In this conversation, Catherine Maguire-Donvito, Co-founder and Director of Treehouse Theatre, shares the program’s unique approach to supporting refugee adolescents through storytelling and theatrical performance. The initiative is designed to facilitate trauma recovery and raise awareness about the refugee experience among high school students. Catherine emphasizes the importance of building trust and connection among participants before delving into their trauma stories. She explains how narrative exposure therapy helps them develop new cognitive networks and process their traumatic experiences effectively. Catherine also recounts memorable performances and the ripple effect of these performances on both participants and viewers, underscoring the need for empathy and understanding in addressing the refugee crisis.
Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction
00:28 – The Treehouse Program
03:43 – Origins of the Treehouse Program
04:31 – Storytelling as a Path to Connection
05:55 – Art Therapy for Trauma Recovery
06:43 – Sharing Happy Stories Before Trauma
07:22 – Creating a Sense of Belonging
08:01 – Building Confidence Through Performance
09:02 – The Healing Power of the Program
10:17 – Grief, Loss, and Rejection
11:44 – Curiosity and Respect for Individual Stories
13:08 – The World’s Response and Responsibility
14:26 – Changing Perceptions and Fostering Empathy
Link to Treehouse theatre: https://treehousetheatre.org.au/
Cast From the Storm trailer: https://youtu.be/zRF-yDMVYdk
Tedx Video – Missing” Shalah’s Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MplBF_AYYfM
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