Psychosynthesis Comes to Africa

Hilaire Niyongabo is a young Burundian living in Nairobi. He is a college student, but when he is not too busy with classes, he volunteers as a youth educator with Sangwa Amahoro, a youth group that seeks to build peace through dance.

In early August, Hilaire and 14 other students from Rwanda, Burundi and DR Congo completed a three year training program in psychosynthesis - a novel field that has never before been taught in Africa.

The graduating students received their certificates in an outdoor ceremony at Shalom House, Nairobi, from the five Italian teachers who conducted the training, before enjoying a special performance of traditional songs and dances by the Indangamirwa Group from Rwanda. The teachers were Piero Caforio, Maddalena Colangelo, Andrea Bocconi, Lucia Bassignana and Esmeralda Di Bernardo.

The just concluded training is one of Koinonia’s many activities in Nairobi. After this maiden graduation, it will be a continuous programme made possible through a partnership between the Italian Society of Psychosynthesis Therapy, the Institute of Psychosynthesis in Italy and the Koinonia Community.

Psychosynthesis is a psychological theory created by Roberto Assagioli, an Italian psychiatrist who studied under the celebrated Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud.

Its aim is to promote self-awareness, such that each individual can grow by harmonizing his or her talents. Psychosynthesis finds application in education, psychotherapy, social work and community development, and is actually present in 57 countries around the world.

The teachers say all the fifteen students were enthusiastic, and each of them passed their final examination with excellent results. Hilaire believes the training has made him a better educator.

 “I am much more aware of myself, and of the potential I have in me. This gives me a much stronger foundation to reach out to my fellow youths, ” Hilaire said.

Click here to read a news report about the training, published on Newsfromafrica.