline in Crisis
The support from GIST-T has been invaluable. Their commitment to ethical and sustainable trauma care has transformed how we respond to crises, ensuring that our community can heal effectively and sustainably.
★★★★★
Sarah Johnson
View GIST-T in Action: Past Projects, Case Studies & More..