Shanthiham AHC

Shanthiham was started in 1988 with the aim of supporting victims of war, mainly in Northern Sri Lanka. Initially, Shanthiham used a counselling model to work with individuals who had undergone traumatic war related experiences.

The Need: The need for an institution to deal with trauma victims saw the establishment of the Association for Health and Counselling (AHC) popularly known as Shanthiham in 1988. Since then Shanthiham has developed as an organization that provides both a Counselling Centre and Training Centre for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) for the Northern and Eastern part of Sri Lanka.

https://shanthiham.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/therasa-624x480.jpg

2020- Now

Projects

USAID - Emergency MHPSS in Jaffna - COVID19 Support
(June 2021 - Dec 2021)
NTT - Emergency psycho social support for emotional well-being of COVID19 positive individuals and families
(June 2021 - September 2021)
SDC - Emergency psycho social support for emotional well-being of COVID positive individuals (Residing At Intermediate Care Centers(3) And Home Quarantine)
(June 2021 - October 2021)
UNDP, British High Commission Colombo - Support To Durable Resettlement (SDR) (March 2021 - Dec 2021)
USAID - Supporting front line Public Health Inspectors to Respond to COVID19 (May 2021 - Nov 2021)
UNICEF - Expanded Support for Durable Resettlement and Reintegration in Kilinochi & Mullativu Districts
(Dec 2021 - July 2021)

2005 - 2020

Projects

VSO Volunteers (2005-2012)
Training Unit Developed - Self funded by Shanthiham (2005)
WHO sponsored counselling course WHO (2007)
Widow Support Program Finland Embassy (2007)
Community PS assistance Program CORDAID (2007)
REACH Reaching Children in the tsunami Ravaged Mullaitivu VIVO (2008)
Child Thematic Project HealthNet TPO (2009)
Children Program SCiSL (April 2011)
RESIST USAID/EU with TAF (July 2006 – July 2011)
VTTP USAID through TAF (Sept. 2010 – Sept. 2013 )
TEA (Sarvodaya 2013)
USAID (Completed Oct. 2015)
NISD, SDC, Anne Frank, EIDHR (ZOA), ICRC (2016-2017)
IMHO (Co. Training), TAF, Child MH, ONUR, ICRC, EIDHR, SCORE (2017-18)
Unicef, Child Wellbeing, SCORE, Counselling Course, VPSS, GIZ (2019-20)

Post tsunami

Mental Health in Task Force
Crisis and crisis intervention training for 200 volunteers
Immediate crisis intervention at the coastal areas in Jaffna peninsula & Mullaithevu

2001 - 2005