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Restoring Dignity Through Afro-Centered Mental Health Support

Empowering survivors of human trafficking through trauma-informed, culturally-rooted healing.

Healing means reclaiming our stories, our culture, and our voice.

Malaika Oringo

What is Handprints to Healing?

Mental health for survivors in Africa is at the heart of Handprints to Healing, an initiative created by and for African survivors of human trafficking. This program focuses on healing and resilience through an Afro-centric, survivor-centered, and trauma-informed approach.

This project brings together care, community, and culture, offering safe spaces for storytelling, survivor coaching and counselling, practical healing toolkits, and webinars on mental health awareness. Through this project, we aim to center African voices and experiences and support survivors in rebuilding their lives with dignity, strength, and hope.

Handprints to Healing is a mental health initiative of Footprint to Freedom for African survivors, working across the continent to make mental health support accessible and culturally relevant. By blending African traditions of healing with evidence-based trauma care, the initiative creates pathways for deep, sustainable recovery and community resilience.

The Mental Health Gap

Mental health for survivors in Africa remains one of the most urgent but neglected needs. Despite overwhelming demand, most survivors in Africa lack access to proper mental health care due to cost, stigma, and systemic neglect. Today, less than 10% of survivors receive meaningful support. The Handprints to Healing initiative seeks to close this gap by making mental health for survivors in Africa accessible through community-driven, culturally grounded, and trauma-informed solutions.

Survivor-Centered and Afro-Centered

Mental health for survivors in Africa must prioritize survivors’ voices, choices, and cultural traditions. Our healing approaches integrate African methods—storytelling, spirituality, and collective care—while strengthening survivor leadership at every stage of program design and delivery. By centering mental health for survivors in Africa, we ensure that healing is culturally grounded, survivor-led, and sustainable.

what we do

We lead pioneering studies on trauma healing models tailored to African survivor contexts.

Survivor-led sessions on mindfulness, emotional resilience, and long-term trauma recovery.

We foster group healing through survivor circles, mentorship, and coalition-building.

Practical toolkits, survivor-friendly guides, and trauma-informed materials for survivors.

Hosting confidential counseling and monthly podcasts on trauma topics to help survivors

We integrate African traditions, art, and rituals—into trauma recovery to ground healing in cultural identity.

What’s Coming Next

Trauma Care Toolkits

Trauma care toolkits on recovery, maternal mental health, and peer support strengthen mental health for survivors in Africa with practical, survivor-led resources.

Survivor Spotlight Series

The Survivor Spotlight Series shares personal stories of resilience, leadership, and lived experiences, strengthening awareness of mental health for survivors in Africa.

Afro-Psychology Podcasts:

The Afro Psychology Podcast features insightful discussions led by African mental health professionals and survivor leaders, promoting mental health for survivors in Africa.

Safe Online Community

The Safe Online Community is a moderated digital space where survivors can share experiences, connect with peers, and access vital resources for mental health for survivors in Africa.
RESource library

What’s Coming Next

Trauma Care Toolkits

Trauma care toolkits on recovery, maternal mental health, and peer support strengthen mental health for survivors in Africa with practical, survivor-led resources.

Survivor Spotlight Series

The Survivor Spotlight Series shares personal stories of resilience, leadership, and lived experiences, strengthening awareness of mental health for survivors in Africa.

Afro-Psychology Podcasts:

The Afro Psychology Podcast features insightful discussions led by African mental health professionals and survivor leaders, promoting mental health for survivors in Africa.

Safe Online Community

The Safe Online Community is a moderated digital space where survivors can share experiences, connect with peers, and access vital resources for mental health for survivors in Africa.

Ready to Learn and Heal Together?

Every survivor deserves the opportunity to heal—regardless of age, gender, or background.
Our growing digital library offers practical, trauma-informed, and Afro-centered resources created by survivors, for survivors, as well as for the practitioners who support them.