Eve Ensler accepts the Peter C. Alderman Humanitarian Award

Photo by Women's eNews

A world ravaged by war means millions around the world are left in a state of total devastation. It could be it broken bodies, destroyed livelihood or the breakdown of social structure. But unfortunately, well intentioned efforts to rebuild rarely take into account the emotional wreckage that violence leaves in its wake. Without mental health and alleviation of the effects of PTSD, there can be no post conflict recovery, according to Dr. Stephen Alderman of the Peter C. Alderman Foundation.

“If you don’t have the will to live, you cannot improve,” he said.

Dr. Alderman’s assertion took place before an audience of about 200 hundred supporters at the Water Club in New York City, where the nonprofit presented its annual Humanitarian Award to author, filmmaker and activist, Eve Ensler.

Body Needs the Mind

A mother will not walk the two miles needed to get water for her children, a father won’t keep up with the medication regimen required of AIDS treatment or a young person too demoralized to set up mosquito bed netting are things that Liz and Steve Alderman knew little of themselves.

That was until their son Peter was killed at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. In searching for a fitting manner to remember him, they learned that one Billion people in conflict and post conflict areas suffer so severe a state of clinical depression that they can no longer function.

17 years later, PCAF operates on three continents and numerous countries. Reaching out first to national government institutions, the operation then trains local health workers in mental healthcare and sets up clinics of indigenous caregivers. “We give people the tools so they can take care of themselves,” said Liz Alderman. And it’s done in accordance with the social norms of each community, she added before giving way to Erica Hill of CBS News.

Alderman’s Energy Makes a Difference

Meeting for lunch a few days earlier, the CBS This Morning co-host immediately sensed the positive energy that the Alderman’s generate. “I knew in that moment what incredible people they are, and what incredible work they do,” said Hill.

Hill also learned the most important lesson that Peter taught his mother was how to see beauty in the world. A learned behavior that only slowly returned with the success of the foundation named on his behalf. “What a beautiful way to honor a life well lived, and what a beautiful reason to get up in the morning,” Hill asserted.

And that certainly applies to the traumatized in Uganda, Cambodia and Haiti. The approach is simple. “With so many organizations throwing their hands up in failure,” said Hill, “when you focus on one thing, one person, you make a difference.”

In that, Ms. Hill could seamlessly segue into the evening’s first award. Susan Ayot is one of the PCAF trained psychiatric nurses in Gulu, Uganda and arrived in America last week to receive the Sarlo Foundation Leadership Award.

Recovery Begins with Hope

Touching down, Ayot put aside the New York City sidewalk pace that put her toes on the defensive all week. But she didn’t attempt to side step the gratitude. “I feel so privileged to have the opportunity to be in front of all of you,” Ayot said.

Describing some of the tragedy she’s seen as a PCAF team leader since 2008, the appreciation really belonged to the audience in getting a firsthand account of the triumphs. “When I see hope back on someone’s face, that’s my biggest achievement,” Ayot revealed.

Almost as important in the wake of the stigma associated with mental illness is the manner in which the results filter out. “Health workers, family members and villagers see the impact of proper care,” Ayot asserted.

Acceptance follows and Eve Ensler was on hand next for both. “It’s our honor to present the Peter C. Alderman Humanitarian Award, said Liz Alderman as she ceded the floor for the recipient.

Ensler and Alderman’s Draw Common Cause

Moved and equally honored, Ensler commended the Alderman’s for transforming pain into power. “Rather than seeking revenge through more violence, you’ve experienced your grief and opened your heart to change the lives of others,” Ensler said.

Ensler is definitely no stranger to that and personally understands the possibilities when you put others first. "If you devote yourself to caring and loving, amazing things can happen," Ensler said.

The numbers don't deny the dialogue either. The $250,000 raised in her first V-Day event seems paltry in comparison to the $90 Million raised since, and the 5,800 events that take place annually. But for all she's seen in regards to violence towards women, the tragedy that inspired her latest cause is a clear break from everything else.

"I've seen the rape mines of the world, but the Congo shattered me and radicalized me," Ensler said.

A decade of civil war and strife war has left at least six million dead and 500,000 women raped and tortured annually. “All in pursuit of minerals such as copper, gold and tungsten, she says. "I want to do everything I can for the women of the Congo."

Like the Alderman's her approach is simple and focused. "We help women tell their story," Ensler said.

Ending the Cycle of Violence

Referring to her initiative, the City of Joy is refuge built by Congolese women that allows trauma to give way to transformation. "It's a place so full of joy – all you want to do is connect, dance and love," she said.

After six months, she sees women go from total devastation to the strongest and most compassionate women she's ever known. The pattern then bears repeating. This especially in wake of the instinct for rage and revenge that usually takes precedence. Otherwise, she said, "The traumatized will simply continue the cycle of violence."

Looking forward, she intends to spread the joy worldwide. "I want all women of the world and the people who love them to walk out of their house, work or school and dance and love to shake the world back to sanity," the author said.

For some, she may then have departed from the sentiment by claiming that she could feel Peter's presence in the room. "I know he is here. I feel him, and he feels the depth of your goodness," Ensler said.

If only more of us could aspire to a lack of sanity such as that. We would never have lost Peter, and trauma would not be part of our experience.