Healing Through Recovery: The Potential Benefit of Dramatherapy in East African Refugee Camps

The objective of this study is to identify the potential benefits of a dramatherapy program in an East African refugee camp. In order to understand the value of such a program, the methods used include a review of the political/social/economic history of the region of East Africa including texts on conflicts in the area. The main psychological and mental health issues found in the refugee camps were connected to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). For this reason, a review of literature on PTSD was conducted. Also, a vigorous review of literature on current and historical models of dramatherapy, but not excluding psychodrama and sociodrama was conducted. The information found in these texts proved valuable in learning about the treatment of victims of PTSD. Lastly, interviews with experts in these fields were conducted and compiled. The results of this research lead to the conclusion that dramatherapy can be an essential tool in remedying the mental ills brought to and developed in East African refugee camps, but must contain some focus on education and skill-building activities in order to be a community remedy. Current models of dramatherapy promote mental, emotional and spiritual well-being while increasing the ability to be critical and communicative in everyday life. Dramatherapy has the potential to help individuals and groups recover from the trauma they experienced in their homes and in the refugee camps while also fostering an environment for fundamental social and political change.