Palestinian Graduate Awarded For Trauma Research

Main Category: Psychology / Psychiatry
Also Included In: Aid / Disasters
Article Date: 27 Nov 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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A Palestinian student who studied the long term effects of war and occupation on Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip graduated on Friday (21 November).

Dr Mohamed Altawil was awarded the Doctor of Philosophy for his research into The Effects of Chronic Traumatic Experience on Palestinian Children in the Gaza Strip at the University of Hertfordshire's graduation ceremonies at St Alban's Cathedral.

Supervised by Dr. Pieter Nel at the University's School of Psychology and granted by Ford Foundation (USA) through the America-Mideast Educational and Training Services (AMIDEAST). Dr Altawil conducted two studies to examine the psychological, social, somatic and educational effects of chronic traumatic experience on Palestinian children over the six years of the Al-Aqsa Intifada (2000-2006).

Dr Altawil, who himself experienced significant suffering and tragedy in his homeland concluded in his research that the experience of a normal childhood in Palestine is unlikely in the current circumstances and the future psychological well-being of Palestinian children is at risk of being compromised by on-going traumatic experiences.

"I too am one of Palestine's children and none of us have had a childhood," he said. "We were all born adults and our childhood has been stolen from us in front of the eyes of the free world."

As a result of Dr Altawil's research at the University of Hertfordshire, he has successfully established a charity titled "Palestine Trauma Centre for Victims Welfare, www.ptcgaza.cjb.net. Currently, he is applying for a project to complete his research in developing/adapting family therapy approach to the treatment of traumatized children and their families.

Hertfordshire University
http://www.herts.ac.uk

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