​BRAID Africa is a non-profit organization that uses trauma informed practices to move survivors from recovery to economic development.  

BRAID Africa's vision
​Empower those traumatized by war in Africa to rebuild their lives.

​History

BRAID Africa’s work began in 2012 when its founder, Rachel Dickins, visited the Ivorian refugees in Liberia on a humanitarian aid effort. This visit took place one year after the Ivory Coast’s civil conflict, which resulted in the deaths of thousands.   

​While in Liberia, Rachel learned about the severity of need. Hundreds of thousands of devastated families and communities were uprooted and forced to flee to neighboring countries during and after the conflict. The stories of the horrendous gang rapes endured by the women, and their severe medical complications as a result, were heart breaking. Equipped with a background in health services, upon her return to California, Rachel decided to create an organization. Her aim was to assist in the care, recovery, and healing of the countless women, men and children whose lives were tragically affected by the civil war violence. Rachel found that while the treatment was helpful, the psychological effects of the trauma impeded their recovery. It was then that she decided to boost the level of their care by adopting and implementing a more holistic approach. She, along with her team of volunteers and staff, then began to address the victims’ emotional, psychosocial, socio-economical, cultural and spiritual needs in addition to their physical needs. ​