TRAUMA RECOVERY
Survivors of trauma—abandonment, abuse, neglect, and sexual assault—face immense barriers to recovery.
ACE heals women survivors of trauma by scaling mental health services, partnering with the Ministry of Gender and Social Workers Association while building peer groups, and providing women and girls with access to safe places, mentors, referral pathways, and trauma counseling.
ACE is committed to the health, safety, and empowerment of adolescent girls and young women. Survivors of trauma— abandonment, abuse, neglect, and sexual assault—face immense barriers to recovery. With only four psychologists in Malawi, and fifteen in Zambia, women lack access to trauma counseling, leaving them trapped in cycles of emotional distress, physical illness, and impaired relationships, thus perpetuating long-term personal and inter-generational harm.
By combining mental health counseling with life skills, financial empowerment, and peer support, ACE enables young women to transform their lives and futures. Scaling this model through government services, expertly trained counselors, and community peer groups breaks the multi-generational trauma cycle and creates lasting change for adolescent girls and young women.
Our vision is clear: to expand trauma treatment and mental health systems in Sub-Saharan Africa, fostering resilience and opportunity for the next generation of women.
ACE TRAUMA RECOVERY SERVICES
Peer Support
Counseling
Financial Empowerment
Trauma-Informed Care
ACE has a proven record of providing training in trauma-informed care for frontline social workers, caregivers, and government personnel; including police, family court judges, and social welfare officers. We pioneered peer groups for young women transitioning from institutional care, integrating mentorship, savings and loans programs, and entrepreneurship training. These groups foster connection, agency, and empowerment, addressing the women's expressed priorities.
We strengthen local institutions, establishing legal registrations and banking access while equipping women to lead as peer mentors and group organizers. Our work integrates with government and community systems, increasing referrals for trauma counseling for women and shifting focus upstream to prevent abuse, neglect, teen marriage, and early pregnancy.
Meet the Team
Shoshon Tama-Sweet
Director of Programs and ACE Transition Partners
Mariah Gregory
International Programs Manager
Chisangalalo Antonio
Malawi Country Director
Trauma Healing Program Video
ACE is enhancing the health and wellbeing of women by preventing and responding to the multi-generational effects of neglect, physical abuse, teen marriage, and teen pregnancy. These new efforts are bringing hope to these populations that allows for systemic change and the breaking of generational trauma.