At Rafiki Mwema, we are always striving to ensure our staff are equipped with the best possible tools and understanding to support the deeply traumatised children in our care. So when Irina generously offered to deliver a free online trauma training session for our team, we felt incredibly lucky—and deeply grateful.
Irina, who has years of experience in working with trauma-impacted children and families, delivered a powerful, insightful, and practical session that left a lasting impression on our team in Kenya. Her compassion, depth of knowledge, and ability to relate her expertise to real-world situations created an inspiring space for learning and reflection.
Our team described the training as not only eye-opening but also transformational in how they view and respond to children’s behaviours. We wanted to share some of their reflections with you:
“Irina deeply moved and inspired us with an awesome presentation on therapeutic support for traumatized children. She has great depth of knowledge, insights, and relatable experiences combined with an empathetic approach, which certainly left lasting inspiration to us. Through sharing her experiences, we got valuable insights about trauma-informed care and practical skills to use in our daily work. She is such a purposeful, compassionate and knowledgeable speaker. We would highly recommend her sessions to anyone working with children who have experienced trauma.”
“The training taught me the importance of self-care and emotional regulation—not just for our children but for ourselves as caregivers. I also learned to adjust my expectations, knowing that healing looks different for every child, and that small, positive reinforcements can make a big difference.”
“It reminded me that every behaviour tells a story, and behind every outburst or silence, there are unmet needs. A child’s trauma might not always be visible, but it’s always real.”
“I was surprised to learn that acute trauma can weaken the immune system, which might explain why some children show physical symptoms even when no medical issue is found.”
“The reminder that a traumatised brain is not a ‘bad’ brain, but a brain in distress, was powerful. It helped me understand the importance of creating safe, consistent, and nurturing environments to aid healing.”
“The training emphasised patience—every child’s healing journey is different. Their brains are like sponges, absorbing everything around them, and our role is to guide, support, and nurture that process.”
We’re so thankful for the time, knowledge and heart Irina shared with us. It’s because of people like her that we can continue to provide trauma-informed care that truly meets our children where they are.
If you’d like to learn more about Irina and her work, you can visit her website and her Linkedin profile.
Thank you, Irina. We look forward to learning from you again in the future. 🖤
