Ecuador | HIAS

Psychosocial Assistance for Colombian refugees
Due to the decades-old Colombian conflict, there are more than 250,000 displaced people in the Colombian border regions, and in Ecuador approximately 34,000 Colombians are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). After being forced from their homes and surviving threats and violent attacks, the refugees arrive to Ecuador suffering the effects of severe trauma. In order to help the refugees overcome symptoms, such as anxiety and depression, so they can move forward with their lives, HIAS established a program in 2003 to address their mental health needs.

HIAS’s Psychosocial Initiative for Colombian Refugees in Ecuador has three primary objectives:

1) to provide direct psychological services to survivors of torture and trauma in individual and group settings;

2) to offer therapeutic, community-based workshops, such as literacy training, recreation groups for children, parent workshops, that address the needs of refugee survivors attempting to integrate into their communities;

3) to increase the capacity of Ecuadorian service providers and refugee agencies assisting this population through trainings by HIAS psychologists.

Ultimately, the goal of the Initiative is to improve the durable solution options for this refugee community, preparing individuals for integration into their Ecuadorian host-communities and/or for a safe and voluntary return to Colombia when that is feasible. When HIAS counselors determine that local services or physical protection are insufficient to meet the needs of the survivors of torture or trauma, HIAS advocates to UNHCR and third countries for resettlement, using its expertise in the international refugee resettlement system.

Since the program’s inception, HIAS has seen the benefits of its services as its clients have begun to recover. Improvements or success have come in different forms: some refugees have found jobs in Ecuador and are integrating into society, some require less medical assistance and many are committed to obtaining an educational degree. Some have been resettled to third countries and many maintain regular contact with the HIAS staff that assisted them in Ecuador. The fact that there have been more referrals generated by the increased word of mouth about the program among refugees is testament to its effectiveness.

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Chad Former Soviet Union Israel & the Middle East Kenya Latin America Argentina Ecuador Venezuela Vienna	Ecuador Psychosocial Assistance for Colombian refugees Due to the decades-old Colombian conflict, there are more than 250,000 displaced people in the Colombian border regions, and in Ecuador approximately 34,000 Colombians are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). After being forced from their homes and surviving threats and violent attacks, the refugees arrive to Ecuador suffering the effects of severe trauma. In order to help the refugees overcome symptoms, such as anxiety and depression, so they can move forward with their lives, HIAS established a program in 2003 to address their mental health needs. HIAS’s Psychosocial Initiative for Colombian Refugees in Ecuador has three primary objectives: 1) to provide direct psychological services to survivors of torture and trauma in individual and group settings; 2) to offer therapeutic, community-based workshops, such as literacy training, recreation groups for children, parent workshops, that address the needs of refugee survivors attempting to integrate into their communities; 3) to increase the capacity of Ecuadorian service providers and refugee agencies assisting this population through trainings by HIAS psychologists. Ultimately, the goal of the Initiative is to improve the durable solution options for this refugee community, preparing individuals for integration into their Ecuadorian host-communities and/or for a safe and voluntary return to Colombia when that is feasible. When HIAS counselors determine that local services or physical protection are insufficient to meet the needs of the survivors of torture or trauma, HIAS advocates to UNHCR and third countries for resettlement, using its expertise in the international refugee resettlement system. Since the program’s inception, HIAS has seen the benefits of its services as its clients have begun to recover. Improvements or success have come in different forms: some refugees have found jobs in Ecuador and are integrating into society, some require less medical assistance and many are committed to obtaining an educational degree. Some have been resettled to third countries and many maintain regular contact with the HIAS staff that assisted them in Ecuador. The fact that there have been more referrals generated by the increased word of mouth about the program among refugees is testament to its effectiveness.