Young creative participants at the Beautiful Camp 2.0 have been trained on how to tackle trauma in the course of executing their projects.

Facilitated by trauma specialist, researcher and author, Dr Maji Peterx, described trauma as an individualised experience beyond a person’s coping capacity.

Referencing the history of the word ‘trauma’, Peterx said it came to be following an investigation post-World War, which saw US veterans exhibiting certain traits that were pronounced as ‘trauma’.

Thus, the absence of a single word for trauma in any African language.

“Oftentimes when we talk about trauma, it is usually its symptoms that we discuss. Africans more or less have words that describe the symptoms of trauma.

“Trauma can be genetic, historical (as with the caste system, racism), cultural, ongoing (as experienced by those in the army and the prison hangsmen) and transgenerational (trauma that transcends from one generation to another).”

Hence, in dealing with their various creative projects whereby they encounter traumatised victims, he urged they practice the art of self-care – so they are not traumatised by others’ trauma. Conversely, in dealing with traumatised victims – young creatives must ensure that create a feeling of safety and safe space for them, trustworthiness and control to enable them attain ‘a state of disclosure’ – when they are willing to share their theretofore unrevealed experience to others.

To help victims process their trauma, Peterx further recommended helping them make new meaning of their trauma history and new experiences, addressing the impact of trauma in their behaviour, development and relationships, support and promote positive relationships, as well as provide support and guidance to them.

“Our ability to bounce back from trauma is a product of the support around us – be it internal or external (cultivated support).

Sharing his experience with fellow participants at the ‘Understanding Trauma’ session, Tim Adepoju, noted despite the absence of formal treatment, practicing forgiveness (more for his own sake than his traumatisers), meditation, and preaching the message of peace, had helped him process his trauma.

An initiative of the Jos Repertory Theatre (JRT), with the support of Economic and Trade Diplomat of the Embassy of Czech Republic Nigeria, Beautiful Camp is an affiliate project of the Czech Republic Transition Development Programme of the Czech Foreign Affairs Ministry. The camp is targeted at training young Nigerian creatives on how to promote and educate the Nigerian public on the principles of democracy, human rights and human dignity, as a means of contributing to civil and societal change.

Commending Maji for his time and knowledge, JRT founder, Dr Jude Patrick Oteh said the session was one of several virtual discusses held ahead of the physical bootcamp scheduled for September 2025.

The physical bootcamp will convene the young creatives from different parts of the country in Abuja for the final training prior to their one-year project execution.