Oleander Trauma Recovery, Resilience and Peace Program
Participants of the Oleander Trauma Recovery, Resilience and Peace Program in London
During April, 2025, Oleander Program Director, Kanade Kurozumi and three staff members travelled to the United Kingdom to bring the lessons of Hiroshima to over 500 mental health and NGO workers, educators and students.
This program was the culmination of 6 years of connections and community building that linked the Oleander Initiative in Hiroshima to the field of mental health in the UK.
In 2019, Tam Martin Fowles, a trauma recovery specialist based in London, attended the Oleander Complexity of Peace program in Hiroshima, Japan.
Tam at Oleander Programs in Hiroshima during 2019 and 2024
Upon her return to London, Tam and her organization, Hope in the Heart, CIC implemented dozens of mental health workshops around the themes she explored in Hiroshima. As her community of practice grew, Tam returned to Hiroshima with a delegation of British mental health professionals in 2024.
One year later, the Oleander Initiative reversed the flow of the exchange and sent four peacebuilders from Hiroshima to the UK to further enhance this groundbreaking connection between peacebuilders from Hiroshima and the mental health sector in the UK.
Upon their arrival, the Oleander peacebuilders travelled to Essex University where they presented the links between Hiroshima peace culture, well being and mental health recovery to over 100 clinical psychology students.
Lecture by Oleander team members at Essex University
Following the lecture, the Oleander team led an origami workshop, highlighting Hiroshima Peace culture to Essex students and faculty.
Origami Workshop at Essex University
Upon their return to London, the Oleander team visited the Ark Pioneer School where they presented the Hiroshima Resilience Project to two groups of 180 students, followed by discussion sessions with Ark Pioneer teachers.
Hiroshima Resilience Project Presentation at Ark Pioneer Academy
On the same day, the Oleander team presented “the Politics of Empathy” to professors and students at London South Bank University.
The Oleander team’s last stop was the Battersea Arts Centre.
The Oleander team visited the Messages from the HeART exhibition that featured artwork created by individuals with lived experiences of mental health and associated issues.
Art Exhibition focused on Mental Health at Battersea Arts Centre
The team concluded their visit with an origami workshop that focused on the role of art in trauma recovery.
Many thanks to Kanade and Tam, who’s creativity, hard work and passion for peace made this program possible.
The Oleander Trauma Recovery, Resilience and Peace Program is an amazing example of how communities benefit when dedicated peacebuilders connect across continents.
We look forward to the next evolution of this incredible connection!
Warm Wishes for Peace,
Ray Matsumiya
Director, Oleander Initiative
Oleander Initiative in the UK: Trauma Recovery, Resilience and Peace Program
