What do we do?

Dignity Beyond Borders supports both young people and adults with programming that focuses on the validation of one’s dignity. This experience serves to offset trauma associated with the injustices of terrorism, war, and mass violence. Our curriculum includes variations of the following elements:

A young female teenager is sitting in a group speaking earnestly about something. A boy of a similar age is looking at her and paying attention.

  • Participants share their ideas and losses without fear of judgment. Individuals from different cultural backgrounds understand that the culture of dignity that we practice will support their identities. Everyone will be included and honored for who they are.

  • Participants from diverse backgrounds engage in facilitated dialogue and activities with one another to find the commonalities that they share, while also learning about and respecting differences. Finding safety in community offsets the isolating effects of trauma.

  • Individuals gain confidence by engaging in activities that foster mental and physical well-being.

    Peer-to-peer learning builds skills to cope with conflict and loss.

    Resilience is achieved by identifying one’s own strengths and contributing to the strengths of others.

“The program has made me who I am now, it has brought back the real me that was stolen some years back.”

Madina, from Nigeria

Our Approach

Dignity Groups are small groups facilitated by licensed clinicians. These groups are designed to build connection and support. Participants experience a culture of dignity, in which they develop skills for coping with loss and managing conflict, while discovering strength and resilience.

Dignity Groups

Our curriculum includes electives in art, music, drama, dance, and sports, facilitated by creative arts therapists. These elective sessions allow participants a range of ways to interact with others and to explore and give expression to their experiences.

Arts Programming

Our interactive exercises enable participants to engage in difficult conversations – practicing active listening skills and creative problem-solving. The emphasis is on choosing responses to stressful situations, rather than reacting to triggers.

Creative Problem-Solving

Our peace building sessions are led by conflict resolution facilitators. The goal is to educate and inform participants on the causes of conflict and provide the skills to work through it. Participants focus on utilizing tools to navigate interpersonal conflict and gain an understanding of the practices to prevent global conflict.

Peacebuilding